Fairy Meadow

By BBC Radio 4Society & Culture Documentary True Crime

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Typical duration
27 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Fairy Meadow episodes

September 29, 2025 10. Case Closed?
Jon Kay returns with an update on his investigation into the disappearance of Cheryl Grimmer from a beach in New South Wales, Australia in January 1970.
In this episode, Jon follows up some of the many emails from listeners who got in touch after the podcast came out - including potential witnesses who think they might have important information.
In this episode, Jon hears their stories and find out what response they’ve had from the police.
And he catches up with Cheryl’s family, as they step up their campaign for justice.
Presented by Jon Kay, original music composed by Elizabeth Purnell, and produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Chris Ledgard
33 min
November 20, 2023 9. A New Lead
Jon Kay updates his investigation into the disappearance of 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer from an Australian beach in 1970. Cheryl's family are determined to get her case back into court.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
35 min
February 02, 2022 8. The Girl With Blonde Hair And Blue Eyes
It's the 50th anniversary of Cheryl's disappearance and the police have an announcement to make.
Fairy Meadow is presented by BBC News correspondent Jon Kay
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music by Elizabeth Purnell
Studio engineer, Jacques Sweeney
Editor, James Cook
27 min
January 26, 2022 7. Mercury's Story
Jon tries to approach Mercury to hear his side of the story.
Producer: Chris Ledgard
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney
Editor: James Cook
26 min
January 26, 2022 6. The Walk Through
Frank has left the police but can't let go of Cheryl's story.
Jon Kay continues to investigate what happened to 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer, who vanished from a beach New South Wales, Australia more than 50 years ago.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney
Editor: James Cook
27 min
January 26, 2022 5. A Judgement
Two years after he's arrested and charged with abducting Cheryl Grimmer, Mercury appears in court in Sydney.
BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay continues his investigation into Cheryl's story.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music is by Elizabeth Purnell
Jacques Sweeney is the studio engineer and the editor is James Cook
25 min
January 19, 2022 4. I Was Never There
Nearly half a century after 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer goes missing from an Australian beach, the police make an arrest. Meanwhile, Ricki heads to the other side of the world.
BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay meets him in Bristol, where he visits his old family home and catches up with his British relatives as the trial looms.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Studio Engineer: Jacques Sweeney
Editor: James Cook
34 min
January 19, 2022 3. Somebody of Interest
The Grimmer family have always hung on to the idea that somehow Cheryl might still be alive. Then, out of the blue, Ricki gets a call from the police which seems to put an end to their hopes.
BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay continues his investigation into the disappearance of 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer from an Australian beach in 1970. He meets one of the two detectives involved in a cold case review. There's someone the police want to talk to.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney
Editor: James Cook
21 min
January 11, 2022 2. A Ransom Note
The Grimmer family are thousands of miles from home, and the Fairy Meadow migrant hostel is a lonely place in the days after Cheryl's disappearance. Then a note arrives from someone claiming to be the kidnapper. There's a rendezvous and a demand for cash...
BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay continues his investigation into the abduction of 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer from a beach in New South Wales, Australia in 1970.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney
Editor: James Cook
30 min
January 11, 2022 1. When the Wind Changed
The Grimmer family moved from the UK to Australia in 1969. They were "ten pound poms" - part of a huge wave of migration down under.
Months later, Three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in New South Wales. She was never seen again. In the moments before she vanished, she was being looked after by her oldest brother, Ricki. He was just seven.
This is the story of that day, and of its impact in the months, years and decades that followed. It's Ricki's story - his desperate search for answers, and his battle with guilt.
And it's the story of an extraordinary police enquiry that was dramatically re-started almost 50 years after Cheryl was taken.
BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay has been investigating the case in Australia and in the UK since 2016. With exclusive access to the family and the investigating officers, he begins an eight-part exploration of this moving, gripping tale.
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
Music: Elizabeth Purnell
Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney
Editor: James Cook
28 min