Buried
From a deathbed tape to a witness in protection, Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history.
"It's buried isn't it? But it's coming back." The haunting words of a witness who claimed he'd discovered a toxic chemical secret half a century ago that would affect us all.
In this thrilling new investigation, Buried: The Last Witness, Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen, who recorded the witness before he died. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.
It is a story straight out of a Hollywood drama: an opera-loving British gentleman clashes with an American corporate giant, claiming there was a conspiracy to silence him. Was the witness right? Science and shadows collide in this true-crime epic, as the hosts search for the truth, testing soil, food and even their own blood - to uncover what one chemical can do at its worst.
Buried is a bingeable, fast-paced true-crime series exposing urgent environmental stories you've almost certainly never heard of. Husband-and-wife investigative duo Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor delve into thrilling mysteries - bringing to light never-before-heard recordings or boxes of explosive legal documents, inviting the audience to unpick crimes or scandals with them.
Their stories throw them - and us - into secret worlds, be it the organised crime unfolding in our waste, or trails of toxic chemicals that go right to our plates.
Episodes
The Last Witness - 10. The Apex Stone
In a finale of discoveries, Dan and Lucy speak to Douglas's best friend and finally learn the truth about his stories. They are moved to test their own blood for PCBs. When Douglas talked about 'the children... and the children's children...' Do you get it now? At Douglas’s grave, the 'apex stone' is revealed.Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Additional research by Grace Nicholls and Cardiff Journalism School
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•17m 8s
The Last Witness - 9. The Case Against Douglas
A friend casts doubt on Douglas’ honesty. Could he have lied? Dan and Lucy uncover unsettling truths, and begin to question what’s real. They've tested the chemicals - now it is time to test Douglas. And Michael Sheen gives his verdict. Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Additional research by Grace Nicholls
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•15m 8s
The Last Witness - 8. The Case for Douglas
Dan and Lucy are shown how official reports have been changed, and hear allegations of ‘cover-up’ and ‘conspiracy’. What do those in power know - and what have they done?Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 23s
The Last Witness - 7. On Your Plate
Michael Sheen calls... have Dan and Lucy accidentally poisoned him? Probably not, but scientists warn that 'something out there' is causing a rise in illnesses, such as testicular cancer. Could it be PCBs in our food? Dan and Lucy test for the chemicals in fish that people buy to eat. Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 28s
The Last Witness - 6. Off the Scale
Dan rushes to a site in South Wales, where PCBs are reportedly escaping from an old landfill site. He and Lucy take their strange team on the road, to test the earth in towns and villages countrywide. The results could reveal whether Douglas' prophecy has come true. Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 39s
The Last Witness - 5. A Can of Worms
As Dan and the film star Michael Sheen go digging around a toxic site, they are given a warning - the truth is a can of worms. A vicar picks up where Douglas left off. What is the full scale of the UK’s chemical legacy?Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 41s
The Last Witness - 4. Every Last Dollar
A child born without eyes. What did the chemical do? In Alabama, Dan finds a contaminated town, still reeling from its toxic legacy. Internal confidential memos reveal the manufacturer knew the risk.Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain.Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Additional research by Cardiff Journalism School
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 14s
The Last Witness - 3. Discredit Gowan
“They would have killed me.” Douglas Gowan says he was denounced in Parliament, impersonated and attacked - all to keep him silent. Dan and Lucy dig further into his explosive story, until they uncover an intriguing memo. Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen. Together, they dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain. Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 28s
The Last Witness - 2. A Hollywood Sleuth
Reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor visit the film star Michael Sheen - who recorded the witness's final account - and hear how he fell into a rabbit hole. They also discover Douglas Gowan's unpublished chemical test results. Are people in danger? Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this new investigation, Dan and Lucy dig into the unseen files of a man who said he was beaten up and put under police protection, after alleging that a chemical had contaminated the food chain. Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 28s
The Last Witness - 1. A Box of Secrets
When reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor are handed a box of unseen evidence, they begin a new investigation - into a chemical secret. A witness says he found deformed cows, and worried a toxic chemical had entered the food chain. But the witness had a warning for the future: "It's buried, isn't it? But it's going to come back." Buried is the award-winning true-crime series digging into some of the most disturbing environmental stories in history. In this series, Dan and Lucy team up with the film star Michael Sheen, who recorded the witness before he died. Was the witness right?Produced and presented by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Research by Georgie Styles
Sound design and mixing by Jarek Zaba
Original music and sounds by Phil Channell
Executive Producers: Philip Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
24/06/24•14m 31s
Introducing Buried: The Last Witness
In a new investigation, reporters Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor team up with the film star Michael Sheen to dig up a chemical secret. They inherit a box of evidence from a witness, with a warning.You can listen to all 10 episodes of Buried: The Last Witness on BBC Sounds from 24 June, 2024.A Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4.
17/06/24•2m 35s
Series 1 - 10. What Joe Knew
Justice at last over Mobuoy - and a legal first by the river. Then, in a finale of twists and answers, we uncover the secret that disturbed Joe until the end."All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 35s
Series 1 - 9. Fear of the Unknown
In his last days, Joe thought the pollution was putting lives at risk. His friends were willing to break the law to find out. Years on, are deadly cancers rising? "All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•15m 20s
Series 1 - 8. The Screams of the Dead
Crowds gather as a woman speaks. Her child is dead from cancer. And there are countless more. Are the dumps to blame? Under armed guard, one priest decides to speak out at risk of his life."All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 36s
Series 1 - 7. How to Make a Mafia
In the Comorrah’s neighbourhood in Naples, Dan and Lucy learn how waste can fuel a mafia. They’re warned that the UK is playing a dangerous game."All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 58s
Series 1 - 6. FOFO (Fear of Finding Out)
When a man used satellites to find illegal dumps, he learned they’re everywhere. But the criminals are watching him. Could a mafia be growing rich on our waste?"All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 33s
Series 1 - 5. The Missing Memo
A memo goes missing - until now. It rallies a community to keep calling for the truth."All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 40s
Series 1 - 4. Blackleg
In the dead of night, a meeting with a vet, who talks of an eerie event. It leads to a trail of toxins. Could Mobuoy still be a threat? "All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 30s
Series 1 - 3. A One-Man Mission
Who was Joe Ferguson? His family say he was a man on a mission. But something bothered him about Mobuoy, even after the dump was exposed. What did he know?"All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 40s
Series 1 - 2. A Scene of Horror
Dan and Lucy visit Mobuoy, and reveal the audacious scam of how criminals dumped a million tonnes of waste. But there’s worse, as they learn what was buried. "All you have to do... is dig it up." A trucker’s deathbed tape plays out. It’s urgent, desperate.
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history - the secret dumping of a million tonnes of waste near a city. But when they uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, they realise they’ve stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 40s
Series 1 - 1. A Deathbed Tape
A trucker leaves a tape about an appalling crime. Three words echo - Dig it Up. It leads one couple to the story of an illegal million-tonne dump in the UK. In this BBC Radio 4 podcast series, investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor deep-dive into one of the worst environment crimes in UK history. They uncover missing documents, fears of toxicity and allegations of organised crime, and realise they've stumbled into something much bigger. As they pick at the threads of one crime, they begin to see others. Could Britain be the home of a new mafia, getting rich on our waste?
In a thrilling ten-part investigation, the husband-and-wife duo dive into a criminal underworld, all the time following clues left in a deathbed tape. They’re driven by one question - what did the man in the tape know?Presenters and Producers: Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
Assistant Producer: Tess Davidson
Original Music and Sound Design: Phil Channell
Sound Design and Series Mixing: Jarek Zaba
Executive Producers: Phil Abrams and Anita Elash
Commissioning Editor: Dan ClarkeA Smoke Trail production for BBC Radio 4
23/01/23•14m 46s
Introducing Buried - Series 1
A trucker leaves a deathbed tape about an appalling crime. It leads two reporters into a criminal underworld. But what did the man in the tape know? His plea: dig it up.
16/01/23•3m 4s
