Intrigue – Details, episodes & analysis

The story of the mysterious murder that changed the course of Chinese politics.

The story of the mysterious murder which changed the course of Chinese politics. Carrie Gracie investigates the killing of a British man, Neil Heywood, in Chongqing in 2011, and explores his links to China's up-and-coming power couple. China is gripped by a lurid show trial.

Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard

In a bonus episode of Intrigue: The Ratline, Stephen Fry interviews Philippe Sands in front of an audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London. They discuss a range of issues brought up by the series including historical responsibility and the nature of evil. Plus as a special extra, there is a full version of The Ratline theme music by Catrin Finch and Sekou Keita.

Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Helena Merriman tells the extraordinary true story of a man who dug a tunnel into the East, right under the feet of border guards, to help friends, family and strangers escape. The series is based on original interviews with the survivors as well as thousands of documents from the Stasi archives and recordings from the tunnel.

Producer & Presenter: Helena Merriman

Sound design: Eloise Whitmore

Editor: Richard Knight

#tunnel29

We've met the mayor's wife. Now meet the mayor, the remarkable man who takes this story to the national stage. The continuing true story of death, sex and elite politics in China, presented by BBC's former China Editor Carrie Gracie.

Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard.

When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies.

Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax.

James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.

What really happened in the hotel suite in Chongqing? The British businessman and go-between Neil Heywood arrives in Chongqing, where an"iron-blooded" police chief holds sway. The continuing true story of sex, death and Chinese politics, told by the BBC's former China Editor Carrie Gracie.

Producers: Maria Byrne and Neal Razzell Sound mix by James Beard.

“The story sounds like a purely English murder.” The rumour mill starts over who or what killed James Le Mesurier.

When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.

Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou Editor: Emma Rippon Researcher: Tom Wright Mixed by: Neil Churchill Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur Narrative Consultant: John Yorke Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman

REFERENCES:

Wedding video provided by Emma Le Mesurier

Report of the death of James Le Mesurier - BBC Outside Source , 11 November 2019

“Investigation into death of White Helmets co-founder” - CBC News: The National, 11 November 2019, from “New York Al Jazeera” footage

“James Le Mesurier: Brit who helped found White Helmets discovered dead in Istanbul” - ITV News, 11 November 2019

“Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda” – PBS NewsHour

“Brandpunt - Witte helmen” (Focal point - Season 1 - White helmets) - KRO-NCRV, 08 Nov 2016. Reporter Piet De Blaauw

“Смерть Джеймса ле Мезюрье: он слишком много знал - Россия 24” (The death of James le Mesurier: he knew too much) - Russia 24 Russia 24, 17 Nov 2019

“تركيا - مؤسس "الخوذ البيضاء" الإرهابية مقتولاً في اسطنبول “(Turkey - founder of the terrorist "White Helmets" was killed in Istanbul) Syrian Channel – News, 11 November 2019

“Assad on deaths of Epstein, White Helmets' founder, bin Laden & al-Baghdadi” RT News, 16 Nov 2019

“Eski İngiliz istihbarat subayı neden öldü? Uzman isim yorumladı” (Why did the former British intelligence officer die? Expert name commented) - CNN Türk

“White Helmets Co-founder Dies: Interview with Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Le Mesurier’s friend” - TRT World Now, 12 Nov 2019

“Hamish de Bretton-Gordon: James Le Mesurier A 'Special Kind Of Person'” 12 November 2019 - forces.net

“Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda” - PBS NewsHour, 24 Dec 2019

“I was naked having a strip search and I just know James was somewhere laughing his head off.” Who was James Le Mesurier?

When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.

Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou Editor: Emma Rippon Researcher: Tom Wright Mixed by: Neil Churchill Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur Narrative Consultant: John Yorke Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman

REFERENCES

“Investigation into death of White Helmets co-founder” - CBC News: The National, 11 Nov 2019 – video from New York Al Jazeera

James Le Mesurier home video – family collection

“This was just one baby out of thousands and thousands of other babies.” How James got involved in a war.

When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions.

Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou Editor: Emma Rippon Researcher: Tom Wright Mixed by: Neil Churchill Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur Narrative Consultant: John Yorke Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman

REFERENCES

PM, BBC Radio 4, 13 November 2014

“’Find her for me! Her name is Aya!’, Her mother. SCD in Damascus were able to rescue Aya” - The Syria Civil Defence - The White Helmets, 20 Feb 2017

“First explicit pictures of massive barrel bomb dropped on rebel zones in Syria” - euronews (in English) Credit: DaryaRevlution, 31 Jan 2014

“Baby in the rubble: Syria’s White Helmets” - UN Humanitarian, 22 Oct 2015

“Direct targeting to the white helmets teams” - Syria Civil Defence - The White Helmets, 19 December 2019

“Rescuer weeps after saving Syrian baby” – CNN, 30 Sep 2016

PM, BBC Radio 4, 13 November 2014

Storyville - Last Men in Aleppo - BBC collaboration with the Aleppo Media Centre, 27 Nov 2017