Episodes

  • Are True Crime Books Dead? Discussing the State of True Crime Media in 2026

    Are True Crime Books Dead? Discussing the State of True Crime Media in 2026
    Mar 4 2026
    Are true crime books “dead”? That was a question posed in our Facebook group, and it sparked a much bigger conversation. In this episode, we step away from a single case or story and examine the current state of true crime media as a whole: books, podcasts, documentaries, YouTube, and the changing habits of modern audiences. Drawing on Adam’s experience writing a true crime book, we explore the realities of publishing in a genre that’s more popular (and more competitive) than ever. Is the market oversaturated? Have podcasts and audiobooks replaced traditional publishing? What do audiences really want from true crime in 2026? We discuss ethics, commercial pressures, storytelling trends, and whether the genre is evolving - or simply fragmenting into new formats. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
  • The Arrests of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson: Misconduct, Power and The Epstein Files

    The Arrests of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson: Misconduct, Power and The Epstein Files
    Feb 25 2026
    The former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the first arrest of a senior royal in centuries. Held for nearly 12 hours and released under investigation, he has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. The arrest relates to allegations that, while serving as UK trade envoy, he may have shared confidential government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson has also been arrested over similar allegations. In this episode, we break down what misconduct in public office actually means under UK law, why arrest thresholds can differ between high-profile suspects, and whether privilege influences process. We examine the wider fallout from the Epstein files, public trust in institutions, accountability for powerful figures, and the broader implications for the UK justice system. As always, our primary focus remains the victims at the centre of the Epstein case, and the unanswered questions that continue to fuel public anger. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Barrister Who Killed Pensioner Cleared to Return to the Bar | UK True Crime News

    Barrister Who Killed Pensioner Cleared to Return to the Bar | UK True Crime News
    Feb 18 2026
    A UK barrister jailed for causing death by dangerous driving has been cleared to return to work, and the decision is dividing opinion. In July 2022, Hamish Hickey fatally injured 84-year-old Michael Lupton in a head-on crash near Ampleforth, North Yorkshire. After initially denying responsibility, he later admitted the offence and was sentenced to 23 months in prison. The Bar Standards Board has now ruled he can resume practising law once his sentence, including time spent on licence, is complete. In this video we break down the fatal crash, the court proceedings, sentencing for causing death by dangerous driving in the UK, and the controversial decision to allow a convicted barrister back into the justice system. We examine public confidence in the legal profession, rehabilitation after prison, professional misconduct standards, and whether serious criminal convictions should carry lasting career consequences. This episode explores accountability, privilege, dangerous driving laws in England and Wales, and the wider implications for the UK criminal justice system. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Serial Killer Steve Wright SENTENCED Over 1999 Victoria Hall Murder

    Serial Killer Steve Wright SENTENCED Over 1999 Victoria Hall Murder
    Feb 11 2026
    More than 25 years after the murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall in Felixstowe, serial killer Steve Wright has returned to court to confess to the crime. Already serving a whole life order for the 2006 Ipswich murders of five women, Wright was handed an additional 40-year sentence, but his sudden admission has raised serious questions. Why did he choose to speak now, what investigative opportunities were missed in 1999, and could earlier police action have saved lives? In this episode we examine the Victoria Hall case, the attempted abductions that preceded it, and the broader implications of Wright’s confession. We discuss potential additional victims, expert insight from Professor David Wilson, speculation surrounding unsolved cases, and the importance of responsible media reporting - particularly when victims are vulnerable. As always, we focus on accountability, context, and remembering the people whose lives were taken, not just the person responsible. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • Lucy Letby Netflix Documentary Reignites Divisive Case

    Lucy Letby Netflix Documentary Reignites Divisive Case
    Feb 4 2026
    Lucy Letby is back in the headlines as Netflix releases 'The Investigation of Lucy Letby', reigniting debate, strong emotions, and public discussion around her case. In this episode we unpack the latest developments, including the decision not to pursue further charges, and why the documentary has sparked renewed interest. To be absolutely clear, nothing we discuss suggests Lucy Letby is innocent. She remains convicted and is serving 15x Whole Life Orders. Instead, we explore why some cases attract organised belief in innocence, how expert evidence is interpreted by the public, and whether questioning verdicts strengthens or undermines justice. We also put the conversation into context with historic and recent miscarriages of justice, including Timothy Evans and Peter Sullivan, highlighting what happens when doubt enters the system and the limits of certainty in the justice system. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Behind the Mic: How We Research, Write and Live With True Crime

    Behind the Mic: How We Research, Write and Live With True Crime
    Feb 2 2026
    In this episode of True Crime Catch Up, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of focusing on one case, we go behind the scenes of true crime podcasting. We talk openly about how we choose cases, how we research and write them, and the emotional toll that comes with telling these stories week after week. We discuss recent cases we’ve covered, including why certain stories stay with us, the dangers of turning true crime into “man kills woman every week”, and how behaviour that escalates over time is still too often dismissed or minimised. We also talk about wrongful convictions, false confessions, and the long-lasting impact these cases have on victims’ families. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • UK Police Chief RETIRES After AI Evidence Scandal

    UK Police Chief RETIRES After AI Evidence Scandal
    Jan 21 2026
    West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford has retired after a major scandal involving misleading MPs, flawed intelligence, and the use of AI-generated material - but because he wasn’t formally sacked, he will still receive his police pension. The case has reignited serious questions around police accountability, leadership failure, and public trust in UK policing. In this episode, we break down what went wrong, place it in the wider context of policing scandals - including the resignation of Dame Cressida Dick following the Sarah Everard case - and ask whether senior officers are ever truly held to account. We also balance the conversation by highlighting genuine policing wins and acts of bravery, before ending on a lighter note with one extremely intoxicated raccoon who managed to rob a liquor store. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Elon Musk FURIOUS as UK Considers X Ban | Grok AI Controversy

    Elon Musk FURIOUS as UK Considers X Ban | Grok AI Controversy
    Jan 14 2026
    Elon Musk is furious as the UK considers action that could see X (formerly Twitter) restricted or even banned following controversy surrounding its AI chatbot, Grok, being used to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual AI images. In this episode, we break down Ofcom’s investigation into X, and explore why UK regulators say the platform may be failing its Online Safety Act duties. We also examine Musk’s explosive response, accusations of censorship, and what this showdown means for free speech, AI regulation, and the future of social media in the UK. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins