Launching September 19th.
Mohamed Al-Fayed was the billionaire businessman who owned the iconic department store – Harrods. Together they projected an image of wealth, luxury and glamour.
In the wake of his death, that image was shattered when hundreds of former Harrods employees came forward to accuse Al-Fayed of grooming, abuse and assault. But this was more than just one man. It was a trafficking network, on the scale of Jeffrey Epstein.
In Al-Fayed: Who Looked Away?, journalist Nicola Thorp speaks with survivors to uncover the system that enabled and protected Al-Fayed - and the fight for justice that continues to this day.
Al-Fayed may be gone, but those who enabled him are still alive.
If you have any information, you can contact us at info@thecrimedesk.com.
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Journalist Meirion Jones explains to host Nicola Thorp how power and influence silence victims and enable abuse to continue.
3 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Al-Fayed - Episode 4: What Does Justice Look Like?
Host Nicola Thorp interviews survivors fighting for justice against powerful institutions following Al-Fayed's abuse.
26 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Al-Fayed - Episode 3: Trafficking
Host Nicola Thorp investigates Mohamed Al-Fayed's alleged trafficking crimes, exploring survivor testimonies and systemic failures in seeking justice.
19 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Al-Fayed: The Pattern
Host Nicola Thorp interviews survivors and former staff who expose Mohamed Al-Fayed's exploitative pattern of control and abuse within Harrods.
19 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Al-Fayed: I’ve Got To Get Rid of You
Nicola Thorp interviews Joanna Brittan about her disturbing encounter with Mohamed Al-Fayed and its connection to emerging allegations.
14 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Coming soon - Al-Fayed: Who Looked Away
Journalist Nicola Thorp interviews survivors to expose the systemic abuse and trafficking network enabled by businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed.
11 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
Somebody Knows Something - Episode 8
Host Nicola sits down with the senior investigating officer to uncover ongoing efforts to solve the disappearance of Charlene Downes, exploring the case's renewed controversy.
4 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Far-Right - Episode 7
Nicola Davies investigates how far-right groups exploit Charlene Downes' story, revealing misinformation and potential links to a man with a criminal past.
27 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Jodie - Episode 6
Investigative journalist Nicola Davies interviews a witness who provides new information about Charlene Downes' disappearance, challenging the established timeline.
20 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Issues With The Evidence - Episode 5
Investigator Nicola uncovers secrets and mistakes surrounding Charlene Downes' case, questioning everything about the evidence after a collapsed trial.
13 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
A Few Bad Men - Episode 4
Host Nicola confronts Charlene's parents, Karen and Bob, about the hidden dangers within their household following Charlene's disappearance.
6 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Rez - Episode 3
Host Nicola interviews Mohammed Raveshi, who shares his account of being charged in Charlene Downes' disappearance, leaving listeners with lingering questions.
30 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Trial - Episode 2
Host Nicola uncovers the dramatic courtroom proceedings and controversial conclusion of a murder trial, revealing shocking details that continue to haunt the case.
30 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Bright Lights and Dark Alleyways - Episode 1
On Saturday 1st of November 2003, fourteen-year-old Charlene Downes disappeared from her hometown of Blackpool. The story of what happened to her has haunted the town ever since – but is it true?
Twenty years later, another Blackpool girl, broadcaster Nicola Thorp, looks into this case that she remembers from her childhood. But she quickly finds out that it goes deeper than she could have imagined.
Nicola revisits the immediate aftermath of Charlene’s disappearance. When the police respond, they discover that dark secrets are being kept in Blackpool.
The following content may feel overwhelming. Everyone's Invited was built on the voices of brave survivors who shared their submissions with us. If you would like to share your experience, please submit it via the Everyone’s Invited Survivor Safe Space at: https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/submissions/submit (https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/submissions/submit)
If you have any information about the disappearance of Charlene Downes, you can contact us at charlene@thecrimedesk.com.
Join The Crime Desk to hear all episodes of Charlene: Somebody Knows Something straight away. Plus, you'll get exclusive weekly bonus episodes of our award-winning podcast The Trial, ad-free listening across all of our shows, and early access to brand-new series like our investigative series, Heists, Scams & Lies. Become a member today at thecrimedesk.com.
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It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
23 Apr 2025
Coming soon... Charlene
Investigating a two decades old case in Blackpool.
Somebody knows something.
Join The Crime Desk to hear all episodes in this gripping new series as soon as it launches, later this summer. Plus, you'll get exclusive weekly bonus episodes of our award-winning podcast The Trial, ad-free listening across all of our shows, and early access to brand-new series like our high-stakes investigative series, Heists, Scams & Lies. Become a member today at thecrimedesk.com.
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Inside a recent episode
Al-Fayed - Episode 5: Power & Influence
Published 10 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I did a lot of stuff on the Catholic Church 25 years ago, and the same sort of tricks are used. So the head of the Catholic Church would write to the director general of the BBC asking for me and my reporter to be sacked, saying that this is a gross thing, attempt to interfere with the church. […]
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