Shows
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredBody Farms – Part 2This is the second in a two-part mini series on forensic taphonomy centres or body farms. This week Lynda and Cass are meeting Dr Anna Williams, Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Central Lancashire.
At present there are only a dozen body farms established around the world and none in the UK, but Anna has been advocating for establishing one in the UK for over a decade. In this episode we look at the reasons why Anna has found it so challenging to establish a UK body farm and what value it might bring to our f...
2025-08-1239 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredBody Farms - Part 1Forensic taphonomy is the study of what happens to a body between death and discovery. It’s one of the oldest forensic disciplines and one of the most controversial. Why? Because to properly study forensic taphonomy you need bodies. The Victorians took them from graveyards, these days we have Body Farms.
Body Farms have proved to be a vital resource for forensic scientists to learn more about how and why bodies decompose in certain conditions. It’s a hugely complex subject which brings in factors like climate, soil, insects, scavengers, diet among other things.
This week Lynda...
2025-08-051h 01Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredForensic Geology – Part 2This is the second of a two-part mini series discussing the extraordinary science of Forensic Geology with leading expert Dr Laurance Donnelly.
Forensic geology is the application of geology to aid the investigation of crime – and it's arguably the broadest of all the forensic sciences, covering everything from crime scene examination and searches for burials, to investigating art fraud and the smuggling of precious metals and gems. Geology has been used by police and law enforcement since the middle part of the 19th century, however it's only recently that it's become more widely used across the world - an...
2025-07-2923 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredForensic Geology – Part 1This is the first of a two-part mini series discussing the extraordinary science of Forensic Geology with leading expert Dr Laurance Donnelly.
Forensic geology is the application of geology to aid the investigation of crime – and it's arguably the broadest of all the forensic sciences, covering everything from crime scene examination and searches for burials, to investigating art fraud and the smuggling of precious metals and gems. Geology has been used by police and law enforcement since the middle part of the 19th century, however it's only recently that it's become more widely used across the world - an...
2025-07-2233 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredFraud Forensics with Tony SalesFor twenty years, Tony Sales was Britain's biggest fraudster. From cloning credit cards and identities to emptying cash machines and being a confidence trickster, Tony knew how to make money. In this first episode of the new series of Listening to the Dead, Lynda and Cass are joined by Tony and his colleague, former Head of the Fraud Squad Andy McDonald about fraud, to discuss fraud: how investigating it has evolved, the current threats, the impact on victims and the devastating iSpoof case of 2023.
As a fraudster, Sales could make people believe whatever he wanted them to. As an...
2024-03-1848 min
CrimeConversationsCrimeCon London 2023 LIVE: Listening to the DeadRecorded live at CrimeCon London 2023, in this episode of Listening to the Dead, Lynda La Plante, Cass Sutherland & Jon Watt were joined by renowned forensic podiatrist Haydn Kelly to discuss his remarkable career and the first use of forensic gait analysis as expert evidence in criminal law at The Old Bailey in the trial of jewellery thief John Saunders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-08-0939 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredLive at Crime Con 2023The Listening to the Dead crew return to Crime Con in London for another live recording.
In this episode the team are joined by renowned forensic podiatrist Haydn Kelly to discuss his remarkable career and the first use of forensic gait analysis as expert evidence in criminal law at The Old Bailey in the trial of jewellery thief John Saunders.
From Shakespeare to the Usual Suspects, a person's gait is mentioned time and again. But how much can you really tell from a person's gait? More than you might think!
2023-06-3038 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredForensic searches and the murder of April JonesIn this final episode we’re discussing forensic searches: searches for bodies, searches for evidence, searches for criminals.
Lynda and Cass focus on the tragic case of April Jones, the 5-year-old who went missing in Wales in 2012. The police search was one of the largest ever mounted. It lasted six months, and though an arrest was made, of Mark Bridger, April’s body was never found. In this episode we reunite two forensic search experts who worked in different capacities on this harrowing and challenging case.
Julie Roberts is a hugely experienced forensic anthropologist and archaeologist with some 20 year...
2022-03-2347 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredFibre analysis and Operation AirlinesIn 1996 the IRA were planning a major bombing campaign. Their targets were the electrical substations around Greater London. Had they been successful it would have crippled the electricity supply of south-east England. Fortunately, the police launched Operation Airlines, a covert investigation to foil the campaign and gather evidence to prosecute those planning it.
Forensic fibres expert Dr Ann Priston joins Lynda and Cass to discuss her memories of analysing the evidence that linked the prime suspects to the bombs they had built.
Dr Priston is currently working with the charity Inside Justice, investigating alleged miscarriages of justice. You can le...
2022-03-1639 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredDNA and the cases of Colin Pitchfork & Colette AramThe investigation into the murderer Colin Pitchfork is referenced in forensic courses around the world. Why? Because it was the first case where DNA screening was used. From the team responsible for this remarkable break-through, Lynda and Cass welcome Dr Tim Clayton. Tim discusses the cases of Colin Pitchfork, and later that of Colette Aram, and explains how they developed the DNA screening programme, its limitations and how it was refined into the crucial investigative tool it is today.
Dr Timothy Clayton has close to 30 years of criminal casework experience in both the public sector, and after the closure o...
2022-03-0950 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredOffender Profiling and the murders of Yvonne Killian and Rachel NickellLynda and Cass are joined by Pippa Gregory – Behavioural Investigative Advisor – and one of only three criminal profilers working in the UK today. She discusses the infamous cases of Yvonne Killian and Rachel Nickell - two investigations where criminal profiling was testing and found wanting. The fallout from these two cases led to the practice of criminal profiling being questioned and mistrusted by the police and public for some years.
While Pippa Gregory was not directly involved in either case, the impact of them is still felt by Behavioural Investigative Advisors today. Pippa has been involved in supporting majo...
2022-02-2350 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredFingerprinting and the Great Train RobberyWe start Season 3 with an absolute cracker as Lynda, Cass and Jon discuss the forensics behind the Great Train Robbery with some of those who were involved. In a world first, Listening to the Dead brings together the son of the robbery's mastermind, Bruce Reynolds, with a fingerprint expert who worked on the case back in 1963. Sit back and enjoy a lively discussion about planted evidence, bungling robbers, the swinging Sixties, betrayal, distrust and life on the run.
Jack Deans was just starting out in the Met Police's fingerprint department when the robbery happened and remembers manually searching...
2022-02-1654 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredHandwriting and the Yorkshire Ripper HoaxIn October 1975, Peter Sutcliffe committed his first murder. Over the next five years he went on to become one of the UK’s worst serial killers. One of the main reasons the police took so long to find him was because they were sent off in the wrong direction by a series of hoax letters and a tape purporting to be from the killer.
Nicknamed Weirside Jack, the perpetrator was never identified at the time. It wasn’t until 25 years later that Chris Davies – a forensic document examiner – got his hands on the letters. Chris joins Lynda and Cass to discus...
2022-02-0241 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredSeason 3 TrailerHere we go then - let's kick off Season 3 of Listening to the Dead as we once more peel back the curtain of crime and reveal the forensics that cracked some of Britain's most famous cases. From the Great Train Robbery to the Yorkshire Ripper, we speak to some of those involved and hear astonishing revelations about the crimes, investigations forensics and protagonists.
Join Lynda and Cass and get closer to crime!
Subscribe now and don't miss the first episode on the Great Train Robbery out on 16th February 2022.
2022-01-2001 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredLive at Crime Con CORRECTION! 2nd Dec 2021. Apologies listeners, we previously uploaded a part-edited version of this episode in error. This one is now the real deal. We hope you enjoy it.
Bonus episode recorded live at CrimeCon 2021 in London. Lynda and Cass look back at two seasons of Listening to the Dead and share more stories about the forensic experts and cases that have fascinated us most.
2021-12-0241 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredCause of Death – Unknown**We apologise for the variable sound quality on some of the season two episodes which were recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Please don't judge us too harshly - we're back in studio in season 3!**
A bumper episode to end the season!
In 15% of homicide cases involving a female victim, the cause of death is unknown. Despite the huge advances in post-mortem sciences, pathologists are still faced with cases of suspicious death where the cause of death cannot be conclusively proved.
In this episode the team talk to a former member of the Thames River Police, Robert Je...
2021-04-071h 00Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredCause of Death – Poisoning**We apologise for the variable sound quality on some of the season two episodes which were recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Please don't judge us too harshly - we're back in studio in season 3!**
A rarely seen method of murder today (outside of novels and state-sponsored assassination) but one of the most fascinating and challenging to investigate. A favourite of authors for generations, poisoning has appeared in some of the most famous crime novels as well as historic cases of murder and suicide. The team are joined by experienced toxicologist Victoria Jenkins from Forensic Access (www.forensic-access.co.uk...
2021-03-3145 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredCause of Death – Strangulation**We apologise for the variable sound quality on some of the season two episodes which were recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Please don't judge us too harshly - we're back in studio in season 3!**
In this episode the team are joined by pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer, part of the experienced team at Forensic Access (www.forensic-access.co.uk), as he reveals how to tell the difference between strangulation and hanging during a post mortem, and where best to look for evidence that a suicide is not what it seems.
Sadly, strangulation is the most common form of murder of...
2021-03-1734 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredCause of Death – Gunshot Wound**We apologise for the variable sound quality on some of the season two episodes which were recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Please don't judge us too harshly - we're back in studio in season 3!**
Unlike in America, there is little debate between pro-gun control and pro-gun ownership lobbies in the UK. There is general public consensus against ownership of handguns, which is enforced under strict legislation. Despite these strong sentiments, the UK has not averted gun crime by any means.
In the year ending 31 March 2019, there were a total of 6,759 firearm offences recorded in the England & Wales. This w...
2021-03-1046 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredCause of Death – Terrorism & Mass Disaster**We apologise for the variable sound quality on some of the season two episodes which were recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Please don't judge us too harshly - we're back in studio in season 3!**
From terrorist attacks to war zones, from earthquakes to floods, mass disasters are some of the most difficult and harrowing cases for police and forensic teams to investigate. Whether it’s identifying body parts or tracing a bomb factory from a tiny fragment of a device, the clues are often minuscule and highly disturbing.
In this episode, the team are joined by former anti-terrorism bra...
2021-03-0345 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredCause of Death - Blunt Force**We apologise for the variable sound quality on some of the season two episodes which were recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Please don't judge us too harshly - we're back in studio in season 3!**
The Listening to the Dead team are back for a new season looking at causes of death and the investigative techniques that surround them.
This episode we welcome back pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton to discuss his experiences in investigating blunt force homicide.
Three of the six causes of death in the board game Cluedo are blunt force trauma – which nicely sums up...
2021-02-2444 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredSeason 2 - Coming Soon!Get ready for Listening to the Dead Season 2: Cause of Death! More crimes, more forensics, more revelations. Subscribe now and don't miss episode one on 24th February 2021.
2021-01-2801 min
Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredForensic Fibre AnalysisFibre analysis is one most important resources in forensic science. The discovery of fibres evidence is essential when determining what an attacker or killer was wearing at the time of an incident.
In this bonus episode, Lynda and Cass are joined by former President of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, Dr Ann Priston. A leading expert in forensic fibre analysis, Dr Priston visits Lynda at her home to discuss how exhaustive fibre analysis has helped to solve some of the most infamous and difficult cases.
This bonus episode is the last in the first season o...
2020-04-1049 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredPathologyPerhaps the most well-known of all the forensic sciences, portrayed in books and films for years, it's the pathologists job to establish cause of death. But what is the real-life experience of a pathologist like: can they really give time of death so quickly; what can they really tell about cause of death from a body at the scene and in the mortuary; and are they really on first name terms with detectives?
This episode Lynda and Cass are joined by veteran pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton who reveals how pathologists bring together many of the other forms forensic e...
2020-04-0232 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredDigital ForensicsOne of the newest and fastest evolving forensic disciplines, this science of extracting evidence from digital devices has become a central part of police investigations. From phones to Fitbits, from laptops to smart speakers, digital devices are ubiquitous in our lives and that means that we all leave a trail – a digital footprint – that forensics can follow.
Join Lynda, Cass and industry expert Dr Jan Collie as they discuss the dark web, digital profiling and Jan's experiences analysing the digital devices of terrorists, paedophiles and murderers – just don't forget to change your passwords!
Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investig...
2020-03-2632 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredForensic EntomologyIn this episode, Lynda and Cass explore the science of forensic entomology – the study of how insects and bugs interact with a cadaver. At times it sounds like something out of a horror movie, but it’s a vital part of many police investigations, giving clues as to time of death and whether a body might have been moved.
As Cass meets Dr Martin Hall in his lab at the Natural History Museum and gets hands-on with some maggots, Lynda recalls her first encounter with entomology at a murder scene.
From extracting evidential DNA from insects that have drunk blood, to blow...
2020-03-1930 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredDNA and Blood ForensicsIn 1986 the world of forensics changed forever when a British scientist discovered that patterns in some regions of a person’s DNA could be used to distinguish one individual from another.
For a CSI like Cass Sutherland, it meant changing his whole approach to investigating a crime scene and learning how this new evidence should be interpreted.
For an author like Lynda La Plante, it changed crime writing more than anything else in her long career.
For bloody pattern analysis expert Dr Peter Smith, it meant retraining in a whole new skill: using different tools...
2020-03-1233 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredFire Investigation ForensicsIn this episode, Lynda and Cass turn their attention to the forensic investigation of fire with Dr Peter Mansi. A former fireman and colleague of Cass’, Peter is now an internationally renowned fire investigator who has worked on some of the most infamous cases or arson and accidental fire, including the recent tragedy at Grenfell.
Peter reveals to Lynda and Cass how he goes about investigating a fire, from reconstructing rooms to study fire behaviour, to tracking an ignition source and reading the smoke signals.
As Lynda says: ‘It’s almost as if the fire becomes a living thing – a killer to...
2020-03-0532 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredForensic Botany & EcologyLynda and Cass kick off their new podcast series by exploring the fascinating world of forensic botany and ecology with leading expert Professor Patricia Wiltshire.
The team discuss how plant regrowth can be used to track a killer’s path months after a crime was committed and the infamous Soham murders – a case that Patricia's botanical evidence helped to crack and a trail that Lynda attended.
Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innov...
2020-02-2731 minListening to the Dead - Forensics uncoveredTrailerIntroducing the new Listening to the Dead podcast with Lynda La Plante and CSI Cass Sutherland!
First episode out on 27th February.
Subscribe now!
2020-02-0302 min