Foundling

<p>For the last three weeks, reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou has been following the trial of Sally Anne Bowen, the teacher at the centre of Tortoise Investigates’ podcast series Lucky Boy, first released in 2025. Following the jury’s verdict, Chloe calls producer Gary Marshall to break the news.</p><br><p>Lucky Boy is an original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer, originally published in 2025.</p><br><p>To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free,<a href="https://observer.co.uk/s

<p>When Peter Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the United States over his links with Jeffrey Epstein people wondered how he ever got appointed in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p>Eventually Keir Starmer’s government was forced to publish more than a thousand pages of emails, messages and letters which reveal how Peter Mandelson was appointed, vetted and cleared to become the UK’s most influential diplomat.&nbsp;</p><br><p>What emerges from those documents, is a story about wh

<p>Eighteen months ago the Assad regime suddenly collapsed, and the first lady and her family fled to Moscow. A regime insider tells Chloe just how powerful Asma had become in the final years and what was happening inside the palace. Could Asma really have had aspirations to take over from her husband?</p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>Reporter - Chloe Hadjimatheou</p><p>Producer - Gary Marshall</p><p>Sound design - Karl

<p>Chloe learns of allegations that Asma - the ‘mother of the nation’ - had an active role in one of the regime’s cruellest strategies: separating the children of dissidents and rebel fighters from their parents to use them as bargaining chips. At an orphanage in Damascus, Chloe gets closer to the truth.&nbsp;</p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>To binge listen to more episodes today, ad-free,<a href="https://observer.co.u

<p>Chloe travels to Damascus to meet people close to Bashar and Asma. One source tells her that Asma took a drastic decision in the early years of the war - she tried to leave Syria. Only it’s not for the reasons you might think. </p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>To binge listen to more episodes today, ad-free,<a href="https://observer.co.uk/subscribe/audio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> subscribe to The Ob

<p>In 2011, the Arab Spring hits Syria and Asma has a decision to make: speak out in favour of the popular revolution or stay loyal to the regime. But what choice did she really have?&nbsp;</p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free,<a href="https://observer.co.uk/subscribe/audio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> subscribe to The Observer</a> and use the code AUDIO50 to get

<p>When Asma arrives in Syria, there’s a palpable sense of hope. People in the country and around the world dare to believe that she is a force for good. Chloe hears from people who worked with her in the early years who - despite everything that’s happened - still believe her intentions were genuine but that she became trapped by the regime.</p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-fre

<p>Emma is a high achieving, middle class woman from West London - she’s destined for a successful career and a comfortable British life. But in 2001 she makes a decision that will come to define her - she marries the son of a dictator and becomes Asma al-Assad, the first lady of Syria.</p><br><p>We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.</p><br><p>To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, <a href="https://observer.co.uk/subscribe/audio" rel="