The verdict is delivered and Helen discovers the true identity of her former partner, John

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...

McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.

Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.

Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also – spoiler alert – be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.

Presenter: Mark Steel Producer: Conor Garrett Executive Producer: Georgia Catt Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Archive Research: Emma Betteridge Production Co-ordinator: Dan Marchini Music Score: Phil Kieran BBC Studios for BBC Radio 4

*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films

When Helen digs out some old letters from her former partner John, she finds some potential clues.

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...

McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.

Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.

Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.

Presenter: Mark Steel Producer: Conor Garrett Executive Producer: Georgia Catt Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini Sound Mix: Tim Heffer Music Score: Phil Kieran

*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films

A few months into the trial, Helen and Dave get an unexpected communication from the McDonald's Board of Directors.

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...

McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.

Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.

Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.

Presenter: Mark Steel Producer: Conor Garrett Executive Producer: Georgia Catt Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini Sound Mix: Tim Heffer Music Score: Phil Kieran

*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films

When McDonald's discloses internal company documents to the court, they reveal somebody has been watching...

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...

McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.

Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.

Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.

Presenter: Mark Steel Producer: Conor Garrett Executive Producer: Georgia Catt Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini Sound Mix: Tim Heffer Music Score: Phil Kieran

*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films

The London Greenpeace numbers have been dwindling until new faces start turning up at meetings...but something isn't right.

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...

McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.

Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.

Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.

Presenter: Mark Steel Producer: Conor Garrett Executive Producer: Georgia Catt Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini Sound Mix: Tim Heffer Music Score: Phil Kieran

*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s?’ It claimed McDonald’s was exploiting workers, destroying rainforests, torturing animals, and promoting food that could make people sick, even cause cancer...

McDonald’s said the claims in the leaflet were untrue and defamatory and the company demanded an apology.

Helen Steel, a gardener, and a former postman named Dave Morris, refused.

Mark Steel takes us into the murky world of McDonald’s Corporation vs Steel & Morris – aka 'McLibel' - the longest-running trial in English history which would turn the spotlight on the way big business operates. As well as bringing issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream, it would also be the moment our current Prime Minister first comes to prominence. If that isn’t enough, this story would ultimately have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something which Mark discovers he himself had been a victim of.

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the Shadows – BBC investigations from across the UK.

Presenter: Mark Steel Producer: Conor Garrett Executive Producer: Georgia Catt Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Production Coordinator: Dan Marchini Sound Mix: Tim Heffer Music Score: Phil Kieran

BBC Studios for BBC Radio 4

*Archive excerpts from director Franny Armstrong’s ‘McLibel,’ reproduced with the permission of Spanner Films

Mark Steel introduces an extraordinary battle between two activists - a gardener and a former postman - and one of the world's biggest fast food companies. A battle over a leaflet which led to the longest trial in English history. It would bring issues like rainforest destruction and advertising to children into the mainstream. It would also be the moment our Prime Minister first comes to prominence. Ultimately, it's a story which would have connections with a dark and shameful secret at the heart of the British state - something Mark discovers he himself had been the victim of. Honestly, there are conspiracy theories less bonkers than this. Welcome to the People vs McDonald's...

Shadow World: Gripping stories from the shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.

Where did the gang get the idea to use fake wills to steal the homes of the dead? Sue travels to Budapest to find out. As her investigation concludes, she exposes the scale of a crime that had gone unreported until now, and she hears how the authorities are finally starting to act.

Presenter: Sue Mitchell Producers: Sue Mitchell, Joe Moors and Winifred Robinson Sound design and mix: Tom Brignell Production coordinator: Juliette Harvey Executive producer: Joe Kent Commissioning executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning editor: Dan Clarke

The Grave Robbers is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.