True Crime Diary

Leopold & Loeb: The Imperfect Crime

In this the final episode of Series 3 we discuss teenage murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, Neitzsche, culverts, and when there is only one telephone in the village.

Neville Heath: The Lady Killer

In this episode we discuss brutal murderer Neville Heath, the arrogance of serial killers, the audacity of Madame Tussauds, and a time before Rentaghost and The Cruel Sea.

George Joseph Smith: The Brides in the Bath

In this episode we discuss George Joseph Smith, the Brides in the Bath killer, all the other pathologies, reverse sharks, Svengali, and dressing in Rue's mother's clothes.

Due to technical difficulties, Mark's microphone is apparently replaced by a cup on a string.

Albert Pierrepoint: Hangman

In this episode we discuss England's most well known executioner Albert Pierrepoint, the mechanics of death, the singing room, Tish and Tosh, when David Hasselhoff ended World War 2, and no one wants Jed to kill them.

Ruth Ellis Rewind: Still the Last Woman Hanged in Britain

In this episode we revisit our very first episode from two years ago (Two years ago!), which is here in it's entirety with remastered audio and extra clips. We preface the episode with a discussion about the recording, and the case, and Jed has no memory of any of it. 

Colonel Blood and the Crown Jewels

In this episode we discuss Colonel Blood's attempted theft of the Crown Jewels, the English Civil War, when the ransom note is more important than the kidnapping, the hat/bag/trouser conundrum, Pox, Flox and Flux and muppets.

The Hitler Diaries

In this episode we discuss the infamous Hitler diary forgeries, the memorabilia trade, Lemmy, conning the conmen, faking the fakes, Stomp! and Jed does a passable Alan Bennett.

Henri Landru: The Bluebeard of Gambais

In this episode we discuss French serial killer Henri Désiré Landru, pre-invented inventions, lonely hearts adverts, surprisingly animated heads, four-figured ovens, and Charlie Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux. We also discover that Mark is a Duke.

Alan Turing: Imitation and Indecency

In this episode we discuss the mathematician, philosopher, code-breaker, war hero, and father of modern computer science Alan Turing, the brutality of an unjust law, the best place for an Amstrad computer, the chemistry of cats and the pot plant of a grateful nation.

We recorded this episode on location in Turing's former home in South-West London with our guest, current resident Sophie.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Art Museum Heist

In this episode we discuss the 1990 Boston Art theft, baseball movies, folding paintings, a symphony for the blind, The Rue Turner's Garden Art Museum, and Mark recalls a chilling memory of that time he didn't go to a strip club.