Mayday - Ep1: On the Ledge

“The story sounds like a purely English murder.” The rumour mill starts over who or what killed James Le Mesurier. When he fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 James Le Mesurier left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions. Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou Editor: Emma Rippon Researcher: Tom Wright Mixed by: Neil Churchill Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur Narrative Consultant: John Yorke Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum Production Coordinator - Gemma AshmanREFERENCES:Wedding video provided by Emma Le MesurierReport of the death of James Le Mesurier - BBC Outside Source , 11 November 2019“Investigation into death of White Helmets co-founder” - CBC News: The National, 11 November 2019, from “New York Al Jazeera” footage“James Le Mesurier: Brit who helped found White Helmets discovered dead in Istanbul” - ITV News, 11 November 2019“Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda” – PBS NewsHour“Brandpunt - Witte helmen” (Focal point - Season 1 - White helmets) - KRO-NCRV, 08 Nov 2016. Reporter Piet De Blaauw“Смерть Джеймса ле Мезюрье: он слишком много знал - Россия 24” (The death of James le Mesurier: he knew too much) - Russia 24 Russia 24, 17 Nov 2019“تركيا - مؤسس "الخوذ البيضاء" الإرهابية مقتولاً في اسطنبول “(Turkey - founder of the terrorist "White Helmets" was killed in Istanbul) Syrian Channel – News, 11 November 2019“Assad on deaths of Epstein, White Helmets' founder, bin Laden & al-Baghdadi” RT News, 16 Nov 2019“Eski İngiliz istihbarat subayı neden öldü? Uzman isim yorumladı” (Why did the former British intelligence officer die? Expert name commented) - CNN Türk“White Helmets Co-founder Dies: Interview with Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, Le Mesurier’s friend” - TRT World Now, 12 Nov 2019“Hamish de Bretton-Gordon: James Le Mesurier A 'Special Kind Of Person'” 12 November 2019 - forces.net“Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda” - PBS NewsHour, 24 Dec 2019

Om Podcasten

Million Dollar Lover is an unlikely love story, recorded in real time as the relationship unfolds between a wealthy widow, Carolyn, who is 80 and Dave, 57, a former drug addict who is homeless and has a long criminal history.The story captured the attention of the BBC Journalist Sue Mitchell as it was unfolding on her street. She spends a lot of time in California, she married an American and her award-winning journalism has been about the lives of people like Dave who inhabit the dangerous margins of society.There are so many homeless people in America that the wealthy can no longer avoid contact with them. When Dave arrives in Cayucos, a charming beach town, prosperous and sunny all year round, he goes to church. People there help him find work, recommending him to Carolyn as an odd job man. She falls in love with him and within a fortnight, he's moved in.Dave is a skilled joiner and musician who makes and sells jewellery. With Carolyn’s support, he appears to be thriving. Her daughters fear that he has his sights set on the valuable property portfolio which their parents and grandparents built up over the years and turn to the police for help.Soon everyone is asking whether Dave is really a tender carer or a dangerous interloper who will fleece her – breaking her heart and her family?New episodes will be released on Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re in the UK, listen to the latest full series of Intrigue first on BBC Sounds. https://bbc.in/3WEQS5WMillion Dollar Lover is produced at BBC Audio by the team behind The Boy in the Woods and is presented by Sue Mitchell.The series is scripted by Winifred Robinson; the producers are Sue Mitchell and Joel Moors; the dramaturg is Flo Dessau and sound design is by Tom Brignell.