

British Scandal
Wondery
In a country obsessed with gossip, the great and the good fear one thing more than any other - scandal.British scandals change the course of history. They bring down governments, overthrow the rich and cause the mighty to fall. Some are about sex, others about money. In the end, they’re all about power. But often at the heart of a scandal, there are ordinary human stories. Stories of those caught up in the swirl of outrage. Who was really to blame for what happened? Why did they do it? And when all is said and done, did anything really change? From the creators of Business Wars, American Scandal and Ghost Story, comes British Scandal. Each week, hosts Alice Levine and Matt Forde delve into the murkier side of the British elite, from Phone Hacking to Profumo to the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss. Because sometimes the truth doesn’t set everyone free…Listen to British Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/british-scandal/ now.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 18, 2022 • 34min
The Queen of Clean | Interview | 4
Matt and Alice speak to David Dimbleby, one of the BBC's most illustrious broadcasters. David reflects on his early years at the BBC, when Mary Whitehouse was beginning her battle against the corporation, and recalls a day he spent interviewing Mary in the 1970s.Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 11, 2022 • 50min
The Queen of Clean | Yes, Prime Minister | 3
Mary finds an ally in the most powerful person in the country - Margaret Thatcher. But how long will their allegiance last?Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 4, 2022 • 50min
The Queen of Clean | Courting Disaster | 2
Mary’s fight moves beyond television to remodeling the whole moral outlook of Britain – via the courtroom. But when she targets the gay community, Mary underestimates the backlash that’s to come. Are Mary Whitehouse's campaigning days over?Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 27, 2022 • 48min
The Queen of Clean | No Sex, Please! | 1
In the early 1960s, a housewife from Birmingham is shocked by the changing tide of culture, and decides to do something about it. Mary Whitehouse goes up against her first adversary: the BBC and its liberal Director General, Sir Hugh Carleton Greene. In a battle for the future of the BBC, who will win?Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 20, 2022 • 36min
The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead | Interview | 4
Alice and Matt speak to Julian Hayes, John Stonehouse's grand-nephew and author of 'Stonehouse: Cabinet Minister, Fraudster, Spy'. They discuss the allegations surrounding Stonehouse's involvement with the Czechs, his family's reaction to the disappearance, and the time he tried to egg his grand-uncle.Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 13, 2022 • 47min
The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead | Twister Returns | 3
John makes a daring escape - little does he know, police across the world are piecing together his bizarre disappearance. Soon, John's lies and deception begin to unravel: is this the end of the road for Agent Twister?Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 6, 2022 • 44min
The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead | Missing Presumed Dead | 2
As John's political, marital and financial woes spiral, he's desperate to find an escape route. Then he reads a book and has a crazy idea...Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 30, 2022 • 45min
The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead | Agent Twister | 1
John Stonehouse is one of the most promising young Labour politicians in England - handsome and charismatic, with the political background to match. But when he catches the eye of the Czech secret service, Stonehouse falls into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 23, 2022 • 33min
Abdication | Interview | 4
Alice and Matt interview literary agent and biographer Andrew Lownie, author of 'Traitor King: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Exile'. He talks about the myth of Edward and Wallace's 'great romance' and his groundbreaking research into the couple's connections with the Nazi party.A note on names: King Edward VIII was known to his family as David. For clarity, we have called him Edward throughout this series.Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 16, 2022 • 51min
Abdication | The Traitor King | 3
In the late 1930’s, with England turning their back on their former King and World War II looming, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor face an existential choice: stay loyal to Britain, or side with the enemy?A note on names: King Edward VIII was known to his family as David. For clarity, we have called him Edward throughout this series.Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/britishscandalPlease support us by supporting our sponsors!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.