Hoaxed

Introducing... Hoaxed, the new series from Alexi Mostrous and Tortoise, who brought you Sweet Bobby.

Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain's most serious-ever conspiracy theories. A story about a modern-day Satanic panic; about the victims whose lives were destroyed and about the conspiracists who spread the lie around the world. Oh, and it's about our hunt for the perpetrators - the people who forced the kids to lie - the ones who started it all.

All 6 episodes are available now to listen for free. You can listen to the full series ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content by downloading the Tortoise audio app or subscribing to Tortoise+ on Apple podcasts. Or join Tortoise as a member, where you can access more of our reporting, live events and support our work. Just visit the Tortoise website and use the code Alexi50 for half price membership.

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Episodes

Introducing...Elon's Spies

Introducing...Elon's Spies Elon Musk is one of the most powerful men in the world. He's a billionaire, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla and more. To his followers, he's a hero; to his critics, a far-right rabble rouser.  But for someone so public, there’s one part of his life that’s less well known. Elon’s Spies investigates how this free-speech champion uses private investigators and surveillance to target everyone from whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics and people in his own l...

Oct 10, 2024•41 min

Introducing...What's Wrong With Democracy?

Introducing...What's Wrong With Democracy? By the end of this year, countries making up half the world’s population will have held elections. But not all of them will have been free and fair. In ‘What’s Wrong with Democracy?’ Professor Ben Ansell of Oxford University will, with the help of academics, journalists, activists and writers, figure out whether democracy is working and how best to preserve democratic freedoms, equality and rights.  What’s Wrong with Democracy? is produced by Torto...

Sep 05, 2024•2 min

Introducing...Pretendians

We have an exciting new investigation coming up next week and you can join Tortoise as a member to get early and ad-free access to the new series and support our investigations at  tortoisemedia.com/invite . While you're waiting, we wanted to tell you about a new podcast from our friends at Canadaland. Introducing...Pretendians. Why do people pretend to be Native? Hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) begin their ...

May 23, 2024•15 min

Introducing...Who Trolled Amber?

Introducing..Who Trolled Amber? What comes to mind when you think of Amber Heard? Liar? Survivor? Narcissist? Millions of us watched the celebrity trial of the century, Depp v Heard, in 2022. Amber Heard lost and Johnny Depp was vindicated. But what if Amber was actually the victim of an organised trolling campaign? What if the online hate against her was manufactured? Alexi Mostrous, the reporter who brought you Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, investigates what happened to Amber and who might have been...

Feb 27, 2024•37 min

Episode six: Bonnie and Clyde

In the final episode of Hoaxed, Alexi confronts Abraham and Ella. about what they. did in Hampstead - and why. And the police give Alexi some surprising news. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists,  download the free Tortoise audio app . For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to further support...

Oct 27, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Episode five: The Healer

Alexi and his producer fly to Morocco to confront Abraham Christie - and learn dark secrets about his past. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists,  download the free Tortoise audio app . For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind...

Oct 20, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Infiltration | Ep 4

All 6 episodes are available to listen for free today. You can listen to the full series ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content coming soon by subscribing to Tortoise+ on Apple podcasts or joining Tortoise as a member where you can support the investigation and get tickets to exclusive events. Just visit the Tortoise website and use the code Alexi50 for half price membership. For a conspiracy to spread, important people need to be listening. Alexi discovers that the perpetrators of th...

Oct 13, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4

The Avengers | Ep 3

The perpetrators of the Hampstead hoax meet their match in an unassuming mystery novelist, who is determined to expose their lies and bring them to justice. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists,  download the free Tortoise audio app . For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. If you’d like to further...

Oct 06, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Ella's list | Ep 2

Seized upon by conspiracy theorists, Ella’s list of alleged cult members spreads like wildfire across the Internet. Hampstead parents start receiving death threats and lives are torn apart. Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists,  download the free Tortoise audio app . For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts. I...

Sep 29, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Secrets and lies | Ep 1

Two young children make horrific allegations in a London police station, lighting the fuse on the most serious British conspiracy theories in decades. All six episodes are now available to listen for free. You can listen to the full series ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content coming soon by subscribing to Tortoise+ on Apple podcasts or joining Tortoise as a member where you can support the investigation and get tickets to exclusive events. Just visit the Tortoise website and use the...

Sep 22, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Introducing: Hoaxed

In 2014, two children told police a shocking story: that they were being abused by a Satanic cult; a cult headed by their father and by parents and teachers at their school in the wealthy London suburb of Hampstead.  The story was a lie. But on the internet, that didn't matter.  From the team who brought you Sweet Bobby, Hoaxed is an investigation into one of Britain's most serious-ever conspiracy theories. A story about a modern-day Satanic panic; about the victims whose lives were de...

Sep 03, 2022•1 min

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