Rephonic
Artwork for Intrigue

Intrigue

BBC Radio 4
Migrant Smuggling
Barzan Majeed
Museum Of the Bible
Human Trafficking
Muriel Mackay
Cultural Heritage
Mental Health
Hobby Lobby
Muriel Mckay
New Testament Fragments
Rupert Murdoch
Scorpion
Iraq
London
Covid-19
Provenance Research
Egypt Exploration Society
BBC Sounds
Julius Kivimäki
BBC Radio 4

Next on Intrige: Lockerbie

One of the world's longest running conspiracies. Who was really behind the Lockerbie bombing?

On 21 December 1988, a plane explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people. A Libyan man, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, is convicted. Despite a global investigation Megrahi's conviction, and the failed appeals that followed, are still tainted - for some - with doubt and conspir... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes116Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
True CrimeDocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Intrigue

Latest Episodes

In 1988, Dumfries and Galloway police is the smallest force in the UK: only 310 officers. Now they’re dealing with the world’s biggest crime scene.

Detectives from all over Scotland are bussed into Lockerbie overnight. Within days, American intellig... more

Myles Bonnar pieces together the original police investigation.

He goes back to the night of the explosion; tracking down three sources, each with unique insight into how the police investigation unfolded.

From the very early days it’s clear conf... more

One of the world’s longest running conspiracies. Who was really behind the Lockerbie bombing?

On 21 December 1988, a plane explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people. A Libyan man, Abdelbaset al Megrahi, is convicted.

Despite a global in... more

The search for a convicted people smuggler who put money in the UK planning for retirement.

This investigation stems from a tip-off: a convicted smuggler once dubbed the most successful in history, is currently living in the UK and running a string ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Kardo Ranya
Lead smuggler interviewed during investigation
Ranya smuggling network
Episode: To Catch a King: 7. Boats, Trucks and Planes
Kardo Jaff
Alias of the same individual, cited in different lines
Ranya smuggling network
Episode: To Catch a King: 7. Boats, Trucks and Planes
Dr Mithana Amin
Member of Iraqi Parliament, outspoken on smuggling gangs
Iraqi Parliament
Episode: To Catch a King: 7. Boats, Trucks and Planes
Dan Canatella-Barcroft
Deputy Director of the UK's National Crime Agency
National Crime Agency
Episode: To Catch a King: 3. Stormy Weather
Meri-Tuuli Aua
Vastaamo patient who discusses her experience with the hack
Episode: Ransom Man: 2. Whoopsie :D
Antti Kuritu
Cybersecurity specialist who assessed Vastaamo's security flaws
Episode: Ransom Man: 2. Whoopsie :D
Nicola Easton
Antony's older sister
Episode: Word of God: Introducing The House at Number 48
Richard Cockett
Journalist at The Economist and author of a book about how the free market revolution took root in Britain.
The Economist
Episode: Word of God: Introducing Invisible Hands from The History Podcast
Jim Garlow
Evangelical leader and host of the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance
Episode: Word of God: 6. Higher Powers

Hosts

Sue Mitchell
Host and investigator on Intrigue, BBC Radio 4
Rob Lawrie
Co-host, investigative journalist and former aid worker

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Interesting stories but extremely repetitive

    Lots of filler and repeated ideas, probably to increase episode count. It drags on and on and I usually give up and read about it online

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mediahog
    United States4 months ago
  • Straight, intelligent quality broadcasting

    Many times podcast from the BBC organizations a week full of padding almost Zef generated by GenAi, emotional childish this is not the case with a ransom man. The reporting and stare storytelling his first class, entertaining and engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Thanos in Soho
    United States4 months ago
  • Biased

    I like the subjects of this investigative journalist. However, I've heard her before when she did a podcast on immigrants and as the same here she's very biased. How about the rights of the elder to make decisions in their own live? Why doesn't she ever question the fact that these adult children want money? Why is inheritance automatic? Her point of view does not look at the whole story I can honestly say I don't really enjoy this.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    jlr262
    United States5 months ago
  • Ransom man

    Great show, had to listen to it all in one go! Unusual and very interesting story

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    V1315U
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Limited analysis

    I found the story as a whole worth the telling. What a dreadful experience for the victims and a good example of tech entrepreneurs wanting to make a quick buck over and above the security and well-being of their clients. But the analysis was poor and the storytelling didn’t hold me as a listener. Ending the story on the interview with the perpetrator gave him too much of a platform while psychologically we were miles away from the victims who were surely the emotional heart of the story. It was... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Madelaines
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise rigorous reporting and on-the-ground storytelling, calling it gripping and high-quality journalism.
Some critiques note pacing issues or perceived bias and one-off criticisms of narrative focus.
Several episodes are lauded for humanizing victims while others feel coverage could broaden perspectives beyond a single network or figure.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#170
United States/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#92
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#77
Canada/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#140
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

To Catch a King: 7. Boats, Trucks and Planes
Q: What is the role of Moqtar in the network?
The hosts and sources discuss Moqtar as a leader or key figure in the network, with various lines identifying him, his alias 'the chosen', and his links to operations across countries.
To Catch a King: 7. Boats, Trucks and Planes
Q: How does someone get to the UK from Kurdistan via these routes?
The guest explains multiple routes including planes with forged documents, boats via Libya, or mixed itineraries through Turkey and Europe, emphasizing cost and risk as well as guarantees claimed by the smugglers.
To Catch a King: 7. Boats, Trucks and Planes
Q: How do I find the court?
The hosts explain the process of locating and following up with court appearances, using contacts and public records to track the case, as well as noting the importance of court outcomes in validating the investigation.
To Catch a King: 4. The French Escort
Q: How did you get into the smuggling trade?
The respondent explains a path from Iraq to Calais, using English skills and networks to work as a facilitator, and describes the limited earnings for low-level smugglers compared with the risk and coercion involved.
To Catch a Scorpion: 3. Satisfaction Guaranteed
Q: What kind of money are we talking about for a guaranteed truck?
They're classed as VIPs because they're paying 16,000 each for a guaranteed truck to the UK.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Intrigue

What is Intrigue about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Investigations focus on organized migrant smuggling networks across Europe, with on-the-ground reporting that tracks routes, kingpins, and the human impact of the trade. Episodes blend field interviews, eyewitness testimonies, and law-enforcement context to reveal how networks operate, how money flows, and how authorities attempt to disrupt operations. A standout is the immersive, high-stakes pacing that puts listeners in the middle of borderlands, boats, and clandestine meetings, often highlighting the human cost behind headline crime stories. The show tends to feature relentless pursuit of a single mastermind or network, combined with deep-dive reporting and access to insiders, victims, and officials, making it a gripping choice for liste... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Intrigue?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Intrigue. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Intrigue and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Intrigue get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Intrigue, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Intrigue?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Intrigue, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Intrigue have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Intrigue has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Intrigue?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Intrigue:

1. Crime Next Door
2. We call her Emma | Tortoise Investigates
3. Disclosure Investigates
4. British Scandal
5. Stalked

How many episodes of Intrigue are there?

Intrigue launched 2 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Intrigue?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Intrigue?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Intrigue from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Intrigue?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Intrigue. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Intrigue?

Recent guests on Intrigue include:

1. Kardo Ranya
2. Kardo Jaff
3. Dr Mithana Amin
4. Dan Canatella-Barcroft
5. Meri-Tuuli Aua
6. Antti Kuritu
7. Nicola Easton
8. Richard Cockett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days