Shadow World podcast

Shadow World

In Shadow World: Anatomy of a Cancellation, the BBC's Culture Editor Katie Razzall revisits a story that rocked the UK's publishing industry in 2021. It led to what some saw as the unjustified cancellation of a prize-winning writer and teacher - but to others, was a long overdue reckoning for the world of publishing. It grew into a culture war about race, class, and who has the right to say what. Gripping stories from the Shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.

In Shadow World: Anatomy of a Cancellation, the BBC's Culture Editor Katie Razzall revisits a story that rocked the UK's publishing industry in 2021. It led to what some saw as the unjustified cancellation of a prize-winning writer and teacher - but to others, was a long overdue reckoning for the world of publishing. It grew into a culture war about race, class, and who has the right to say what. Gripping stories from the Shadows - BBC investigations from across the UK.

 

#50

Anatomy of a Cancellation: 6. Post Mortem

Katie Razzall considers the fallout from the controversy surrounding Kate Clanchy’s award-... more

07 Nov 2025

29 MINS

29:06

07 Nov 2025


#49

Anatomy of a Cancellation: 5. The Rewrite

A sensitivity reader Helen Gould speaks publicly for the first time, revealing the emotion... more

07 Nov 2025

28 MINS

28:33

07 Nov 2025


#48

Anatomy of a Cancellation: 4. The Defence of Kate Clanchy

Although Kate Clanchy faces a torrent of criticism in the summer of 2021, many people supp... more

07 Nov 2025

28 MINS

28:32

07 Nov 2025


#47

Anatomy of a Cancellation: 3. The Paper Trail

Katie Razzall considers the internal reaction at publishing house Pan Macmillan during the... more

07 Nov 2025

28 MINS

28:30

07 Nov 2025


#46

Anatomy of a Cancellation: 2. The Words

Katie Razzall hears from critics who called out Kate Clanchy’s memoir ‘Some Kids I Taught ... more

07 Nov 2025

28 MINS

28:31

07 Nov 2025


#45

Anatomy of a Cancellation: 1. Kate’s Story

When prize-winning author Kate Clanchy is accused of racism she asks her online followers ... more

07 Nov 2025

28 MINS

28:27

07 Nov 2025


#44

Anatomy of a Cancellation: Trailer

Katie Razzall reveals what happened when a prize-winning author was accused of racism, spa... more

03 Nov 2025

03 MINS

03:04

03 Nov 2025


#43

The People vs McDonald's: 6. Judge for Yourself

At the end of the longest trial in English history, the verdict is finally delivered - and... more

13 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:54

13 Aug 2025


#42

The People vs McDonald's: 5. Clowning Around

When Helen digs out some old letters from her former partner John, she finds some potentia... more

13 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:18

13 Aug 2025


#41

The People vs McDonald's: 4. A Proper Grilling

A few months into the trial, Helen and Dave get an unexpected communication from the McDon... more

13 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:24

13 Aug 2025


#40

The People vs McDonald's: 3. Flipping Burgers!

When McDonald's discloses internal company documents to the court, they reveal somebody ha... more

13 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:17

13 Aug 2025


#39

The People vs McDonald's: 2. Burger, Nugget, Ketchup, Spy

The London Greenpeace numbers have been dwindling until new faces start turning up at meet... more

13 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:32

13 Aug 2025


#38

The People vs McDonald's: 1. The Leaflet

In 1986, members of environmental group, London Greenpeace, published a leaflet called ‘Wh... more

13 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:25

13 Aug 2025


#37

The People vs McDonald's: Trailer

Mark Steel introduces an extraordinary battle between two activists - a gardener and a for... more

11 Aug 2025

03 MINS

03:06

11 Aug 2025


#36

The Grave Robbers: 5. Ripe for the Taking

Where did the gang get the idea to use fake wills to steal the homes of the dead? Sue trav... more

06 Aug 2025

35 MINS

35:24

06 Aug 2025


#35

The Grave Robbers: 4. The Will to Steal

It should be impossible to steal a home, but this new narrative podcast from multi award w... more

30 Jul 2025

31 MINS

31:38

30 Jul 2025


#34

The Grave Robbers: 3. The Good Spy

Michael Judd's neighbours watch on in horror as thieves take possession of his home - sell... more

23 Jul 2025

32 MINS

32:53

23 Jul 2025


#33

The Grave Robbers: 2. Strangers in the Street

Fake wills, stolen identities and cannabis farms - Sue Mitchell’s investigation gathers pa... more

16 Jul 2025

31 MINS

31:46

16 Jul 2025


#32

The Grave Robbers: 1. My Dear Friend

Two sisters, set to receive a surprise life-changing inheritance, have it snatched away by... more

05 Jul 2025

34 MINS

34:38

05 Jul 2025


#31

The Grave Robbers: Trailer

It should be impossible to steal a home, but Sue Mitchell reveals it's all too easy. The m... more

03 Jul 2025

02 MINS

02:01

03 Jul 2025


#30

The Smuggler: 10. A Hidden Network

Journalist Annabel Deas speaks to experts who fear Nick’s routes and methods are a back do... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:47

24 May 2025


#29

The Smuggler: 9. The Arrest

Nick arrives in Kent with four Vietnamese migrants on his boat. But he’s met by police who... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:24

24 May 2025


#28

The Smuggler: 8. The Boat Theory

After a near escape, Nick vows to never smuggle again. Meanwhile, police build a theory th... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:31

24 May 2025


#27

The Smuggler: 7. A Dangerous Journey

Nick evades the police in France. But his boat is broken and taking on water. Meanwhile, j... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:39

24 May 2025


#26

The Smuggler: 6. The Vietnamese Connection

Nick is paid thousands of pounds to bring Vietnamese migrants into the UK. But at what cos... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:32

24 May 2025


#25

The Smuggler: 5. The Crossing

Nick buys a boat and searches for a new smuggling route across the English Channel.

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:15

24 May 2025


#24

The Smuggler: 4. The Final Border

After serving time in prison for people smuggling, Nick becomes an informant, providing in... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:34

24 May 2025


#23

The Smuggler: 3. The Mistake

Nick is growing in confidence, smuggling migrants across the channel on ferries. But human... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:27

24 May 2025


#22

The Smuggler: 2. Nick’s First Time

Nick is desperate to provide for his new family. He travels to Dunkirk to smuggle an illeg... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:35

24 May 2025


#21

The Smuggler: 1. The Passport

British builder Nick is struggling after the 2008 financial crash. He receives an offer fr... more

24 May 2025

14 MINS

14:43

24 May 2025