Madeleine McCann: Disappeared - Part 1

On the night of May 3, 2007, three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, dined nearby with friends. Despite their routine checks on the children, Kate’s devastating discovery that Madeleine was missing ignited a global search and an investigation that would span continents and years.

Welcome to Madeleine McCann: Disappeared—a compelling three-part mini-series exploring one of the most notorious missing persons cases in modern history. Through this series, we’ll unpack the key events, the media frenzy, the investigative missteps, and the many unanswered questions surrounding Madeleine’s disappearance.

In this opening episode, Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero revisit the heart-wrenching night of Madeleine’s disappearance. Martin, who arrived in Praia da Luz just four days after the case broke, brings nearly 17 years of reporting experience on this story. His firsthand account provides a rare glimpse into the initial chaotic days of the investigation—detailing his interactions with Portuguese police, the evolving media landscape, and the pivotal moments that shaped the direction of the case.

Part 2: Insights with Jim Gamble

Exclusive commentary from Jim Gamble, the founding head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and a prominent voice in child protection. In 2010, Gamble conducted a detailed review of the Madeleine McCann case, laying crucial groundwork for Operation Grange. He’ll provide expert analysis and discuss the potential future of the case, including the developments surrounding Christian Brueckner, the current suspect.

Part 3: The Aftermath—Trolls and Tribulations

In this concluding episode, we examine the darker legacy of the case: the wave of online trolling, misinformation, and conspiracy theories that have haunted both the McCann family and investigators. What drives this toxic behavior, and what impact has it had on those most closely connected to this tragedy?

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Share your thoughts and questions by emailing contact@audiobleachglobal.com.

Connect with us:

Instagram @true.criminals

Connect with Martin Brunt:

Twitter: @skymartinbrunt

Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book:

No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter

Available Here

Connect with Helen Fospero:

Instagram: @helenfospero

Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation:

Listen Here

Hear Helen’s interview with Martin:

Listen here

Credits:

True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.

Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.

Executive Producer: Lee Mann

Producer: Russell Barnes

Audio Production: Andrew Chappell

Music Composition: Chap Mannequin

Artwork: Bleached

The Soham Murders

This week on True Criminals, join @SkyNews Crime Correspondent @Martin_Brunt and journalist @HelenFospero as they explore the harrowing case that gripped the nation and reshaped child protection measures in the UK.

In August 2002, the tranquil town of Soham, Cambridgeshire, was shattered when 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared after attending a family barbecue. The desperate search for the missing friends led to a devastating discovery, exposing the sinister truth about someone entrusted within their community.

Don’t miss this in-depth look at a case that left an indelible mark on Britain.

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Share your thoughts and questions by emailing contact@audiobleachglobal.com.

Connect with us:

Instagram @true.criminals

Connect with Martin Brunt:

Twitter: @skymartinbrunt

Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book:

No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter

Available Here

Connect with Helen Fospero:

Instagram: @helenfospero

Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation:

Listen Here

Hear Helen’s interview with Martin:

Listen here

Credits:

True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.

Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.

Executive Producer: Lee Mann

Producer: Russell Barnes

Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Music

Composition: Chap Mannequin

Artwork: Bleached

This week on True Criminals, Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero investigate a tragic case of mistaken identity. In this episode, they delve into the story of Muriel Mackay—a harrowing account of kidnapping, murder, and a family’s relentless, 50+ year search for her remains.

Martin and Helen speak with Muriel’s grandson, Mark Dyer, who describes in detail how his family has even worked with Muriel’s killer in an effort to locate her burial site. Mark recounts how he and Martin recently returned to the farm for a second dig, hoping to finally recover his grandmother’s remains.

Together, they discuss the lasting impact of this tragedy on the family and the profound trauma that endures.

Welcome to the chilling conclusion of our debut double episode on Fred and Rose West. In this riveting installment of True Criminals, hosts Martin and Helen are joined by Howard Sounes, the journalist and author of Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors.

Sounes, who was the first to bring this shocking case to the national press, provides an insider’s perspective on the harrowing excavation at 25 Cromwell Street, where unsettling evidence was unearthed, revealing the true extent of the Wests' crimes.

Join Martin and Helen as they engage with Sounes in a candid discussion about the far-reaching implications of this case on policing, the media, and public perception—covering aspects that many other true crime podcasts overlook.

With a keen eye for detail, Sounes traces the unusual childhoods of Fred and Rose West and meticulously chronicles their criminal activities. Tune in for a compelling exploration of one of Britain’s most notorious criminal couples and the shocking story that continues to captivate audiences today.

If you would like to read Howards book you can follow this link:

Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors

For Howards podcast on the Wests and the House of Horrors, listen here.

Unheard: The Fred and Rose West Tapes

Share your thoughts and questions by emailing contact@audiobleachglobal.com.

Connect with us:

• Instagram

• YouTube

• TikTok

• Twitter: @skymartinbrunt

• Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter – Available here.

• Instagram: @helenfospero

• Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen here.

• Hear Helen’s interview with Martin: Listen here.

Credits:

True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.

Visit audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more.

Executive Producer: Lee Mann

Producer: Russell Barnes

Audio Production: Andrew Chappell

Music Composition: Chap Mannequin

Artwork: Bleached

True Criminals launches with an intense double episode that revisits the horrifying story of the infamous married serial killers, Fred and Rose West. In this opening installment, Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero recount how they first crossed paths while covering the case for Sky News.

Martin Brunt shares his unique experience of gaining rare access to the infamous Cromwell Street "House of Horrors." He delves into often overlooked aspects of the investigation, recounting chilling first-hand encounters, including interviews with the surviving victims. Brunt also reveals the systemic failures that allowed the Wests to evade capture for so long, highlighting how crucial connections were missed before the puzzle pieces finally came together, leading to a comprehensive forensic investigation and their eventual arrest.

Helen Fospero also offers her perspective on the case, providing journalistic insight into the challenges of covering such a high-profile story. She reveals the dedication and extraordinary lengths reporters often go to in order to capture and convey these harrowing events accurately.

Share your thoughts and questions by emailing contact@audiobleachglobal.com.

Connect with us:

• Instagram

• YouTube

• TikTok

• Twitter: @skymartinbrunt

• Discover more about Martin’s career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book: No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter – Available here.

• Instagram: @helenfospero

• Check out Helen’s podcast, The Convex Conversation: Listen here.

• Hear Helen’s interview with Martin: Listen here.

Credits:

True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.

Visit audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.

Executive Producer: Lee Mann

Producer: Russell Barnes

Audio Production: Andrew Chappell

Music Composition: Chap Mannequin

Artwork: Bleached

Premiering on the 5th of November! Join us for a special double episode with Howard Sounes, the investigative author who first broke the notorious Fred and Rose West "House of Horrors" story.

True Criminals is your ultimate source for in-depth explorations of historical crime cases, hosted by veteran crime reporter Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero. Each week, Martin and Helen draw on their decades of frontline experience to bring you stories packed with unique insights and hidden details that you won’t hear anywhere else.

Tune in as they uncover compelling, often unheard details about real cases, with special guests like true crime authors, detectives who’ve cracked infamous cases, investigative journalists who broke major headlines, and sometimes even those with firsthand connections to the criminals themselves.

For true crime fans hungry for a backstage pass to justice and investigation, True Criminals is your deep dive into the world of real crime.

Send your comments and questions to: contact@audiobleachglobal.com

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True Criminals is an Audio Bleach Global production.

Visit us at www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals