A Very British Cult

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

In early 2019 Jeffrey Leigh-Jones from Portsmouth got a life coach. Someone to mentor him in life and help him realise his business ambitions.

Two years later, Jeff had sold his house, his relationship was in pieces, and he had handed over tens of thousands of pounds. And he wasn't the only one. In this eighteen-month investigation for the BBC, journalist Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a mysterious life coaching company taking over people's lives and ripping families apart.

As the investigation hots up, the group fights back, and there's a surreal final showdown.

Last refreshed: June 23rd, 2026 at 12:50 PM

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Episodes

8. The Showdown

This episode details the final push to expose and shut down Lighthouse International Group, revealing a parallel government investigation that leads to a court hearing. Despite Lighthouse leader Paul Waugh's defiant defense and online smear campaigns, the judge rules to wind up the company. The episode concludes with a dramatic street confrontation between the BBC reporter, Paul Waugh, and former members, alongside reflections on the group's deceptive control and the challenging road to recovery for those who left.

Apr 05, 2023•30 min

7. Us and Them

The people inside cults aren’t the only ones whose lives are transformed. There’s also the family members and friends, who are left behind. When Jeff left Lighthouse, he quickly found there was a whole community with loved ones still part of the organisation. Catrin meets a father who says it feels like his daughter is dead. Meanwhile there is an unexpected twist. There’s been another investigation, in secret, and parallel to ours. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye ...

Apr 05, 2023•29 min

6. Control

We meet Simon, who ended up deep in Lighthouse, recruiting for them, monitoring their critics and living with his mentor. But one day Simon says he realised he was actually in a cult, and he had no choice but to pack his bags and run. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main ...

Apr 04, 2023•29 min

5. Paulie

To understand Lighthouse, Catrin needs to try and understand Paul Waugh. She delves into his past to investigate his claims of incredible wealth, high profile business connections, and a difficult childhood. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher:...

Apr 04, 2023•29 min

4. Getting Out

The investigation is finding out more and more strange things about Lighthouse. We hear what happens when people start to question what is happening. Catrin speaks with Erin who raised concerns about Lighthouse and was accused of being "a cynical little old witch". Meanwhile Lighthouse is getting increasingly obsessed with its critics and former members. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching ...

Apr 04, 2023•31 min

3. The Life Coach

Catrin is quite cynical about the concept of life coaching. She’s now spent months speaking with people who signed up to it and ended up in a cult. So, she has a session with one of Ireland’s most in-demand coaches to see if he can change her mind. Then Catrin meets Anthony, who found Lighthouse during a very dark time in his life. She’s shocked by what she hears about his mentor’s approach to Anthony’s mental health issues. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her...

Apr 04, 2023•30 min

2. The Daily Call

Jeff is being drawn deeper and deeper into a life coaching group called Lighthouse. He loves having a mentor and feels great about life. Now it’s time to take the next step, to go full time. But what exactly awaits Jeff, and what is it going to cost him? What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natali...

Apr 04, 2023•29 min

1. Lighthouse

In November 2021 investigative journalist Catrin Nye got a call from Dawn. She said her boyfriend Jeff was trying to leave a cult. But this cult was also a life coaching company. Dawn said Jeff had handed over more than £100,000 to them and wasted years of his life. And what Dawn is really worried about is that the group are still active; they’re recruiting new members and she needs to raise the alarm. Jeff had simply signed up for a life coach, so how did it all go so wrong for him? What happen...

Apr 04, 2023•29 min

Welcome to... A Very British Cult

Catrin Nye gets a mysterious call that plunges her into an unsettling world of self-help and cults. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? In early 2019 Jeffrey Leigh-Jones from Portsmouth got a life coach. Someone to mentor him in life and help him realise his business ambitions. Two years later, Jeff had sold his house, his relationship was in pieces, and he had handed over tens of thousands of pounds. And he wasn’t the only one. In this eighteen-month investigation for the BBC, ...

Mar 29, 2023•2 min

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