Former BBC Radio 4 and World Service announcer Patrick Muirhead is teaming up with Podcast Radio for a series of fictional mystery stories set in the remote tropical island paradise of Seychelles where he now lives.
The Mahé Mysteries are inspired by real events beginning with the discovery of several human skulls around the island which leads Patrick to uncover a series of deadly family secrets.
As Podcast Radio celebrates its first birthday, the 10-part series will air next week (from Monday 15 February) and will be released as a Podcast Radio Original podcast series on all major platforms shortly afterwards.
Patrick, who works for Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation as a TV journalist, says he wrote all the episodes over a two-week intensive burst of activity: “This is my first attempt at fiction and story-telling. A novel is planned but for now I wanted to use my radio skills to put together a podcast series. Podcast Radio snapped it up”.
Podcast Radio director Paul Chantler says: “We loved the story. Not only is it a clever work of fiction, based on fact, with lots of plot twists and some dry humour, but it really puts over the exotic feel of Seychelles. When you listen to these podcasts, you really feel as though you are there”.
Patrick – renowned for his deep voice and traditional English accent – read and recorded all the episodes on location on the beach in front of his home in the middle of a coconut plantation on Mahé Island, Seychelles. He has another half dozen more mystery story series in mind and has started work on them.
Podcast Radio has started to produce its own podcasts – Podcast Radio Originals or PRO-Shows – and The Mahé Mysteries are part of this initiative.
Its first Podcast Radio Originals show, What’s the Crack? with former Love Islander Anton Danyluk and his mum Sherie Ann made national headlines – as the entrepreneur and fitness instructor addressed the criticism he received from working in Dubai during the Coronavirus crisis, which resulted in death threats via social media.
The Mahé Mysteries by Patrick Muirhead first airs on Podcast Radio at 5pm on Monday 15 February and then daily at the same time for the next two weeks. The whole series will shortly afterwards then be available on all podcast platforms.
