New Radio 4 podcast about the life and death of James Le Mesurier

A new podcast and radio series from BBC Radio 4 will look at the story of James Le Mesurier, the man who organised the Syrian White Helmets.

The new series, Intrigue: Mayday launches on 9 November as a 10-part podcast on BBC Sounds and with 15 episodes on BBC Radio 4.

There was a mystery surrounding Le Mesurier, who served in the army in a few of the world’s hotspots, before turning his attention to worn-torn Syria in 2014 where he co-founded the White Helmets, a civil defence force.

Both the White Helmets and Le Mesurier became the centre of a global race to control the narrative in the Syrian War and he was found dead in a street in Istanbul on 11 November 2019.

Presenter Chloe Hadjimatheou talks to people who knew James, including his widow Emma, his ex-wife and former army colleagues. She also talks to those on the ground in Syria still working as White Helmets today and some of its detractors, following up on accusations about the organisation.

Chloe Hadjimatheou says: “Making this series has been an extraordinary experience, as listeners will discover. It started out being an investigation into the story of a man with an astonishing life and a mysterious death but it ended up taking me on a bizarre journey down rabbit holes of misinformation. Ultimately this is a story about how truth functions in modern warfare.”

Mohit Bakaya, Controller of Radio 4, says: “In our Intrigue podcast and radio series Radio 4 tells gripping human stories that shine a light on fascinating history and politics.

“Mayday follows hits like Tunnel 29 and The Ratline, combining brilliant journalism with nail-biting audio to tell important stories that both enthral and deepen our understanding of the world we live in.

“This time we investigate the life and death of James le Mesurier, who found himself at the heart of two wars: the devastating conflict in Syria and a ferocious battle over truth and information.”

Intrigue: Mayday will be available from 9 November on BBC Sounds and on Radio 4 at 1.45pm.

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