REAL

*It's been 25 Years since Stuart Lubbock was found raped and murdered in the swimming pool of TV presenter Michael Barrymore - this series, has been re-recorded and includes additional reporting from the first series released in 2022*. Imagine going to a nightclub, meeting a national celebrity and being invited back to their house for a party... cool right? Well... not if that party would mean the...

In her first podcast interview, Tara Proffitt tells her heartbreaking and incredible story. When Tara was a child, she knew her Mum was carrying a secret. Her gut instinct told her it was the same one that she was carrying... and one day her mother told Tara everything and her worst fears were confirmed - they had both been abused by a man who was supposed to love and protect them. But on the 12th...

When schoolteacher and former singer Trudi Burgess began a relationship with gardener Robert Easom, it seemed like a chance at happiness after the devastating loss of her husband. But behind closed doors, Robert slowly began to manipulate Trudi. Over the course of eight years, Trudi would endure a relentless pattern of coercive control, intimidation, and escalating violence. On 17 February 2025, e...

In July 2010, a 50-year-old nurse who lived and worked in London, was subjected to an extraordinary act of violence that left her dead and the multiple people who witnessed it traumatised. But many people don't know her story, because it has received little media coverage. Today, to mark International Women's Day, we're going to look at the case of Donna Drepaul, a woman who was killed by a jealou...

In June 2016, Dawn Rhodes arrived at her family home where her soon to be ex-husband Robert was waiting to hand over their child. But something happened that left their child and Robert with injuries and Dawn, dead. Robert and their child said Dawn had attacked them in a jealous rage and at a trial Robert was found not-guilty of murder, instead, killing Dawn in a heroic act of self-defence. Until...

In August 2010, 30-year-old Izabela from seemingly vanished into thin air in Derby, England. Her friends and family tried to get hold of her, but they were met with silence. Her girlfriend, Anna Podedworna, didn't report her missing and told everyone that Izabela had run away. But Izabela's daughter, who was living with with relative's in Poland, always knew deep down that her mother would never h...

In March 2023, 59-year-old Jane Collinson was looking forward to so many exciting things in her life. She was planning her 60th birthday party, her daughters wedding and she was about to buy her dream home with her new husband. But one mans actions ended all of that. In this episode, we focus on the continuing issue of violence against women and girls. In the UK a woman is killed by a man every 3...

In March 2021, Gloucestershire Police received a strange phone call - the person on the line was calling to get help for a woman who was being kept against her will. When the police arrived, they discovered Amanda Wixon, a mother of ten, had been keeping a woman as a slave.... for 25 years. This is REAL. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you: https://patreon.com/REALtrue...

In March 2011, Susan Nicholson was found dead on her sofa. Her boyfriend, Robert Trigg, said he had accidentally rolled on her in the night. The police ruled the death as an accident and the case was closed. But if they had conducted a more thorough investigation... they'd have discovered that just a few years prior, Robert had woken up to his ex-girlfriend, Caroline Devlin, lifeless at the end of...

In the final episode in this series, we look at crimes from the United States within funeral homes that have led the way for meaningful change and tighter legislation. And we end the series with hope and reassurance, by reflecting on the people doing incredible work in the funeral industry. Including Kirstie Atherton, a funeral celebrant and founder of the community interest company 'Dead Positive...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains references to the sexual abuse of corpses. Whilst the descriptions are not explicit, please take extra care whilst listening. In the last 15 years, 2 cases of serious and depraved crimes happening inside hospital mortuaries have shocked and disgusted the world. Jimmy Savile and David Fuller's actions have broken the hearts and spirit of their victims families...

It takes a low person to scam grieving families when they are at their most vulnerable, and there is one man who has done just that, time and time again. This episode looks at the crimes of Mark Kerbey, also known as Richard Sage, who has committed crimes and served a series of prison sentences for scamming, stealing and traumatising people accessing his funeral services across England and Scotlan...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode centres around the experiences of grieving parents and baby-loss. In the summer of 2025, the BBC published a news story that broke the hearts of parents around the country. Two families had discovered the bodies of their babies, in the home of a funeral director. These parents have now bravely spoken out to try to help change regulations in the UK and question why any...

Shadow funeral services are the parts of the funeral industry that are often out of the public's view. In this episode, we hear about cases that have been uncovered by journalists and families who discovered that their deceased loved one, wasn't where they thought they were. We also hear from Andrew Judd, the CEO of the National Association of Funeral Directors, who offers comfort and reassurance...

Over the last two decades, the UK has seen a number of criminal scandals in funeral homes bought to light and they have traumatised thousands of families who believed their deceased loved one had been treated with care and dignity. Instead, they've been told that they had been neglected, lost or abused. But what's just as shocking for many, is the realisation that the UK funeral industry is curren...

On the 22nd of March 2022, a woman calls 999 and says her husband has tried to take his own life. When the emergency services arrive, they enter a scene of devastation and chaos and 28-year-old Kyle Pugh dies. But when the post-mortem comes back, all is not what it seems. This is REAL. Information on Kyle's Law: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyldx313g9o If you need help or support with dome...

In October 2020, West Mercia police launched a nation wide manhunt. There was a serial killer on the loose and they needed to catch him before he killed again. The name of this killer isn't widely known outside of the area local to where these horrific murders took place. Today, we're going to explore the facts in the case against Anthony Russell and remember David Williams, Julie Williams and Nic...

On the 22nd of April 2018, 28-year-old mother of three Hollie Kerrell, went missing from her home in Wales. Her husband told the police that she had left the family home and three people came forward to say they'd seen her after she had disappeared. But then the police discovered the last text message Hollie had sent from her phone.... their hope of finding Hollie alive started to dwindle. This is...

As we come to the end of 2025, there have been some significant updates in some of the cases featured on 'REAL', including one case, where someone who listened to the podcast, has come forward with information that could be life-changing for a grieving son. This is REAL. If you'd like to support the show for £2 a month and get additional content, giveaways and more, please join our community here:...

In 2021, Jade Ward finally broke up with the father of her 4 children, after years of enduring his controlling behaviour. He'd even booked them a secret wedding, in an attempt to 'keep her'. But Russell decided that if he couldn't have her, nobody else could either. Jade was murdered and her children were devestated at the loss of their caring and devoted mother, but from his prison cell, Russell...

On the 16th of March 2023, 53-year-old Gary Shearer flew to Lanzarote to celebrate St Patrick's Day. But after just a few hours on the resort, Gary went missing. Today, Gary's niece Darcie lays out the facts and explains why she thinks there has been foul play in her uncles case. This is REAL. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/REALtruecrimepodcast To...

In October 2024, Mother-of-one Courtney Lee's found the body of her teenager child. They had taken their own life after being bullied. Statistics state that around 200 teenagers die by suicide each year in the UK, with bullying being a common factor that leads them to this heartbreaking decision. Now Courtney is advocating for victims of bullying by trying to get the government to take action. In...

On the 6th of June 2012, 32-year-old mother of four Claire Holland went missing in Bristol are a night out. She'd met her ex-partner for a drink and whilst witnesses saw her leave the pub that night, she seemed to vanish into thin air. But then an undercover police officer did something incredible - over 18 months he befriended the main suspect... to try to get him to confess. This is REAL. If you...

In 2023, four children were picked up by a man that they considered to be a grandfather figure. He took them to a coffee shop and then out for dinner. But this wasn't a kind gesture... he was keeping the children away from something that would break their hearts and change their lives forever. And he was responsible. This is REAL. To join me on Patreon, please see here, thank you: https://patreon....

In this episode, we look at another double murder that happened within Brian and Susan's friendship group - could the same person have killed 4 people? And we hear from Dean's brother, whose got some incredible information... Could this lead Ray a step closer to figuring out who killed Brian and Susan? This is REAL. To Contact Ray directly: Priceys797@hotmail.com To join the Facebook Group and see...