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When Peter Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the United States over his links with Jeffrey Epstein people wondered how he ever got appointed in the first place.

Eventually Keir Starmer’s government was forced to publish more than a thousand pages of emails, messages and letters which reveal how Peter Mandelson was appointed, vetted and cleared to become the UK’s most influential diplomat.

What emerges from those documents, is a story about who wields power in Britain today, how it works and how we conduct our politics.

The Observer’s Ada Barumé tells the story of a political farce that begins with the appointment of Peter Mandelson and ends with the resignation of Keir Starmer.

All four episodes are now available to listen to for subscribers to the Observer.

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

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

When World Cup Winner Phil Vickery retired in 2010, he thought his toughest physical battles were behind him. Today, like hundreds of former players, he lives with memory loss and the looming threat of brain trauma – and he’s demanding answers. And across the world, more and more people are looking towards one man in particular.

Reporters: Ben Coles and Jonathan Lewis

Producer: Jonathan Lewis

Artwork: Lucy Stevenson

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Executive producer: Jasper Corbett

Credits: ITV, BBC, Dodge Woodall, ABC News

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

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

How a mislaid phone led to a nightmare of fake reviews and claims of antisemitism. When Ali, a restaurateur, realised his mobile’s security had been breached and that random things were missing from his flat, he began to feel uneasy. Was he being targeted for his politics or his personal life? And more importantly, who could stop it?

Credits:

Reporter - Eva Wiseman

Producer - Matt Russell

Sound design - Dominic Delargy

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

In early 2025, Reform hosts a fundraiser at private member’s club Oswald’s. In attendance are many of the men whose deep pockets line the party’s accounts.

Reporter - Cat Neilan

Series Reporter/Producer - Poppy Bullard

Narrative Producer - Matt Russell

Sound Design - Dominic Delargy

Artwork - Blythe Walker Sibthorpe

Producer for Goalhanger - India Dunkley

Executive Producer for Goalhanger - Tom Whiter

Executive Producer for the Observer - Jasper Corbett

Clips: GB News, Xenia Tchoumi, Spears Magazine, Sky News Australia, Reform UK

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In 2019, Nigel Farage leads the Brexit Party to victory in the European Elections. But there’s a mystery at the heart of the party’s accounts. 

Reporter - Cat Neilan

Series Reporter/Producer - Poppy Bullard

Narrative Producer - Matt Russell

Sound Design - Dominic Delargy

Artwork - Blythe Walker Sibthorpe

Producer for Goalhanger - India Dunkley

Executive Producer for Goalhanger - Tom Whiter

Executive Producer for the Observer - Jasper Corbett

Clips: Reform UK, BBC, The Times, House of Commons

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

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

Ademola Adedeji was wrongfully identified as a gang member and jailed for conspiracy to commit GBH. This is the story of how a nine second clip from a rap video upended his life.

Reporter: Ciaran Tracey

Producer: Matt Russell

Artwork: Lucy Stevenson

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

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Caesar and Sami risked everything to show the world what was truly going on in Syria after the 2011 revolution. The Caesar files are a collection of tens of thousands of photos documenting human rights abuses and torture in Syria under the dictator Bashar al-Assad. They have become the cornerstone of Syrian war crime prosecutions around the world.

This is the story of the one of the most remarkable and daring collections and the courageous men behind it. A collection which may not just steer the course of international justice, but will serve as a permanent historical archive of a horrifying legacy for Syrians.

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