Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods [World Of Secrets]

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 1. Golden Opportunity

20240919

20240925 (WS)
20240929 (WS)

A dream job offer arrives from Harrods, to the surprise of debutante teenager, Cheska. Why is one of the world's most famous luxury shops interested in her? How do they know where she lives - where to send the letter? It's the 1990s in London. Cheska and other rich girls are being introduced to high society, as part of an centuries old tradition. What should she do next? Soon after she gets the job offer, Cheska is working in owner Mohamed Al Fayed's personal office in London's exclusive Park Lane. Can Al Fayed help her with her ambition to act?

This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline.

NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods

A dream job offer arrives from Harrods, to the surprise of teenager, Cheska. Why is one of the world's most famous shops interested in her? How do they know where she lives?

NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

[LISTEN NOW]

Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 2. Executive Suite

20240919

20241002 (WS)
20241006 (WS)

Sophia is working in Harrods and is spotted by Mohamed Al Fayed. She's handed an incredible career opportunity. Soon she moves to work with her billionaire boss in his executive suite. Not everything is as it seems.

On the shop floor, Mohamed Al Fayed is known for the way he makes a dramatic entrance, flanked by security guards. “He's coming, he's coming ?, staff call out, as they spring to attention. Celebrity customers in the 1990s, like pop superstar Michael Jackson, are shopping in the store.

Presented by Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Shaimaa Khalil, and produced by Neal Razzell and Sally Abrahams. The editor is Matt Willis. It's a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

Special thanks to series consultant, Keaton Stone, director Erica Gornall and executive producer, Mike Radford.

Sophia is handed an incredible opportunity at Harrods but not everything is as it seems.

NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods

Sophia is working in Harrods and is spotted by Mohamed Al Fayed. She's handed an incredible career opportunity, but not everything is as it seems.

NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

[LISTEN NOW]

Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 3. Paris

20240919

20241009 (WS)
20241013 (WS)

Work trips to “the city of lights ? turn dark, as the extent of Mohamed Al Fayed's power and control becomes clear. Staying in the historic Villa Windsor in Paris should have been a dream come true, but the women are left terrified.

This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse. And this episode contains some of the most graphic descriptions. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline.

Presented by Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Shaimaa Khalil, and produced by Neal Razzell and Sally Abrahams. The editor is Matt Willis. It's a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

Special thanks to series consultant, Keaton Stone, director Erica Gornall and executive producer, Mike Radford.

Work trips to the city of lights turn dark. Al Fayed's power and control becomes clear.

NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods

NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

[LISTEN NOW]

Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 4. Surveillance State

20240919

20241016 (WS)
20241020 (WS)

Security cameras were everywhere - in Harrods and in a luxury apartment used by staff. There's an atmosphere of paranoia. Vanity Fair magazine was investigating the rumours swirling around Mohamed Al Fayed. Would the truth about him be exposed, even as potential witnesses say they were intimidated?

Presented by Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Shaimaa Khalil, and produced by Neal Razzell and Sally Abrahams. The editor is Matt Willis. It's a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

Special thanks to series consultant, Keaton Stone, director Erica Gornall and executive producer, Mike Radford.

Security cameras were everywhere in Harrods. There's an atmosphere of paranoia.

NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods

NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

[LISTEN NOW]

Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 5. Silenced No More

20240919

20241023 (WS)

Mohamed Al Fayed sells Harrods and retreats into a world of luxury villas and yachts. But will the women continue to stay silent about their allegations?

Their stories weren't all heard before his death but now they come together to speak out.

Would the past catch up with a man who had now been portrayed in The Crown, the drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II?

NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods

NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape

[LISTEN NOW]

Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 6. The Ripple Effect

20241024

20241026 (WS)
20241027 (WS)

Many more women have made allegations of abuse and rape against Mohamed Al Fayed – including Margot, who was hired as his children's nanny. We hear her story and find out about developments in the investigation since we published the first five episodes. Harrods says it is in the process of settling over 250 claims from women who say they were abused by its former owner.

Shaimaa Khalil speaks to series consultant Keaton Stone, Erica Gornall the director of Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, and Hannah Price from the BBC News Investigations unit.

This episode contains graphic details of sexual assault, which some listeners may find distressing.

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this series, please contact support organisations in your own country. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline.

This episode was updated on 25 October 2024.

NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods

Many more women have made allegations of abuse and rape against Mohamed Al Fayed – including Margot, who was hired as a nanny. We hear her story and the latest developments.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 1. Golden Opportunity	20240919	20240925 (WS) 20240929 (WS)	A dream job offer arrives from Harrods, to the surprise of debutante teenager, Cheska. Why is one of the world's most famous luxury shops interested in her? How do they know where she lives - where to send the letter? It's the 1990s in London. Cheska and other rich girls are being introduced to high society, as part of an centuries old tradition. What should she do next? Soon after she gets the job offer, Cheska is working in owner Mohamed Al Fayed's personal office in London's exclusive Park Lane. Can Al Fayed help her with her ambition to act? This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline. NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods A dream job offer arrives from Harrods, to the surprise of teenager, Cheska. Why is one of the world's most famous shops interested in her? How do they know where she lives? NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape [LISTEN NOW] [LISTEN NOW] [LISTEN NOW] [LISTEN NOW]
02	Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 2. Executive Suite	20240919	20241002 (WS) 20241006 (WS)	Sophia is working in Harrods and is spotted by Mohamed Al Fayed. She's handed an incredible career opportunity. Soon she moves to work with her billionaire boss in his executive suite. Not everything is as it seems. On the shop floor, Mohamed Al Fayed is known for the way he makes a dramatic entrance, flanked by security guards. “He's coming, he's coming ?, staff call out, as they spring to attention. Celebrity customers in the 1990s, like pop superstar Michael Jackson, are shopping in the store. This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline. Presented by Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Shaimaa Khalil, and produced by Neal Razzell and Sally Abrahams. The editor is Matt Willis. It's a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service. Special thanks to series consultant, Keaton Stone, director Erica Gornall and executive producer, Mike Radford. Sophia is handed an incredible opportunity at Harrods but not everything is as it seems. NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods Sophia is working in Harrods and is spotted by Mohamed Al Fayed. She's handed an incredible career opportunity, but not everything is as it seems. NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape [LISTEN NOW]
03	Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 3. Paris	20240919	20241009 (WS) 20241013 (WS)	Work trips to “the city of lights ? turn dark, as the extent of Mohamed Al Fayed's power and control becomes clear. Staying in the historic Villa Windsor in Paris should have been a dream come true, but the women are left terrified. This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse. And this episode contains some of the most graphic descriptions. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline. Presented by Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Shaimaa Khalil, and produced by Neal Razzell and Sally Abrahams. The editor is Matt Willis. It's a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service. Special thanks to series consultant, Keaton Stone, director Erica Gornall and executive producer, Mike Radford. Work trips to the city of lights turn dark. Al Fayed's power and control becomes clear. NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape [LISTEN NOW]
04	Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 4. Surveillance State	20240919	20241016 (WS) 20241020 (WS)	Security cameras were everywhere - in Harrods and in a luxury apartment used by staff. There's an atmosphere of paranoia. Vanity Fair magazine was investigating the rumours swirling around Mohamed Al Fayed. Would the truth about him be exposed, even as potential witnesses say they were intimidated? This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline. Presented by Cassie Cornish-Trestrail and Shaimaa Khalil, and produced by Neal Razzell and Sally Abrahams. The editor is Matt Willis. It's a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service. Special thanks to series consultant, Keaton Stone, director Erica Gornall and executive producer, Mike Radford. Security cameras were everywhere in Harrods. There's an atmosphere of paranoia. NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape [LISTEN NOW]
05	Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 5. Silenced No More	20240919	20241023 (WS)	Mohamed Al Fayed sells Harrods and retreats into a world of luxury villas and yachts. But will the women continue to stay silent about their allegations? Their stories weren't all heard before his death but now they come together to speak out. Would the past catch up with a man who had now been portrayed in The Crown, the drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II? This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline. NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape [LISTEN NOW]
06	Al Fayed, Predator At Harrods: 6. The Ripple Effect	20241024	20241026 (WS) 20241027 (WS)	Many more women have made allegations of abuse and rape against Mohamed Al Fayed – including Margot, who was hired as his children's nanny. We hear her story and find out about developments in the investigation since we published the first five episodes. Harrods says it is in the process of settling over 250 claims from women who say they were abused by its former owner. Shaimaa Khalil speaks to series consultant Keaton Stone, Erica Gornall the director of Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, and Hannah Price from the BBC News Investigations unit. This episode contains graphic details of sexual assault, which some listeners may find distressing. If you've been affected by any of the issues in this series, please contact support organisations in your own country. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to BBC.co.uk/actionline. This episode was updated on 25 October 2024. NEW season: Finding Mr Fox. Also: The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods Many more women have made allegations of abuse and rape against Mohamed Al Fayed – including Margot, who was hired as a nanny. We hear her story and the latest developments. [LISTEN NOW]