Assume Nothing

By BBC Radio Ulster

The teams assume nothing as they examine events through fresh eyes.

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4.6

3030 ratings

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FAQs about Assume Nothing:

How many episodes does Assume Nothing have?

The podcast currently has 197 episodes available.

Assume Nothing episodes:

November 25, 2023 Episode 2: Of Bombs and Bank Robberies
A dramatized memoir of a Special Branch Officer operating at the outset of the Northern Ireland Troubles. The award-winning drama returns for a new series. Starring Jonathan Harden.
James (not his real name) runs a network of informers and sources operating along the border area of South Down and South Armagh during the worst years of violence. For both Handler and Source, it’s a matter of life and death. Some names, dates and details have been changed to protect the living.
Episode 2: Of Bombs & Bank Robberies
A source finds himself under intense scrutiny when he is detailed to collect a package from a ship docked at Drogheda harbour. Another informer tips James off about a plan to detonate a large car bomb in Newry, but soon finds himself involved in a bank robbery that goes badly wrong.
Cast:
James – Jonathan Harden
Interviewer – Michael Patrick
Martin / Paul - Desmond Eastwood
Frank - Patrick Fitzsymons
Larry - Paul Mallon
Piet / Deccy John D Ruddy
Davy / Johnny Marty Maguire
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
25min
November 25, 2023 Episode 3: A Game of Risk
A dramatised memoir of a Special Branch officer operating at the outset of the Northern Ireland Troubles. The award-winning drama returns for a new series. Starring Jonathan Harden.
James (not his real name) runs a network of informers and sources operating along the border area of South Down and South Armagh during the worst years of violence. For both Handler and Source, it’s a matter of life and death. Some names, dates and details have been changed to protect the living.
Episode 3: A Game of Risk
When a wounded man is brought into police custody, James sees a chance to gain a new source – but first he must take his life in his hands to win the man’s trust. Meanwhile, another source overhears plans for an imminent attack on the army – and a clandestine meeting between James and Garda Special Branch could have deadly consequences
Cast:
James – Jonathan Harden
Interviewer – Michael Patrick
Vincent – Caolan Byrne
Paul – Paul Mallon
Garda Special Branch / Patrick - Faolan Morgan
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
29min
November 25, 2023 Episode 4: To Catch a Ghost
A dramatized memoir of a Special Branch Officer operating at the outset of the Northern Ireland Troubles. The award-winning drama returns for a new series. Starring Jonathan Harden.
James (not his real name) runs a network of informers and sources operating along the border area of South Down and South Armagh during the worst years of violence. For both Handler and Source, it’s a matter of life and death. Some names, dates and details have been changed to protect the living.
Episode 4: To Catch a Ghost
When a source provides intelligence about a mysterious new explosives expert, James is soon under pressure from London to find him fast. Meanwhile, another informer finds himself in grave danger when he is detailed to deliver a bomb and James decides on an unconventional plan – however, things go badly wrong.
Cast:
James – Jonathan Harden
Interviewer - Michael Patrick
Charlie - Desmond Eastwood
Sean - Patrick Fitzsymons
Garda SB - Faolan Morgan
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
30min
October 07, 2023 Episode 1: The Letter
Brian Kernohan decides to find out if a letter, held by his family for generations, really does reveal the location of a murder victim’s remains in rural Ireland.
“I Robert James Crawford do avow that Thomas Johnson was slain by me in a fair fight”
So begins a mysterious murder confession, apparently written in 1860 – just after the worst years of the Irish Famine. The writer claims to have murdered his friend during a quarrel and then buried the body under the hearthstone of his father’s kitchen in Drumkeen, County Monaghan – but is the confession real?
“He drew his knife and I drew mine he would have fled but I followed him into the hall and killed him there”
As Brian sets out to try and find the alleged burial site he also digs through the history books to find out more about the murderer and his victim – and he finds his imagination drifting. Who were these men and what could have happened to lead to such a brutal murder?
Cast:
Robert James Crawford – Faolan Morgan
Thomas Johnston – John D Ruddy
Written and presented by Brian Kernohan
Produced by Brian Kernohan and Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
14min
October 07, 2023 Episode 2: The House
Brian Kernohan decides to find out if a letter, held by his family for generations, really does reveal the location of a murder victim’s remains in rural Ireland.
Using a map drawn from memory, Brian and his mum set out to find the house she visited as a child – known as Drumkeen big house. But first they need to ask a local farmer for permission to search his land.
Meanwhile, Brian uncovers stories of brutal acts of violence in the years following the famine when Ireland was described as ‘one of the most dangerous places on earth’ - and he begins to imagine what might happened on the night of the alleged murder.
Cast:
Robert James Crawford – Faolan Morgan
John Trussan – John D Ruddy
Written and presented by Brian Kernohan
Produced by Brian Kernohan and Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
16min
October 07, 2023 Episode 3: I Killed Him There
Brian Kernohan decides to find out if a letter, held by his family for generations, really does reveal the location of a murder victim’s remains in rural Ireland.
Before making a decision on whether to ask the farmer for permission to dig, Brian tries to find out more about the family who lived in the house at the time of the murder and re-examines the contents of the confession letter for any further clues.
He also seeks expert advice from a renowned geologist who has been involved in a number of searches for historical remains – described as the ‘Indiana Jones’ of his profession.
Cast:
Robert James Crawford – Faolan Morgan
Thomas Johnston – John D Ruddy
Written and presented by Brian Kernohan
Produced by Brian Kernohan and Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
13min
October 07, 2023 Episode 4: The Search
Brian Kernohan decides to find out if a letter, held by his family for generations, really does reveal the location of a murder victim’s remains in rural Ireland.
The specialist team clear the site of undergrowth and beginning scanning with radar to try and find any evidence below ground – but the ground itself proves problematic.
Meanwhile Brian meets the landowner’s sister who has found old family records that shed light on the life of the alleged killer – and Brian tries to work out how fake letters were sent from America to the family of the victim after his death.
Cast:
Robert James Crawford – Faolan Morgan
Thomas Johnston – John D Ruddy
Mrs Johnston - Maggie Cronin
Written and presented by Brian Kernohan
Produced by Brian Kernohan and Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
16min
October 07, 2023 Episode 5: The Dig
Brian Kernohan decides to find out if a letter, held by his family for generations, really does reveal the location of a murder victim’s remains in rural Ireland.
Brian and his team of experts decide to bring a digger on site, but there is still confusion about where the ‘Big house’ actually stood. However, as they dig deeper they uncover something strange.
During a visit to the Seminary where the alleged murderer and victim went to argicultural college together, Brian finds himself wondering about their relationship and the secret ‘matter relating to ourselves two’ that the murderer wrote about in his confession.
Cast:
Robert James Crawford – Faolan Morgan
Thomas Johnston – John D Ruddy
Written and presented by Brian Kernohan
Produced by Brian Kernohan and Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
14min
October 07, 2023 Episode 6: What Lies Beneath
Brian Kernohan decides to find out if a letter, held by his family for generations, really does reveal the location of a murder victim’s remains in rural Ireland.
Having found an old floor that appears burnt and sounds hollow when tapped, the team watch on anxiously as the digger rolls into place and prepares to break through.
Meanwhile Brian examines an old newspaper notice apparently written by the murderer. It appears some farm land he is renting is up for sale. In the newspaper notice, he warns any potential buyers that they must lease it to him or he will take action. Was the murderous quarrel with his victim about land?
Cast:
Robert James Crawford – Faolan Morgan
Thomas Johnston – John D Ruddy
Written and presented by Brian Kernohan
Produced by Brian Kernohan and Conor McKay
Executive Editor: Andy Martin
A BBC Northern Ireland Production
...more
14min
October 07, 2023 Episode 7: Sins of the Father
What if someone confessed to a murder and told you where the body was buried?
...more
16min

FAQs about Assume Nothing:

How many episodes does Assume Nothing have?

The podcast currently has 197 episodes available.