Death By Conspiracy?

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

A Magical Town

20220221

20220228 (R4)
20220301 (R4)

Gary Matthews was into conspiracy theories - until he caught Covid and died. What role did falsehoods play in his death? BBC disinformation reporter Marianna Spring investigates.

Gary was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died.

Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

What happened to Gary Matthews?

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Fleeing A Virus

20220221

20220301 (R4)
20220302 (R4)

Two of Gary's closest friends give us the inside story of his journey towards conspiracy theories.

Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

How did Gary get pulled towards conspiracies?

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

The Protest

20220221

20220302 (R4)
20220303 (R4)

Marianna goes to a rally on the invitation of a man who believes strange things about Covid.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

A protest in Shrewsbury gets weird.

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Charlie

20220221

20220303 (R4)
20220304 (R4)

Marianna meets Charlie Parker, the man who ran the Facebook group Gary was in before he died.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

Marianna meets the man who ran the Facebook group Gary was in before he died.

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Reflections In The Glass

20220221

20220304 (R4)
20220305 (R4)

Gary's death is covered in the local media - and online, the information battle heats up.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

After Gary's death, the information battle heats up.

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Tristan's Quest

20220221

20220307 (R4)
20220308 (R4)

Filmmaker Tristan hears about the death of his cousin Gary. Seeking to understand what happened, Tristan returns to Shrewsbury, where he encounters Charlie Parker.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

Seeking to understand what happened, Gary's cousin returns to Shrewsbury.

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Gary's Final Days

20220221

20220308 (R4)
20220309 (R4)

Marianna examines new evidence and fills in the gaps of Gary's last days.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

Marianna traces Gary's final week.

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Tracking The Timeline

20220221

20220309 (R4)
20220310 (R4)

Marianna looks at the role that social media played in pushing Gary towards conspiracy theories.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

What did Gary's online life look like?

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

The Conspiracist Mindset

20220221

20220310 (R4)
20220311 (R4)

Marianna asks what we get wrong about people who are drawn to conspiracy theories - and finds out who's really at risk of falling down the rabbit hole.

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

Debunking stereotypes about those who fall for conspiracy theories.

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Light And Dark

20220221

20220311 (R4)
20220312 (R4)

As Gary is remembered by those he left behind, what does his story tell us about the world we live in - online and off - right now?

Producer: Ant Adeane

Editor: Mike Wendling

What does the story of Gary Matthews tell us about the world now?

Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	A Magical Town	20220221	20220228 (R4) 20220301 (R4)	Gary Matthews was into conspiracy theories - until he caught Covid and died. What role did falsehoods play in his death? BBC disinformation reporter Marianna Spring investigates. Gary was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling What happened to Gary Matthews? Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
02	Fleeing A Virus	20220221	20220301 (R4) 20220302 (R4)	Two of Gary's closest friends give us the inside story of his journey towards conspiracy theories. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling How did Gary get pulled towards conspiracies? Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
03	The Protest	20220221	20220302 (R4) 20220303 (R4)	Marianna goes to a rally on the invitation of a man who believes strange things about Covid. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling A protest in Shrewsbury gets weird. Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
04	Charlie	20220221	20220303 (R4) 20220304 (R4)	Marianna meets Charlie Parker, the man who ran the Facebook group Gary was in before he died. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling Marianna meets the man who ran the Facebook group Gary was in before he died. Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
05	Reflections In The Glass	20220221	20220304 (R4) 20220305 (R4)	Gary's death is covered in the local media - and online, the information battle heats up. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling After Gary's death, the information battle heats up. Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
06	Tristan's Quest	20220221	20220307 (R4) 20220308 (R4)	Filmmaker Tristan hears about the death of his cousin Gary. Seeking to understand what happened, Tristan returns to Shrewsbury, where he encounters Charlie Parker. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling Seeking to understand what happened, Gary's cousin returns to Shrewsbury. Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
07	Gary's Final Days	20220221	20220308 (R4) 20220309 (R4)	Marianna examines new evidence and fills in the gaps of Gary's last days. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling Marianna traces Gary's final week. Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
08	Tracking The Timeline	20220221	20220309 (R4) 20220310 (R4)	Marianna looks at the role that social media played in pushing Gary towards conspiracy theories. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling What did Gary's online life look like? Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
09	The Conspiracist Mindset	20220221	20220310 (R4) 20220311 (R4)	Marianna asks what we get wrong about people who are drawn to conspiracy theories - and finds out who's really at risk of falling down the rabbit hole. Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling Debunking stereotypes about those who fall for conspiracy theories. Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.
10	Light And Dark	20220221	20220311 (R4) 20220312 (R4)	As Gary is remembered by those he left behind, what does his story tell us about the world we live in - online and off - right now? Gary Matthews was a talented artist and photographer, sociable and well-liked - a familiar face in his hometown of Shrewsbury. A few years ago, his friends noticed that he was getting into conspiracy theories. Like millions of others, he fell for Covid pseudoscience when the pandemic hit. In January 2021, at the age of 46, Gary caught the virus, and died. Marianna Spring, the BBC's specialist disinformation reporter, travels to the serene medieval Shropshire town that Gary Matthews called home to investigate what happened to him - and why. While delving into the conspiracy underbelly of this picturesque town, she finds out more about Gary's life - and discovers a story that's been repeated across the country, and around the world. Producer: Ant Adeane Editor: Mike Wendling What does the story of Gary Matthews tell us about the world now? Gary Matthews was drawn to conspiracies about Covid - until he caught the virus, and died.