Reporter Holly Morgan interviews George Powell, who is evading police, about the missing Herefordshire coins, revealing the ongoing mystery of the unaccounted treasure.
1 May 2025TRANSCRIPT
7. Follow the Money
Narrator Aimee-Ffion Edwards explores the mystery of missing coins after George and Layton are jailed, as Dr. Gareth Williams assists police in uncovering a new coin-selling operation, potentially linked to the Herefordshire hoard in this interview.
24 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
6. History on Trial
Four men stand in the dock, accused of trying to hide and sell a Viking hoard worth millions of pounds. But there’s no honour among thieves. As the trial unfolds, George and Layton’s defence – that the hoard never existed – starts to unravel.
Can justice recover what history has lost?
Narrator: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Contributors: Simon Wicks, Dr Gareth Williams, Kevin Hegarty KC
Sound Design: Peregrine Andrews
Production Co-ordinator: Dan Marchini
Associate Producer: David James Smith
Producer: Aron Keller
Exec Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Studios Audio Production
17 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
5. Gollum Syndrome
The net tightens as police arrest George and Layton and search their homes. But when the missing treasure is nowhere to be found, investigators start to wonder: is the hoard even real?
Meanwhile deleted photos offer a new lead.
Narrator: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Contributors: Tim Hoverd, Nigel Cleeton, Peter Reavill, Simon Wicks, Gareth Thomas, Dr Gareth Williams, Kevin Hegarty KC
Sound Design: Peregrine Andrews
Production Co-ordinator: Dan Marchini
Associate Producer: David James Smith
Producer: Aron Keller
Exec Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Studios Audio Production
10 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
4. The Two Emperors
History is written by the winners – but in the ground beneath our feet, lie secrets someone has tried to bury. We travel back in time to 878AD, a world of warring Anglo Saxon kingdoms and Viking invasions. Historian Gareth Williams reveals how the coins found by George and Layton could rewrite the story of King Alfred’s reign and of Britain itself.
Narrator: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Contributors: Dr Gareth Williams, Nigel Cleeton, Peter Reavill
Sound Design: Peregrine Andrews
Production Co-ordinator: Dan Marchini
Additional Research: Holly Morgan
Associate Producer: David James Smith
Producer: Aron Keller
Exec Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Studios Audio Production
3 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT
3. The Cover Story
Trying to throw authorities off their scent, George and Layton hand in precious pieces of gold jewelry to a museum in Cardiff, spinning a story about how and where they were found. But archaeologist Peter Reavill isn't convinced - and as the true scale and value of the hoard become impossible to ignore, so do George and Layton's lies.
Narrator: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Contributors: Peter Reavill, Simon Wicks, Dr Gareth Williams
Sound Design: Peregrine Andrews
Production Co-ordinator: Dan Marchini
Associate Producer: David James Smith
Producer: Aron Keller
Exec Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Studios Audio Production
27 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
2. The Middleman
In the close-knit detectorist community, secrets don't stay secret for long. With rare Anglo-Saxon coins in their possession, George and Layton turn to coin dealer Simon Wicks. But as coins start appearing at a Mayfair auction house, whispers of an undeclared hoard begin to spread.
Narrator: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Contributors: Peter Reavill, Simon Wicks.
Sound Design: Peregrine Andrews
Production Co-ordinator: Dan Marchini
Additional Research: Holly Morgan
Associate Producer: David James Smith
Producer: Aron Keller
Exec Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Studios Audio Production
20 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
1. Buried Treasure
June 2015, Herefordshire. Two Welsh detectorists - George Powell and Layton Davies - stumble upon a Viking hoard estimated to be worth up to £12m.
They could have become very rich and been celebrated as heroes in museums across the land. But instead, they began to hatch a criminal plot. Narrated by Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Detectorists/Slow Horses), this is the story of how to go from the luckiest treasure hunters on earth, to Newport's most wanted.
Narrator: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Contributors: Holly Morgan, Dawn Chipchase & Simon Wicks
Sound design: Peregrine Andrews,
Production co-ordinator: Dan Marchini
Additional Research: Holly Morgan
Associate Producer: David James Smith.
Producer: Aron Keller
Exec Producer: James Robinson
A BBC Studios Audio Production
11 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
Introducing... Fool's Gold
Two Welsh detectorists dig up a Viking hoard estimated to be worth up to £12m. This is the story of how to go from the luckiest treasure hunters on earth, to Newport’s most wanted
Inside a recent episode
8. The Herefordshire Hoard
Published 8 May 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Peter has dedicated his life to preserve in history and the mystery of the missing coins still stings. These objects come from the very point where we as a nation are formed. They come from the crucible of Alfred the Great creating his concept of England and Britain. It's so important for museums. […]
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