
Assume Nothing
The teams assume nothing as they examine events through fresh eyes.
Latest episodes

May 11, 2024 • 19min
Episode 7: Anarchy in (part of) the UK
Writer Glenn Patterson finds out how, in May 1974, a tiny band of loyalists and unionists over fourteen days stages a strike that paralyses Northern Ireland, and slides it into anarchy.
Then twelve years old, Glenn lived through these events, taking place in the context of a 'Troubles' during which 1000 have already died.
50 years on, he digs into what really happened, because these events cast a long shadow. The Ulster Workers' Council stoppage culminated in the overthrow of Northern Ireland's democratically elected devolved government - then just five months old, and the first power-sharing administration ever in the country's history. Its formation, which involved controversial formal links to the Irish government, sparks the stoppage.
Decades pass before the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brings another such attempt at power sharing. Now, exploring the legacy of the strike, he tries to uncover what it might mean for us today.
CREDITS
Access to material relating to the Don Anderson interviews was kindly provided by Don Anderson and the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. Series contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Photo: Belfast Telegraph.
Writer/ Presenter: Glenn Patterson.
Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Studio Engineers: Gary Bawden, Michael Davidson, Bill Maul.
Series Actors: Ian Beattie, Richard Clements, Jo Dow, Patrick FitzSymons, Jonathan Harden, Paddy Jenkins, Rhodri Lewis, Patrick McBrearty, Aoibhéann McCann, Charlotte McCurry, Marty Maguire, Seamus O'Hara.
Executive Editor: Andy Martin

May 11, 2024 • 22min
Episode 8: The Wayside
Writer Glenn Patterson finds out how, in May 1974, a tiny band of loyalists and unionists over fourteen days stages a strike that paralyses Northern Ireland, and slides it into anarchy.
Then twelve years old, Glenn lived through these events, taking place in the context of a 'Troubles' during which 1000 have already died.
50 years on, he digs into what really happened, because these events cast a long shadow. The Ulster Workers' Council stoppage culminated in the overthrow of Northern Ireland's democratically elected devolved government - then just five months old, and the first power-sharing administration ever in the country's history. Its formation, which involved controversial formal links to the Irish government, sparks the stoppage.
Decades pass before the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brings another such attempt at power sharing. Now, exploring the legacy of the strike, he tries to uncover what it might mean for us today.
CREDITS
Access to material relating to the Don Anderson interviews was kindly provided by Don Anderson and the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. Series contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Photo: Belfast Telegraph.
Writer/ Presenter: Glenn Patterson.
Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Studio Engineers: Gary Bawden, Michael Davidson, Bill Maul.
Series Actors: Ian Beattie, Richard Clements, Jo Dow, Patrick FitzSymons, Jonathan Harden, Paddy Jenkins, Rhodri Lewis, Patrick McBrearty, Aoibhéann McCann, Charlotte McCurry, Marty Maguire, Seamus O'Hara.
Executive Editor: Andy Martin

May 11, 2024 • 17min
Episode 9: That Speech
Writer Glenn Patterson finds out how, in May 1974, a tiny band of loyalists and unionists over fourteen days stages a strike that paralyses Northern Ireland, and slides it into anarchy.
Then twelve years old, Glenn lived through these events, taking place in the context of a 'Troubles' during which 1000 have already died.
50 years on, he digs into what really happened, because these events cast a long shadow. The Ulster Workers' Council stoppage culminated in the overthrow of Northern Ireland's democratically elected devolved government - then just five months old, and the first power-sharing administration ever in the country's history. Its formation, which involved controversial formal links to the Irish government, sparks the stoppage.
Decades pass before the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brings another such attempt at power sharing. Now, exploring the legacy of the strike, he tries to uncover what it might mean for us today.
CREDITS
Access to material relating to the Don Anderson interviews was kindly provided by Don Anderson and the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. Series contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Photo: Belfast Telegraph.
Writer/ Presenter: Glenn Patterson.
Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Studio Engineers: Gary Bawden, Michael Davidson, Bill Maul.
Series Actors: Ian Beattie, Richard Clements, Jo Dow, Patrick FitzSymons, Jonathan Harden, Paddy Jenkins, Rhodri Lewis, Patrick McBrearty, Aoibhéann McCann, Charlotte McCurry, Marty Maguire, Seamus O'Hara.
Executive Editor: Andy Martin

May 11, 2024 • 25min
Episode 10: It’s Over
Writer Glenn Patterson finds out how, in May 1974, a tiny band of loyalists and unionists over fourteen days stages a strike that paralyses Northern Ireland, and slides it into anarchy.
Then twelve years old, Glenn lived through these events, taking place in the context of a 'Troubles' during which 1000 have already died.
50 years on, he digs into what really happened, because these events cast a long shadow. The Ulster Workers' Council stoppage culminated in the overthrow of Northern Ireland's democratically elected devolved government - then just five months old, and the first power-sharing administration ever in the country's history. Its formation, which involved controversial formal links to the Irish government, sparks the stoppage.
Decades pass before the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brings another such attempt at power sharing. Now, exploring the legacy of the strike, he tries to uncover what it might mean for us today.
CREDITS
Access to material relating to the Don Anderson interviews was kindly provided by Don Anderson and the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. Series contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Photo: Belfast Telegraph.
Writer/ Presenter: Glenn Patterson.
Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Studio Engineers: Gary Bawden, Michael Davidson, Bill Maul.
Series Actors: Ian Beattie, Richard Clements, Jo Dow, Patrick FitzSymons, Jonathan Harden, Paddy Jenkins, Rhodri Lewis, Patrick McBrearty, Aoibhéann McCann, Charlotte McCurry, Marty Maguire, Seamus O'Hara.
Executive Editor: Andy Martin

Mar 16, 2024 • 18min
Episode 6: A Change in Thinking
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E, Stranger Things) this eight-part series investigates why women continue to be murdered and what could be done to prevent it.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith guides us through the ‘homicide timeline’; the pattern of behaviour she has identified in domestic homicides that, if spotted early enough, could help vulnerable and at-risk women keep themselves safe.
From the multi award-winning team behind Assume Nothing: Rape Trial, the series examines eight real-life cases of murder, and asks whether recognising a pattern of behaviour could save lives.

Mar 16, 2024 • 25min
Episode 7: Planning.
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E, Stranger Things) this eight-part series investigates why women continue to be murdered and what could be done to prevent it.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith guides us through the ‘homicide timeline’; the pattern of behaviour she has identified in domestic homicides that, if spotted early enough, could help vulnerable and at-risk women keep themselves safe.
From the multi award-winning team behind Assume Nothing: Rape Trial, the series examines eight real-life cases of murder, and asks whether recognising a pattern of behaviour could save lives.

Mar 16, 2024 • 23min
Episode 2: Lovebombing
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E, Stranger Things) this eight-part series investigates why women continue to be murdered and what could be done to prevent it.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith guides us through the ‘homicide timeline’; the pattern of behaviour she has identified in domestic homicides that, if spotted early enough, could help vulnerable and at-risk women keep themselves safe.

Mar 16, 2024 • 23min
Episode 8: Homicide
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E, Stranger Things) this eight-part series investigates why women continue to be murdered and what could be done to prevent it.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith guides us through the ‘homicide timeline’; the pattern of behaviour she has identified in domestic homicides that, if spotted early enough, could help vulnerable and at-risk women keep themselves safe.
From the multi award-winning team behind Assume Nothing: Rape Trial, the series examines eight real-life cases of murder, and asks whether recognising a pattern of behaviour could save lives.Presenter Amybeth McNulty
Producer Sarah McGlinchey
Executive Editor Andy Martin
A BBC NI production

Mar 16, 2024 • 23min
Episode 5: Escalation
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E, Stranger Things) this eight-part series investigates why women continue to be murdered and what could be done to prevent it.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith guides us through the ‘homicide timeline’; the pattern of behaviour she has identified in domestic homicides that, if spotted early enough, could help vulnerable and at-risk women keep themselves safe.
From the multi award-winning team behind Assume Nothing: Rape Trial, the series examines eight real-life cases of murder, and asks whether recognising a pattern of behaviour could save lives.

Mar 16, 2024 • 24min
Episode 4: Trigger
Presented by actor Amybeth McNulty (Anne with an E, Stranger Things) this eight-part series investigates why women continue to be murdered and what could be done to prevent it.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith guides us through the ‘homicide timeline’; the pattern of behaviour she has identified in domestic homicides that, if spotted early enough, could help vulnerable and at-risk women keep themselves safe.
From the multi award-winning team behind Assume Nothing: Rape Trial, the series examines eight real-life cases of murder, and asks whether recognising a pattern of behaviour could save lives.