Shadow World

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Impulsive: Omnibus - Part 1

20260221

Early in 2025, BBC Investigations Correspondent Noel Titheradge published his first story about a category of prescription drug with unusual side effects.

People who take dopamine agonist drugs for conditions like Parkinson's disease or Restless Legs Syndrome often report impulse control disorders - problems with gambling, compulsive eating or shopping, or hypersexuality.

He wasn't expecting the response. After that first article was published more than 200 people got in touch - that's me, they said, that's my partner, that's my dad.

So Noel started digging.

Details of organisations offering help and support with some of the issues raised are available at BBC.co.uk/actionline.

If you have any concerns about medication you're taking, speak to your doctor.

Noel Titheradge uncovers the devastating side effects of dopamine agonist drugs.

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK

Noel Titheradge uncovers the devastating side effects of a class of prescription drugs which can cause hypersexuality and compulsive gambling.

[LISTEN NOW]

Impulsive: Omnibus - Part 2

20260228

Noel Titheradge uncovers the devastating side effects of dopamine agonist drugs.

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK

[LISTEN NOW]

The Smuggler: Omnibus 1

20260105

Shadow World tells the story of a former British soldier who became an international people smuggler.

In this intimate portrait of a British people smuggler, we hear from the perpetrator directly, to uncover his motivations, methods and the consequences of risking the lives of desperate people. The investigation exposes how the smuggling techniques used are still possible today and details the ease with which smugglers can bring migrants into the UK without being caught.

Presenter - Annabel Deas

Producer - Hayley Mortimer

Sound design - Neil Churchill

Editor - Matt Willis

Commissioning Executive - Tracy Williams

Commissioning Editor - Dan Clarke

Series music - Ambit Sound

How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler?

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK

How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? Annabel Deas investigates, taking us deep into the UK's hidden criminal landscape.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Smuggler: Omnibus 2

20260107

Shadow World tells the story of a former British soldier who became an international people smuggler.

Presenter - Annabel Deas

Producer - Hayley Mortimer

Sound design - Neil Churchill

Editor - Matt Willis

Commissioning Executive - Tracy Williams

Commissioning Editor - Dan Clarke

Series music - Ambit Sound

How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler?

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK

How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? Annabel Deas investigates, taking us deep into the UK's hidden criminal landscape.

[LISTEN NOW]

Thief At The British Museum

20240712

The inside story of how ancient treasures were stolen from one of the world's most renowned institutions. And how one man believes he caught a thief. Omnibus edition part two of two.

Presenter: Katie Razzall

Producers: Darin Graham, Ben Henderson and Larissa Kennelly

Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

Mix and sound design : James Beard

Composer: Jenny Plant

Exec-producer: Joe Kent

Investigations Editor: Ed Campbell

Series Editor: Matt Willis

Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams

Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke

A story of history disregarded, beauty destroyed, and trust betrayed.

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.

Warning Signs

20260216

When Freddie's dad Bill is diagnosed with Parkinson's, his medication gives him a new lease of life. He starts ticking things off his retiree bucket list - travelling, skydiving, golf.

But then Freddie notices that his previously sober and sensible father has started behaving erratically.

For more than a year, BBC Investigations correspondent Noel Titheradge has been working on a story about people whose behaviour changed radically after they were prescribed a class of medications which boost dopamine activity in the brain. These dopamine agonist drugs were prescribed more than 1.5 million times in the UK last year to treat Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

But they have well established side effects. 1 in 6 people who take them develop impulse control disorders, which can include hypersexuality, binge eating, and compulsive gambling and shopping.

Since Noel published an article on this issue he received more than 200 messages from people about their experiences.

If these side effects have been known about for decades, why weren't some patients and their families properly warned or monitored?

If you have any concerns about medication you're taking, speak to your doctor.

Presenter: Noel Titheradge

Producer: Lucy Burns

Editor: Matt Willis

A BBC News Long Form Audio production

Bill's Parkinson's medication has helped a lot. But then he begins to behave erratically.

Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK

When Bill is diagnosed with Parkinson's, his medication gives him a new lease of life. But then he begins to behave erratically.

[LISTEN NOW]

1. My Dear Friend

20250702

20250709 (R4)

It should be impossible to steal a home, but this new narrative podcast from multi award winning investigative reporter Sue Mitchell (Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion, Million Dollar Lover) reveals a gang operating in the UK to steal houses from people who die without a recent will.

The series hears from victims of the gang - and confronts its leaders, highlighting the shortfalls of a creaking system that leaves many others at risk. It also reveals the scale and depth of an ongoing scam which is denying rightful heirs significant windfalls - and depriving the UK Government of inheritance tax revenue.

This is an original investigation. A story never told before, leading across borders and into the dark underbelly of the UK. Over five episodes, Sue reveals a network of companies that connect the gang members and finds evidence that as well as scamming people out of property, they are involved in illegal drugs, money laundering and the sale of UK work visas.

Sue Mitchell investigates a gang using fake wills to steal people's homes and inheritance.

How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler?

It should be impossible to steal a home, but a gang operating in the UK is stealing houses from people who die without wills: using fake wills to claim properties worth millions.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	Impulsive: Omnibus - Part 1	20260221		Early in 2025, BBC Investigations Correspondent Noel Titheradge published his first story about a category of prescription drug with unusual side effects. People who take dopamine agonist drugs for conditions like Parkinson's disease or Restless Legs Syndrome often report impulse control disorders - problems with gambling, compulsive eating or shopping, or hypersexuality. He wasn't expecting the response. After that first article was published more than 200 people got in touch - that's me, they said, that's my partner, that's my dad. So Noel started digging. Details of organisations offering help and support with some of the issues raised are available at BBC.co.uk/actionline. If you have any concerns about medication you're taking, speak to your doctor. Noel Titheradge uncovers the devastating side effects of dopamine agonist drugs. Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK Noel Titheradge uncovers the devastating side effects of a class of prescription drugs which can cause hypersexuality and compulsive gambling. [LISTEN NOW]
	Impulsive: Omnibus - Part 2	20260228		Noel Titheradge uncovers the devastating side effects of dopamine agonist drugs. Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK [LISTEN NOW]
	The Smuggler: Omnibus 1	20260105		Shadow World tells the story of a former British soldier who became an international people smuggler. In this intimate portrait of a British people smuggler, we hear from the perpetrator directly, to uncover his motivations, methods and the consequences of risking the lives of desperate people. The investigation exposes how the smuggling techniques used are still possible today and details the ease with which smugglers can bring migrants into the UK without being caught. Presenter - Annabel Deas Producer - Hayley Mortimer Sound design - Neil Churchill Editor - Matt Willis Commissioning Executive - Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor - Dan Clarke Series music - Ambit Sound How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? Annabel Deas investigates, taking us deep into the UK's hidden criminal landscape. [LISTEN NOW]
	The Smuggler: Omnibus 2	20260107		Shadow World tells the story of a former British soldier who became an international people smuggler. In this intimate portrait of a British people smuggler, we hear from the perpetrator directly, to uncover his motivations, methods and the consequences of risking the lives of desperate people. The investigation exposes how the smuggling techniques used are still possible today and details the ease with which smugglers can bring migrants into the UK without being caught. Presenter - Annabel Deas Producer - Hayley Mortimer Sound design - Neil Churchill Editor - Matt Willis Commissioning Executive - Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor - Dan Clarke Series music - Ambit Sound How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? Annabel Deas investigates, taking us deep into the UK's hidden criminal landscape. [LISTEN NOW]
	Thief At The British Museum	20240712		The inside story of how ancient treasures were stolen from one of the world's most renowned institutions. And how one man believes he caught a thief. Omnibus edition part two of two. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producers: Darin Graham, Ben Henderson and Larissa Kennelly Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Mix and sound design : James Beard Composer: Jenny Plant Exec-producer: Joe Kent Investigations Editor: Ed Campbell Series Editor: Matt Willis Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke A story of history disregarded, beauty destroyed, and trust betrayed. Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.
	Warning Signs	20260216		When Freddie's dad Bill is diagnosed with Parkinson's, his medication gives him a new lease of life. He starts ticking things off his retiree bucket list - travelling, skydiving, golf. But then Freddie notices that his previously sober and sensible father has started behaving erratically. For more than a year, BBC Investigations correspondent Noel Titheradge has been working on a story about people whose behaviour changed radically after they were prescribed a class of medications which boost dopamine activity in the brain. These dopamine agonist drugs were prescribed more than 1.5 million times in the UK last year to treat Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. But they have well established side effects. 1 in 6 people who take them develop impulse control disorders, which can include hypersexuality, binge eating, and compulsive gambling and shopping. Since Noel published an article on this issue he received more than 200 messages from people about their experiences. If these side effects have been known about for decades, why weren't some patients and their families properly warned or monitored? If you have any concerns about medication you're taking, speak to your doctor. Presenter: Noel Titheradge Producer: Lucy Burns Editor: Matt Willis A BBC News Long Form Audio production Bill's Parkinson's medication has helped a lot. But then he begins to behave erratically. Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK When Bill is diagnosed with Parkinson's, his medication gives him a new lease of life. But then he begins to behave erratically. [LISTEN NOW]
04	1. My Dear Friend	20250702	20250709 (R4)	It should be impossible to steal a home, but this new narrative podcast from multi award winning investigative reporter Sue Mitchell (Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion, Million Dollar Lover) reveals a gang operating in the UK to steal houses from people who die without a recent will. The series hears from victims of the gang - and confronts its leaders, highlighting the shortfalls of a creaking system that leaves many others at risk. It also reveals the scale and depth of an ongoing scam which is denying rightful heirs significant windfalls - and depriving the UK Government of inheritance tax revenue. This is an original investigation. A story never told before, leading across borders and into the dark underbelly of the UK. Over five episodes, Sue reveals a network of companies that connect the gang members and finds evidence that as well as scamming people out of property, they are involved in illegal drugs, money laundering and the sale of UK work visas. Sue Mitchell investigates a gang using fake wills to steal people's homes and inheritance. How did a former British soldier become an international people smuggler? It should be impossible to steal a home, but a gang operating in the UK is stealing houses from people who die without wills: using fake wills to claim properties worth millions. [LISTEN NOW]