One of the first podcasts to truly take the world by storm was undoubtedly Serial, an investigative crime series looking into the death of a Baltimore teen. Over two decades after being convicted for the murder of his then girlfriend Hae Min Lee, the now 41-year-old Adnan Syed’s conviction has been overturned. In the meantime, true crime podcasts have become increasingly popular, including podcasts that focus on UK crime.
Our interest in podcasts has blown up in recent years, with Statista stating that the number of podcast listeners rose from 13.3 million in 2019 to 19.2 million in 2021. The success of podcasts like Serial has led to an increased interest in the true crime genre. From Netflix documentaries like Sins Of Our Motherand Girl In The Picture to the BBC’s Life On Death Row, audiences are clearly gripped by real life crimes.
If you want to find out more about the criminal justice system, analyse the motives of murderers, or just listen to some incredible storytelling, but don’t have the time for a TV marathon, then podcasts are the perfect option. Pop in your earphones during your commute or while cleaning the house, and off you go.
These nine podcasts focus on crimes that have taken place in the UK: from the unsolved death of a private investigator to the accidental poisoning of a famous pianist. These shows are sure to have you totally engrossed, a little terrified, and completely astounded.