Impact Podcasts – Details, episodes & analysis

Two hikers stumble upon a body in a wooded area off a country road in Perthshire. Police quickly determine this isn’t the murder scene—Annalise Johnstone was killed elsewhere. 

Meanwhile, her brother, Jordan Johnstone, walks into a Dundee police station to report her missing. But detectives sense he’s withholding something. 

Introducing “Who Killed Annalise?” a five-part true crime podcast series from The Courier and DC Thomson.

In 2023, Police Scotland claimed they had solved every homicide since 2013. But for the family of Annalise Johnstone, one question remains: Who Killed Annalise?

Annalise Johnstone was killed in the shadow of a witch's grave in 2018. Annalise's brother, Jordan Johnstone, and his girlfriend, Angela Newlands, were charged in connection with her brutal killing—but neither was ever convicted.

The Courier revisits the cold case of Annalise Johnstone like never before, uncovering new details and speaking with those closest to the investigation: journalists, detectives, and witnesses.

The Podcast also features interviews with Annalise’s family, which is significant given that one was once a suspect.

New episodes of Who Killed Annalise? drop weekly starting February 17, 2025. Listen ad-free and binge the full series now on The Courier app.

In the second of our bonus episodes, we take you behind the scenes of our true crime podcast, Hunting Mr X.

In a revealing conversation, host Brendan Duggan sits down with Impact Investigations reporter Dale Haslam to uncover the extensive work that went into crafting this gripping series.

Get a glimpse into the investigative process and learn about the months of dedication chasing leads and interviews that that brought Hunting Mr X to life.

If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Julian Chisholm, please email brendan.duggan@dcthomson.co.uk. To read more about this case go here.

In the first of two new bonus episodes of Hunting Mr X, we dive even deeper into the UK’s gritty underworld in the 1980s and 1990s.

Host Brendan Duggan is joined by two guests to learn how the criminal industry evolved and the devastating impact of the drug scene on communities during these turbulent times.

Retired detective chief superintendent Neil Leslie is now a lecturer of criminology and policing at Abertay University and Richard Prest is DC Thomson’s head of content development and a former crime reporter.

If you have any questions about Mr X or tips about Julian Chisholm, please 89email brendan.duggan@dcthomson.co.uk. To read more about this case go The Press and Journal for more information.

It’s not how you thought this story was going to end.

Listen to the epic conclusion to Hunting Mr X and find out where each of our characters ended up after their lives were forever changed by Julian Chisholm.

For more Mr X content, visit www.thecourier.co.uk/ and www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

The net closes in on the gang as police and customs officers swoop after weeks of covert surveillance stretching from Spain to Scotland.

Customs investigator Graham Dick races to intercept the huge drugs haul, which is packed in a bright orange van, but gets the surprise of his life.

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

Episode 5 coming June 15th

After being put in a car during the middle of the night, on the orders of Julian Chisholm, Chris Howarth and Noel Hawkins eventually find themselves in Gibraltar where they then set off on a journey across the Atlantic to pick up 500kg of cocaine from the Cali Cartel.

They are faced with a battle for survival as the pair try to land the drugs near Ullapool amid a fierce storm.

This is not the end of the story...

Episode 4 releases June 8

Episode 5 releases June 15

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

From Spain to Ullapool, customs officer Graham Dick and his team keep a watchful eye on the gang’s movements. As they begin to build a case against Julian Chisholm, Graham has a hunch Chisholm, who later became known as Mr X, is planning something big with his criminal associates - including latest recruit, “Crazy” Chris Howarth.

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

A young and ambitious diver from the Highland village of Straffpeffer travels to Aberdeen in search of fortune but his sights aren’t just set on oil money. Julian Chisholm forms a gang with the intention of smuggling drugs into Scotland through a once dangerous deserted island.

For more Mr X content visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/

Introducing Hunting Mr X: A new 5-part true crime podcast series from the DC Thomson titles The Press and Journal and The Courier