A new BBC Sounds podcast is examining allegations of coercion, consent and abuse linked to the UK’s swinging community.
Swingers, presented by award winning BBC journalist Catrin Nye, follows the story of Ruth O’Grady, a woman from North Wales who says she was pressured by her former husband into joining the swinging website FabSwingers and taking part in sexual encounters with strangers over an 18-month period.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Ruth alleges she was encouraged into more than 100 encounters after joining the platform. Her former husband did not respond to the BBC’s allegations.
Ruth said the case of Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by men arranged by her husband without her consent, prompted her to come forward.
While stressing that her own experience was different, Ruth said the public reaction to the French case made her reflect on what had happened to her.
The series explores Ruth’s experiences and considers wider questions around sexual consent, pressure within relationships and practices within the swinging community.
Alongside Ruth’s story, the BBC investigation uncovered police data linking FabSwingers to hundreds of crime reports.
Freedom of Information requests sent to all 45 UK police forces identified 329 reports mentioning the website between the start of 2023 and April 2026.
The reports included allegations of rape, serious sexual offences, controlling and coercive behaviour, harassment, blackmail, stalking and assault.
The BBC also found that 26 people had been charged or summonsed in cases where the website was mentioned, while 23 investigations remain ongoing.
An undercover profile created by Catrin Nye reportedly received a large number of messages from male users.
Experts featured in the podcast include Nicola Gavey, who has researched unwanted sex for decades, and domestic abuse specialist Rachel Horman-Brown. Both discuss how coercion and pressure can affect consent and decision making within relationships.
When approached by the BBC, FabSwingers said consent is the foundation of swinging, that it complies with Ofcom requirements, and that it acts on reports of criminal behaviour while encouraging users to report concerns.
Swingers is available now on BBC Sounds.
