British Scandal

by Wondery
1,647
History #56

In a country obsessed with gossip, the great and the good fear one thing more than any other - scandal.

British scandals change the course of history. They bring down governments, overthrow the rich and cause the mighty to fall. Some are about sex, others about money. In the end, they’re all about power. 

But often at the heart of a scandal, there are ordinary human stories. Stories of those caught up in the swirl of outrage. 

Who was really to blame for what happened? Why did they do it? And when all is said and done, did anything really change?   

From the creators of Business Wars, American Scandal and Ghost Story, comes British Scandal. Each week, hosts Alice Levine and Matt Forde delve into the murkier side of the British elite, from Phone Hacking to Profumo to the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss. Because sometimes the truth doesn’t set everyone free…

New episodes come out every Wednesday for free, or 1-week early and ad-free for Wondery+ subscribers or on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

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Recent Reviews
  • Amlash63
    Good topics and Great Hosts
    A welcome relief from the silly giggling girls who host most of these podcasts. Well researched and informative.
  • Concern Guest
    Stunned
    “Absolutely riveting.”
  • cwinter2
    The Dynamic Duo - Together Again!
    I LOVE this podcast! Have listened to all the seasons and even when the topic isn’t a fave for me, I listen, laugh, and learn because Matt and Alice have a comedic chemistry that cracks me up and keeps me engaged!! Your guest hosts were fun, but there is nothing like the Alice and Matt show! Welcome back, Matt!!
  • Bearsy908
    👍🏼
    Welcome back Matt! It’s so good to hear you.
  • Kerri Bassett
    Great Podcast!
    I have loved your show from the very beginning… but I really do miss Matt….😢 Welcome back Matt!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🤦🏻‍♀️
  • Dukejen04
    YAY! Matt is back, finally!!!
    I LOVE this show so much, but most of all because I love Alice and Matt. And while a few of the guest hosts did a good job (some of them weren’t as good)- NO ONE is as good as Matt and I was SOOOO thrilled to see the newest episode drop today so I could enjoy having our favorite duo back again! Welcome back Matt, we miss you!! You guys are my favorite podcast hosts by FAR, and I’m ecstatic to have our dynamic duo again. Alice— you did an amazing job holding down the fort, but I’m SO pleased Matt is now here again with you because it just wasn’t the same!! YAY!!! Made my day! LOVE YOU! —Jen
  • Obi-Wan T.
    Spectacular Krays interview!
    WOW! The interview with the Kray’s barrister was fantastic. Could have listened for another couple of hours. Love that this podcast seeks out those connected to the story who can give real insights - shows that the way the story is presented is based on accurate research. Great interviewing by Alice. Missing Matt and the easy chemistry but thank you to the guest hosts helping to keep the podcast going. Rob was great and Phil was funny esp considering they are coming in ‘cold’ I can see why Phil’s humor may not go down easily for US listeners (and I’m sure some UK) but the podcast is still its usual high quality and interest level and tone. Maybe be thankful we still HAVE it rather than complain about guest hosts. Some of Matt Forde’s others have had to go ‘off air’ while he is recovering. Best wishes to Matt and thanks to Alice for adapting to different co-hosts so we can still enjoy.
  • iTuneellena
    One of my favorite podcasts
    The stories are compelling, the narrative is so well written and the hosts (and the guest hosts) have fantastic rapport and banter. This American loves to get away from the mess of our own scandals and enjoy the scandals from Britain.
  • Mrs Skinny Skip
    British wit
    I do enjoy the two hosts and their banter during the retelling of the Canoe story. They keep my interest. Only one irritating issue…haha… please pronounce year numbers correctly, such as ‘two thousand two’ not as a decimal number such as ‘two thousand AND two’.
  • Cheney 63
    Excellent podcast
    I already a big fan of Wondery. I love my American Scandal but British Scandal take it to a whole new level. I like the interaction between the two lead podcast hosts and their interactions between each other. I highly recommended. It sure make me look at history in a different light. Thanks!
  • Wonder Ivy
    Where’s Matt ?!
    The host are good but I miss Matt. You two make me laugh so much . Hope he is well . Love the show .
  • BedouinUrbanite
    I miss Matt
    I love this show so much and am eager to know when Matt when he back. I so miss the perfect comedic chemistry they have. It’s just not the same.
  • LICistener
    Phil is fantastic
    Keep Phil permanently
  • Danny Boy100
    Cancel or . . .
    get better. I don’t know where Matt is, but there is no chemistry in this “guest” group, and the scripts are horrible. Bottom line: Quality has collapsed. Rethink, redo, or take a break.
  • Lynn1973
    Guest Hosts
    Rob Delaney is so much better as a guest host than Phil Wang. I’m not sure I can finish the first episode of the new season because of him. He isn’t funny…at all! I love this podcast but please, no more Phil.
  • Sakuraalpha
    Like Rob Delaney better than Matt
    Definitely more amusing.
  • Everygal
    MATT AND ALICE
    They have a great chemistry and play so well off each other throughout each episode. Missed him this time.
  • Nancy in Fred'bg
    One of my favorites!
    Love this podcast! The topics, the history and research, the presentation ,,, Matt’s accents are so good,, the hosts are clever. I’m addicted and telling others
  • XanCam2727
    Both hosts are fantastic!
    This podcast is great! The scandalous stories are interesting and the hosts have me laughing throughout. Even the sound design is well-done. Enjoy!
  • GatsbyNYC
    Two hosts?
    What does Matt do? Why is he a host?
  • PhotoGrl9
    I miss MATT
    Sweet Jesus, I hope Matt isn’t out long. Get him a mic in the hospital!!
  • jmW1969*
    My new favorite podcast
    This podcast is fantastic and it is my new favorite. The chemistry between the hosts is great and they are both so witty. Matt Forde is a delight- so charming, and laugh out loud funny.
  • myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics
    Love the Stories and the Banter
    When banter is done well it works, and this works to keep the story moving. Good stories, good scandals and it should be no surprise many are listening in the states. We have our scandals as a Americans. But British scandals are in a different league.
  • DianeMyte
    Matt’s commentary & interruptions make it frustrating to listen
    I really really try to get into this! The topics are great and Alice’s narration is very enjoyable, but unfortunately, Matts interruptions, and jokes just disrupted the flow of the podcast for me.
  • birzgalis,k
    10/10 would recommend
    Stumbled upon this podcast while I was in England for work. What a gem! Interesting stories, well produced, and funny commentary!
  • DinaForHill
    Fabulous
    The hosts are funny and the stories are so interesting and well researched. Matt has adorable giggle, and Alice is hilarious (you need to listen to My Dad Wrote A Porno if you haven’t already) It’s my favorite podcast, got me to subscribe to Wondery Plus. Keep them coming, little baby 😂
  • Fergie V.
    Average on the whole
    Content is great, but presentation (jokey-witty-sarcastic banter style) is painful to listen-through. Especially Alice is too try hard and missing the mark **roll eyes. Both hosts sound better just speaking “normally”, this is usually the last episode in each season when interviewing a guest. A shame, as content is interesting, well researched and well written.
  • OAKV
    THE Best Show!
    I have just discovered this podcast and am completely hooked. I’m binging it like crazy - the stories are fantastic, historic and well-told. As if that isn’t enough, the chemistry between the hosts, Alice Levine and Matt Forde, makes it even better with their comments and banter. Highly recommend this - you won’t regret adding it to your listening queue.
  • Nilla Jane
    Love this podcast
    This is the only podcast that makes me literally laugh out loud. The writing is excellent and the hosts are hilarious.
  • Vicky from New Jersey
    Great pod cast
    I’m so glad I found your pod cast. It’s funny and informative. Alice and Matt have great chemistry. I really enjoy listening to both of you.
  • regretful seller
    Unnecessary interruptions
    The podcast information and writing is superb. But the two narrators’ butting in and adding their trite remarks is incredibly annoying. I would rate the show a 4-5 were it possible to remove their inane banter.
  • pop-this
    Love the pace
    Binged the first three seasons in a day, this is a great podcast.
  • amazed1009
    Great way of telling these stories! The hosts are awesome!
    Camillagate is great! Can hardly wait for more!
  • ellemac
    Entertaining
    Great fun to listen to while doing laundry or chores. Historical and informative. And I LOVE Alice and Matt’s voices.
  • Ganny of 8
    Wanted to Like This, But…
    I’m a history nerd who really wanted to like this podcast, but, unfortunately, that isn’t the case. While the production quality is good, the information is very one-sided leaning to the left. I’ve listened to many seasons already. Being middle aged, I’ve lived through enough to know just how one-sided it is. I’m concerned that younger listeners will have an unbalanced view of history if taking this show as fact rather than leftist political storytelling. I researched Hernan Lopez, Wondery original founder, and found he is a hardcore democrats who donates repeatedly to Democrat politicians. Also Hernan Lopez was convicted this year of 51 federal felonies, including wire fraud & money laundering. These are the folks pushing completely leftist agenda driven content.
  • 5762097632
    How about an episode on Rhodes?
    Great show!!
  • emiliciousness
    I love this show!
    I’ve listened to almost every episode, and I absolutely LOVE it! Such a clever and fun way to tell these sordid stories of scandal. Alice and Matt are hilarious hosts… AND compassionate interviewers during the last episode of each season. I especially LOVED this latest interview with Oscar Wilde’s grandson. Excellent. Bravo/Brava, Alice, Matt, and the whole British Scandal team! 👏🏼😍
  • Vikander09
    Can’t Get Enough
    I love the stories, love the banter and the voices they do for each character. They do an amazing job and I look forward to the podcast every week 🤍
  • Bad Advuse
    Background noise
    Can’t hear the dialogue because the background noise is so distracting. Used to like to listen.
  • MaverickAbundance
    Enjoy and love this Podcast, But…..
    I find it annoying that it’s edited to sound like Alice and Matt are actually sitting across from one another doing this Podcast and they ARE NOT. It’s obvious, it’s distracting, annoying and frankly insulting. I’ve actually stopped listening because of this.
  • KarlaRuth
    Engaging, witty and informative!
    Alice and Matt bring this show to life; while many of the topics aren’t stories I’m normally drawn to, the way they’re written and produced really captures my attention and interest. Just finished the Boris series and again, I would normally not click on a podcast about him but Matt did such a fantastic job with the storytelling, I was captivated by the great flow and entertaining character enactments! Alice equally is a wonderful host too and I thank you both for your energy, fun banter and efforts. As an American I find the British accents engaging and lovely to listen to (all impersonations included).. I know, I know, *cliche* I’m not the only one! The storytelling approach is perfect and I always prefer narrative podcasting over interview style. Thank you to the hosts and all those involved with the show!
  • FreddyGK
    Great show!
    Informative and extremely entertaining
  • Lemonitus
    Drily hilarious
    Levine and Forde have evolved the “X tells Y a story about history” format. The series are well-researched: even the stories I’m familiar with I’ve learned new things. And the banter between the two is on point: they’re sharply witty but without taking themselves seriously.
  • Cptkatastic
    A must listen
    Best story telling ever. As an American I haven’t heard most of these stories before so it keeps me on edge. But honestly, I’m just here for Matt’s giggle.
  • Barb across the sea
    Wonderful podcast!!
    I LOVE this podcast! I am American so I have not even heard of many of the scandals discussed but they are very Informative! And the interaction between the two hosta is humorous and heartwarming to listen to to! I love all the witty comments and interactions. I've been through all the podcasts and now staring all over to listen again!!
  • SabrinaWench
    This is….
    EXCELLENT! I can’t tell you how much I love this podcast. The hosts are hilarious! I love their lil witty asides throughout the crime stories. I try to listen to other true crime podcasts but inevitably always comes back to this podcast. It’s so good. The riveting stories are intriguing & cool. I used to live in London for many years. I love hearing their slang words & funny British turns of phrase. Makes me miss England incredibly & pubs & Shepherds Pie & saying the words ‘knackered’ & ‘Bollocks’. Lol…sorry went off on a tangent there…. Seriously back to the podcast… check this podcast out. It’s really interesting & superb!!!! Can’t wait for the next episode!!!!
  • Suzannekmoses
    Always happy to see a new episode
    Certainly one of my favorites, I love the writing and sense of humor.
  • Puff and scruff
    Horrifying who done it
    And we know who done it! The only odd thing about this podcast is how the hosts seem to be having such a great time joking around. It is an odd note to somethings so terrifyingly awful. And it’s not as if the story really needed comic entertainment since the story is a riveting real life terrorist spy drama all by itself. The hosts commentary is way off.
  • AntBerg
    EXCELLENCE!
    This podcast is by far my favorite. It is historical and funny and intelligent and very entertaining. Alice and Matt are a terrific pair and they seem to work so well as they weave through the stories together. I listen to one episode every day while I am walking my dog for an hour. The time goes by so quickly thank you Alice and Matt.
  • lulu harmon
    I love this podcast!
    Hi! American here but a total Anglophile! This is my new favorite podcast! Great job guys!
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