The Story

This is episode one of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Today we reveal how police took down the family controlling the drug trade in one British city, creating a power vacuum that was filled by a new breed of violent, criminal operation - county lines.The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins is given unprecedented access to North Yorkshire Police as they fight back against the drug gangs. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead more: Exposed: how drug gangs deal without fear as the law can’t keep up | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble, Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate, Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.

Karen Carter was murdered outside her home in the tranquil Dordogne village of Trémolat. The police launched a manhunt, and slowly a story of obsession, romance, and unrequited love started to come to light. So, why would someone murder a well-liked member of the community? And what’s the latest development in the police investigation?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Jane Flanagan, Africa correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Murder in the Dordogne: obsession, affairs, unrequited loveFurther listening: Has an AI sleuth unmasked the Zodiac Killer?Clips: France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, RTL.

While recovering from a heart attack, Times sports journalist Owen Slot distracted himself by watching a summer of thrilling sport. He was still hooked up to a heart rate monitor, so he decided to run an experiment: how would his heart react to the drama? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Owen Slot, chief sports writer, The Times.Producer: Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Sport moves you like nothing else — as I found out after my heart attackClips: talkSPORT.Photo: Getty Images.

Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel. But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne. Now, just hours after his victory, the parliamentary standards watchdog has resumed its investigation into the Reform leader. So, after the Ferris wheel and the fanfare, what next for the embattled Farage?Hosts:Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonPicture: Getty images

It’s been five years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s capital. Since then, the country has been plunged into economic crisis and women have all but disappeared from society. The Times’ special correspondent Anthony Loyd has been reporting from Afghanistan for 30 years. He’s been back on the streets of Kabul and on patrol with the Taliban’s morality police finding out what life is like for ordinary Afghans.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Emily Webb, Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: On patrol with the Taliban’s ‘Virtue and Vice’ policeClips: BBC, Al Jazeera, DW News, ABC News, Fox 59, CBS, ARB 24.Photo: Getty Images.

A Scientology whistleblower told Times journalist Tom Ball that the church’s Edinburgh branch had children as young as thirteen working there during school hours. The church denied the allegation. Tom went undercover to investigate. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Ball, news reporter, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Revealed: how Scientology recruits children as 'staff'Further listening: Undercover at Britain’s ‘conspiracy school’Clips: Apostate Alex - YouTube.Photo: Ian Rutherford for The Times. 

Andy Burnham is facing the first big test of his premiership. With jails reaching a crisis point, the government has announced an emergency early release scheme to avoid running out of prison spaces by the end of this year. But Burnham’s proposals have faced an outcry from victims. So what options are left?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Oliver Wright, policy editor, The Times.Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns, The Howard League for Penal Reform. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who is in our overflowing prisons — and why?Clips: Thames Valley Police, BBC, Sky, TalkTV.Photo: Getty Images.

Nigel Farage has had a tricky summer. With his party down in the polls and beset by scandal, it hasn’t been ideal preparation for Thursday’s by-election. So Times Radio's Rosie Wright heads to the seaside in Essex to see how locals are feeling about the vote, before asking one of our politicos if the whole stunt has actually backfired.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, associate editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Rosie Wright, Times Radio breakfast show presenter.Producers: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: To stop Reform’s slump, Nigel Farage needs to win places like thisFurther listening: Posh George: the criminal behind FarageClips: The Telegraph / Youtube, LBC, BBC, Whitehall Sources, Rupert Lowe / X.Photo: Getty Images.

The UK produces around half of the food we eat but this year's droughts have led to shriveling crops and farmers struggling to feed their animals. Is our changing climate jeopardising our food security?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Olly Harrison, cereals farmer.Ben Cooke, environment correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Drained reservoirs may not prevent harvest being worst on recordFurther listening: Why young high achievers are leaving BritainClips: Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.