In 2012, British photojournalist John Cantlie was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State. While his fellow hostages were released or murdered, he remained captive. Then, a series of Isis propaganda videos emerged, fronted by Cantlie. He hasn’t been seen since. In this new series, the Times’ war correspondent Anthony Loyd sets out to investigate the life - and fate - of the missing hostage.
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Manveen and Anthony travel to a maximum security prison in Iraq to meet a man who could hold the answer to what happened to John Cantlie.
But will this Isis prisoner reveal all? Or will Cantlie’s death remain a mystery?
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Further reading: Anthony Loyd: my hunt for the forgotten Isis hostage John Cantlie (https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/what-happened-to-john-cantlie-my-hunt-for-the-forgotten-isis-hostage-v8wt08sfg)
Watch: Hostage (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002s70r/hostage?seriesId=m002s70r-structural-1-m002s70p) on BBC iPlayer.
Clips: BBC.
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5 Mar 2026
New leads (Pt 9)
Four years on from the launch of their podcast, Anthony and Manveen are back exploring the kidnap and disappearance of British photojournalist John Cantlie by ISIS in Syria, after a mysterious listener gets in contact.
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Watch: Hostage (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002s70r/hostage?seriesId=m002s70r-structural-1-m002s70p) on BBC iPlayer.
Clips: BBC.
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11 Aug 2022
Restless ghosts (Pt 8)
When a British minister tells reporters that John Cantlie is still alive in February 2019, the search is on again. What does the British government know? Anthony shares his conclusions.
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: CNN, Sky, Voice of America, Channel 4, ABC.
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4 Aug 2022
Inside Mosul (Pt 7)
Anthony retraces John Cantlie’s steps on the streets of Mosul, the Iraqi city where John was last seen alive.
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: CNN and BBC.
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28 Jul 2022
Lend me your ears (Pt 6)
As one by one the British and American hostages are killed by their captors, John Cantlie emerges in a series of Islamic State propaganda films, ‘Lend Me Your Ears’. His new role keeps him alive.
It also attracts questions. Is the hostage becoming a willing messenger?
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: CNN, CBS, EWTN, USA Today, NBC, ABC, EuroNews, eNCA.
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21 Jul 2022
Freedom is for other people (Pt 5)
Some of the hostages who were held with John Cantlie describe what life was like inside their prison cell, under the watch of brutal Isis guards. Their captors had a special role in mind for John… but why did Isis pick him?
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: Acceleration TV, Bikes Aloud, Enduro Africa.
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14 Jul 2022
There but for the grace of God (Pt 4)
For Anthony this story is personal as he reveals that he himself was captured while reporting on the Syrian conflict.
What is it like to be a journalist covering war? And what does his experience tell us about John Cantlie's kidnap?
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: BBC and CNN.
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7 Jul 2022
Missing (Pt 3)
John Cantlie is missing and there are no leads in the case. The hunt is on for his whereabouts, when a rapper shows up in a Belgian prison saying he has information to share.
What can this man tell us about John’s location and the conditions they both experienced as Isis hostages?
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: Ready4jerri.
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30 Jun 2022
The kidnap (Pt 2)
Anthony investigates details of John Cantlie and his colleague James Foley’s abduction in 2012. He speaks to those who were with them and explores possible reasons the men were targeted.
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: BBC, Al Jazeera, The Guardian.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
23 Jun 2022
On the trail (Pt 1)
Anthony Loyd begins his investigation into the disappearance of journalist John Cantlie, who was taken by Isis in 2012. He explores the events of a prior kidnap and asks: what compelled John to return to Syria after his first escape?
Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times.
Clips: BBC, 5Live, CNN, NBC, Broadcasting House (BBC Radio 4).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
19 Jun 2022
Introducing: Last Man Standing
In 2012, British photojournalist John Cantlie was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State. While his fellow hostages were released or murdered, he remained captive. Then, a series of Isis propaganda videos emerged, fronted by Cantlie.
He hasn’t been seen since. In this new series, the Times’ war correspondent Anthony Loyd sets out to investigate the life - and fate - of the missing hostage.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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