Épisodes

  • The great British honey scandal
    Aug 26 2025

    For nearly a decade beekeepers around the world have been saying that there’s something very wrong with the honey industry. Prices are down, and so is production, but there’s more honey being sold than ever before. So what exactly is in that jar in your kitchen cupboard? An investigation by The Observer reveals a global honey fraud that begins in China and ends with allegations of adulterated jars on UK supermarkets shelves


    Reporter: Jon Ungoed-Thomas

    Producer: Ada Barumé

    Artwork: Lola Williams

    Sound design: Dominic Delargy

    Executive Producer: Matt Russell


    To find out more about The Observer:


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk


    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    36 min
  • The mother and the gangs
    Aug 19 2025

    The number of teenage boys killed on our streets has more than doubled in a decade. This is the story of a mother trying to stop it, while dealing with grief and anger for her son.


    Reporter: Francisco Garcia

    Producer: Matt Russell

    Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorp

    Editor: Jasper Corbett


    To find out more about The Observer:


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk


    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    40 min
  • Signal failure: Who killed HS2?
    Aug 12 2025

    HS2 should have been a symbol of engineering excellence. Instead half of it has been scrapped and it's still running £50 billion over budget. This is the story of how Britain’s largest infrastructure project became its biggest scandal.


    Reporter: Stephen Armstrong

    Producer: Jonathan Lewis

    Artwork: Lola Williams

    Sound design: Dominic Delargy

    Editor: Jasper Corbett


    This episode is sponsored by The Life of Chuck. Join us across the UK for a preview screening on Wednesday 13 August, before it hits cinemas nationwide on 20 August. Find the locations and book now at SEEITFIRST.COM and enter the code CHUCK.



    To find out more about The Observer:


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk


    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    37 min
  • A lonely death on Jersey
    Aug 5 2025

    As a tax haven Jersey has a reputation for welcoming the wealthy with open arms, but how does it treat other kinds of immigrants? Jane Kiiti came from Kenya to work in Jersey’s hotels for more than twenty years. Her death raises questions about the conditions migrant workers face and whether the island is doing enough to prevent their exploitation.


    You can read Orlando Crowcroft's article 'The never-ending fear that haunts Jersey's troubled migrant workers' here.


    Reporter: Orlando Crowcroft

    Producer: Ada Barumé

    Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorpe

    Sound design: Dominic Delargy

    Editor: Jasper Corbett


    This episode is sponsored by The Life of Chuck. Join us across the UK for a preview screening on Wednesday 13 August, before it hits cinemas nationwide on 20 August. Find the locations and book now at SEEITFIRST.COM and enter the code CHUCK.


    To find out more about The Observer:


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk


    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    31 min
  • The real Salt Path
    Jul 29 2025

    Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. But the truth behind the hit memoir is very different.


    Reporter: Chloe Hadjimatheou

    Producer: Matt Russell

    Field Producers: Leonie Thomas and Helen Clifton

    Artwork: Lola Williams

    Sound design: Tom Burchell

    Editor: Jasper Corbett


    Original article

    The News Meeting


    To find out more about The Observer:


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk

    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    40 min
  • The Lab Detective
    Jul 22 2025

    Kathleen Folbigg was known as ‘Australia's worst female serial killer’ - she’d lost all four of her infant children and was convicted for killing them.


    Until, after spending decades in jail, a scientist working in a lab uncovered the truth behind the deaths.


    The Lab detective is the story of a shocking miscarriage of justice, and an investigation into why Kathleen’s story might not be the last. To listen to more episodes of The Lab Detective, go to Tortoise Investigates.


    Our thanks to The Francis Crick Institute for sharing recordings and insights.


    Reporter: Rachel Sylvester

    Producer: Gary Marshall

    Music supervisor: Karla Patella

    Sound design: Rowan Bishop

    Podcast artwork: Lola Williams

    Executive producer: Basia Cummings



    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk

    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    41 min
  • Illiberal land: Hungary’s empire of ideas
    Jul 15 2025

    This is the story of how and why a small Central European country became the epicenter of global conservatism. It’s the tale of two men…and what happens when we ignore the powerful forces behind a government.


    Reporter: David Aaronovitch

    Producer: Jonathan Lewis

    Artwork: Lola Williams

    Sound Design: Dominic Delargy

    Editor: Jasper Corbett


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk

    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    33 min
  • The mystery of Francis Bacon's minder
    Jul 8 2025

    This is the story of how a boxing match helped solve a 50-year art world mystery. And how, when a man named Ted wades in to stop a mugging in Soho, it leads to a most unlikely life-altering friendship with an artist who makes him, or his picture, immortal.


    Reporter: Stephen Smith

    Producer: Katie Gunning

    Artwork: Blythe Walker Sibthorpe

    Sound Designer: Dominic Delargy

    Editor: Jasper Corbett


    To find out more about The Observer:


    Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content head to our website observer.co.uk

    Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists


    If you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    40 min