15 years ago Claudia Lawrence went missing. Multiple men have been arrested then released. Several lakes near her home were emptied in the search for her body. Claudia has never been found.
Now, her 80 year old mother Joan Lawrence has asked the journalist Tom McDermott for help, saying this might be her last chance for answers. Tom has spent the past year immersed in Claudia’s friendship group, speaking to people in Malton and Heworth where Claudia and her family lived. But something isn’t right, and even now people are frightened.
Tom looks for answers by speaking to the people who knew Claudia best, exploring the persistent rumours surrounding the case and asking why, 15 years after Claudia’s disappearance, are people still scared of the truth?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
A childhood friend reaches out to the podcast with some letters from Claudia. It's a chance to hear Claudia in her own words, for the very first time.
Listen to all episodes of Answers for Claudia right now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Tom McDermott
Producers: Mark Sandell, Louisa Adams
Executive Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Sound Design: Craig Edmondson
Answers for Claudia is an Audio Always and 6Foot6 Production
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Progress Report
After their appearance on Good Morning Britain, Tom and Joan explore the police response to the possible disturbance at Claudia’s house. And Tom investigates further leads in the case.
Listen to all episodes of Answers for Claudia right now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Tom McDermott
Producers: Mark Sandell, Louisa Adams
Executive Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Sound Design: Craig Edmondson
Answers for Claudia is an Audio Always and 6Foot6 Production
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
28 Apr 2025
An Intruder
On one of their regular visits to Claudia’s house, Joan and Tom make an unsettling discovery. A discovery that makes them question everything they’ve learned so far. Listen to all episodes of Answers for Claudia right now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Tom McDermott
Producers: Mark Sandell, Louisa Adams
Executive Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Sound Design: Craig EdmondsonAnswers for Claudia is an Audio Always and 6Foot6 Production
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
19 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
Sixteen Years
For Claudia’s family, this time of year is particularly difficult. On the sixteenth anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance, Joan makes a heartfelt appeal.
If you have information relating to the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence, you can report it via the North Yorkshire Police website, or by calling 101.
You can also contact the Answers for Claudia team by emailing answersforclaudia@audioalways.com (mailto:answersforclaudia@audioalways.com)
Listen to all episodes of Answers for Claudia right now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Tom McDermott
Producer: Louisa Adams
Executive Producers: Ailsa Rochester, Mark Sandell
Sound Design: Craig Edmondson
Answers for Claudia is an Audio Always and 6Foot6 Production
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
25 Feb 2025TRANSCRIPT
Moving the Dial | 9
Could a tip off from a listener bring the police back to Claudia’s home? Tom and Joan investigate a new potential witness.
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia right now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Tom McDermott
Producer: Louisa Adams
Executive Producers: Ailsa Rochester, Mark Sandell
Sound Design: Craig Edmondson
Answers for Claudia is an Audio Always and 6Foot6 Production
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Jul 2024
What to Listen to Next - RedHanded
RedHanded the podcast jumps head first into all manner of macabre madness. We cover everything from big time serial killers (and those you may never have heard of, to hauntings, possessions, disturbing mysteries, bizarre whodunits and basically anything that tickles our creepy fancy. So, join us, plug in, sit back and prepare for scares.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
2 Jul 2024TRANSCRIPT
The Balance of Probability | 8
What happened to Claudia Lawrence? We gather everything we know about the case so far. And explore who could help with the next stage of the investigation.
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
2 Jul 2024TRANSCRIPT
Best We Forget | 7
How has police handling of Claudia's case impacted it? And can a retired police officer from the same force help us find answers? We unpack North Yorkshire Police's relationship with Joan, and visit Claudia's home.
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the
Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
Pigs Eat Everything | 6
Tom talks to a woman who thinks she may have some answers for Joan as she continues her search for justice for her daughter Claudia. In this last episode so far we explore what we've learnt so far and hear that potential new information is still coming in....
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence and abuse that some listeners may find upsetting.
If you're in the UK and you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this programme you can find support by visiting Women's Aid here: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/ (https://www.womensaid.org.uk/) . Or if you're in the US you can visit The National Domestic Abuse Hotline at https://www.thehotline.org/ (https://www.thehotline.org/)
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
The Spotlight | 5
For 15 years the family and friends of Claudia have tried to keep her name in the spotlight just in case it tempts someone to come forward or jogs a memory. For many of those years that campaign was carried out by Peter Lawrence, Claudia's father. So what do we know about him? It's time to look at how his efforts shaped the whole family's relationship with the media- and the public...
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the
Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
Chasing Leads | 4
It seems that everyone has a theory about what happened to Claudia- and some people have contacted her mother Joan to tell her what they think. She gets letters and phone calls and even people coming up to her in the street. Joan asks Tom to see if there's any truth in any of them...."
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
The Aftermath | 3
There was a moment that changed forever how Claudia’s disappearance would be covered in the media. A senior investigating police officer appears on the biggest crime TV programme in Britain and tells the audience the answer may lie in her “complex and mysterious” relationships. It shocked her family and friends and opened the door to some salacious reporting. Did that moment stop people coming forward?
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the
Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
The Night She Vanished | 2
When exactly did Claudia disappear ? The night of the 18th March 2009 after she chatted to her mum on the phone- early the next morning when she didn't show up for work at York University- or sometime in between? This episode pieces together what we know....and don't know about those important hours....
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the
Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
Who Is Claudia? | 1
In March 2009 Claudia Lawrence vanished without trace. The 35 year old seemed happy, healthy and was enjoying life. So what happened? Claudia's 80 year old mother Joan has spent the last 15 years trying to find out - without success. She sees this podcast as one final search for answers. So who is Claudia Lawrence....
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the
Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/shows/answers-for-claudia/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info).
30 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
Who Is Claudia?
In March 2009 Claudia Lawrence vanished without trace. The 35 year old seemed happy, healthy and was enjoying life. But what happened? Claudia's 80 year old mother Joan has spent the last 15 years trying to find out - without success. She sees this podcast as one final search for answers. So who is Claudia Lawrence?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Apr 2024TRANSCRIPT
Introducing: Answers for Claudia
15 years ago chef Claudia Lawrence went missing. Multiple people have been arrested - then released. Lakes near her home were emptied in the search for her body. Claudia has never been found. Now her mother has asked for help.
Tom McDermott is the journalist who 80 year old Joan Lawrence asked to help her, saying this might be her last chance for answers. Tom has spent the past year immersed in Claudia’s friendship group, speaking to people in Malton and Heworth where Claudia and her family lived, but something isn’t right - even now people are frightened. Why?
Now Tom looks for answers - speaking to the people who knew Claudia best, exploring the persistent rumours surrounding the case and asking why, 15 years after Claudia’s disappearance, are the people of Malton still so scared of the truth?
Binge all episodes of Answers for Claudia exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery-claudia + in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/answers-for-claudia
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info).
Inside a recent episode
Love, Clauds
Published 19 Aug 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Claudeya Lawrence. Claudeya Lawrence. Claudeya Lawrence. Everyone is being interviewed about Claudeya, we're speaking for her. I'm speaking for her, she's not here to speak, I don't know where she is, no one knows where she is, which is why this is so important that people are still talking about this. She's not here in person, so I felt a huge way of responsibility because this isn't her voice, I have her voice in letters, I have my memories of her, but I'm not her, but then I thought actually that's why it's important to share these letters and to share my memories of Claudeya because they, in a way, these words from the page are her and that's probably the closest thing we can get to hearing her voice. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
