BBC Sounds has announced the launch of Tortoise Investigates, a new feed which will become the home of three gripping new investigative podcast series from Tortoise Media. The boxsets will be released consecutively on BBC Sounds this autumn, with the first series due to land on 25 August 2024.
Each boxset series offers a complex story which will keep listeners guessing, including a Satanic hoax, a malicious ten-year catfishing campaign, and the mysterious death of a young war reporter, added BBC Sounds. Every story has been investigated and carefully recalled, taking audiences deep into the heart of these modern-day mysteries.
Hoaxed will land on 25 August and will follow Tortoise Investigations Editor Alexi Mostrous as he uncovers a conspiracy theory in the heart of an affluent North London neighbourhood. Mostrous will return again on 25 September with the series Sweet Bobby, a tale of love and deception in the digital age. The third instalment will land on 25 November with Pig Iron, a dark adventure in war and journalism that asks what really happened to a 26-year-old reporter named Christopher Allen. Presented by Basia Cummings, Pig Iron won Best Documentary at the British Podcast Awards in 2023, added BBC Sounds.
Lauren Bradley, who oversees acquisitions for BBC Sounds, says: “We are delighted to be working with Tortoise Media to bring this high quality storytelling to BBC Sounds. All three podcasts will benefit from prominent curation on our service and find new audiences. The exciting new offering is part of our ongoing commitment to provide a broad range of must-listen podcasts and help grow the sector in the UK.”
Alice Sandelson, commercial strategy director, audio at Tortoise Media, says: “We are thrilled to launch Tortoise Investigates on BBC Sounds so more listeners can enjoy our award-winning chart-topping series, which have been captivating audiences globally since their first release. At Tortoise, our podcast series investigate untold human stories that offer a deeper, longer-lasting understanding of what’s happening in the world – Hoaxed, Sweet Bobby and Pig Iron are three of the very best examples of this.”
BBC Sounds says the move is the latest in a string of acquisitions, aiming to broaden and deepen the content offer by acquiring independently produced podcasts, licensed for the UK, non-exclusively and ad-free. This has included The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace from Vespucci, No Such Thing As A Fish from QI Ltd and Real Dictators from Noiser.
The Tortoise Investigates feed is now live on BBC Sounds and the first series will be available from 25th August 2024.
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