Share

The Story
What happened to the boy who killed James Bulger
Jon Venables was ten years old when he and another boy tortured and killed two year old James Bulger. He’s now been refused parole on his imprisonment for a separate charge. So how did he end up here? Did he get a fair trial in the first place? And are we getting it right when it comes to our treatment of children who kill?
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
Guest: David James Smith, Sunday Times contributor and author of The Sleep of Reason: The James Bulger Case.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Olivia Case.
Clips: ITN / Getty, Channel 4, BBC, Merseyside Police, Eyes of the Detective / Teresa Hunt / BBC, TalkTV, Liverpool Lullaby / Martin Wallace / Channel 4, CBS.
Get in touch: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk
Find out more about our Apple bonus series: 'Inside the Newsroom'
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
More episodes
View all episodes

The Game: Fifa - Football for sale
19:24|Tom Clarke speaks to The Times’ chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler, following his exclusive story on Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plans to offer 'stakes' in the World Cup. So, what are these plans? Why does it matter and what happens next? 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: Martin Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The TimesHost: Tom ClarkeProducer: Neil CartmellWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Gianni Infantino tells countries: Agree to World Cup sale plan or miss extra fundingEnough is enough — it’s time to stand up to Fifa and protect game we loveFurther listening: The Game podcast
Burnham’s devolution revolution
27:29|Andy Burnham’s plans to shift power out of London are already taking shape, with No 10 North open for business in Manchester. The city sees yet more political action tomorrow, with Labour expected to win Britain’s biggest ever by-election and usher in a new mayor. But what will Burnham’s plans for devolution really mean for the country? 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: Darryl Morris, presenter, Times Radio.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Andy Burnham vows to put practical education on par with academiaFurther listening: Can Burnham learn from Starmer's mistakes?Photo: Getty Images.
Europe on fire
25:25|In France and Spain wildfires have been ripping through communities, forcing 325,000 to flee. And it’s not just mainland Europe feeling the heat. In Britain, wildfires have broken out across the country. So what does the future hold?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: Katie Gatens, Europe correspondent, The Sunday Times. Emma Yeomans, news reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Emily Webb and Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: As the wind drops and rain falls, a moment of 'false calm' amid wildfiresClips: Reuters, Sky News.Photo: Getty Images.
What do you want to know?
00:54|We’re publishing our monthly Q&A episode this Thursday. Send us your questions by Wednesday 12pm BST!We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: Q&A: Departures, diplomacy, and an unused motorhome
Germany’s radical right is surging. Can they be stopped?
32:21|In Germany the radical right is on the rise. The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has gone from the fringes to the second largest party in federal government. And it is expected to win more state elections this autumn. So how did the AfD become so popular in a country that's worked so hard to distance itself from its fascist history? And could it be stopped?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: Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case, Jesse Fox. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: How to beat the AfD: the German town where political rivals uniteFurther listening: The far-right plot to overthrow the German stateClips: Ungeskriptet Podcast, DW News. Photo: Getty Images.
Has an AI sleuth unmasked the Zodiac Killer? - The Sunday Story
32:23|Alex Baber is a self-taught investigator from rural West Virginia who claims to have solved a case that’s defeated the world’s best cryptographers for half a century: the identity of the Zodiac killer. Baber used AI to interpret the coded notes the serial killer left behind and, in the process, made another startling discovery.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: Josie Ensor, chief US reporter, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Emily Webb.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: An AI sleuth claims to have finally unmasked the Zodiac murderer, one of America’s most notorious serial killersClips: Paramount Pictures.Photo: Getty Images.
I was a high-flyer. Now, I’m broke and unemployed - The Saturday Story
12:51|After months of trying to hide her true circumstances, Stacey Duguid decided to go public about her economic situation. The response from fellow midlife women was huge.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: Claire Cohen, contributor, The Times. Producers: Emily Webb.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: I was a high-flyer. Now, I’m broke and unemployedPhoto: Olivia Richardson, The Times.
Can Burnham learn from Starmer's mistakes?
25:10|Sir Keir Starmer is out. Andy Burnham is in. And after just days in Downing Street, the new prime minister has torn up his predecessor's playbook — swapping warnings of a hard inheritance for a blitz of cost of living giveaways. Is this smart repositioning after Starmer's early missteps, or a sugar rush that can't survive contact with the budget?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: Luke Jones.Producers: Elle Scott, Shabnam Grewal, Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Keir Starmer’s biggest success was something that didn’t happenFurther listening: The remarkable rise of Andy BurnhamClips: BBC, 10 Downing Street / Youtube, Andy Burnham / Instagram, Bus Aunty / Instagram.Photo: Getty Images.
What ignited India's ‘cockroach’ revolt?
30:45|Riot police in Delhi have fired tear gas and baton charged the biggest protest the city has seen in years; tens of thousands of young Indians, marching under the banner of the "Cockroach Janta Party", calling for an end to corruption and educational reform. But what exactly triggered this uprising? And could this be the biggest threat Modi has faced in 12 years of power?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: Amrit Dhillon, contributor, The Times.Alexander Balakrishnan, content creator based in Delhi.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Elle Scott and Shabnam Grewal.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Why India’s cockroach uprising is more than just a pest for ModiFurther listening: 'Influencer of influencers': Modi's strategy to win the Indian electionClips: Sky News, BBC, Sonam Wangchuk / Instagram, WION.Photo: Getty Images.