There are disturbing descriptions throughout this episode. 

In the 1970s a serial killer was on the loose in South East Asia. His name was Charles Sobhraj, better known as 'The Serpent'. When tourists began going missing, or turning up dead, Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg was tasked with investigating the disappearances. The chilling evidence he uncovered put Sobhraj behind bars with a life sentence.

The hit TV show The Serpent is available now on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.

Presenter and producer: Saskia Edwards

Picture: collage of promotional photos from BBC One and Netflix's The Serpent and Herman Knippenberg's personal collection
Credit: BBC / © Mammoth Screen and Herman Knippenberg

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

There are disturbing descriptions throughout this episode. In the 1970s a serial killer was on the loose in South East Asia. His name was Charles Sobhraj, better known as 'The Serpent'. When tourists began going missing, or turning up dead, Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg was tasked with investigating the disappearances. The chilling evidence he uncovered put Sobhraj behind bars with a life sentence. The hit TV show The Serpent is available now on BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Presenter and producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: collage of promotional photos from BBC One and Netflix's The Serpent and Herman Knippenberg's personal collection Credit: BBC / © Mammoth Screen and Herman Knippenberg Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Hunting 'The Serpent': the diplomat turned detective

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. 
 
Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784
 
You can read our privacy notice here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice</p>

Society & Culture

Documentary

Personal Journals

Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

Share Hunting 'The Serpent': the diplomat turned detective

Sign up to save your podcasts

Hunting 'The Serpent': the diplomat turned detective

Hunting 'The Serpent': the diplomat turned detective

More shows like Lives Less Ordinary

Global News Podcast

The Archers

Newshour

In Our Time

The Documentary Podcast

Witness History

The History Hour

6 Minute English

Learning English Conversations

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Desert Island Discs

The Inquiry

The Audio Long Read

All in the Mind

People Fixing the World

You're Dead to Me

The Slow Newscast

The Bomb

Life Changing

History's Heroes

World of Secrets

The Birth Keepers | The Guardian Investigates

The History Podcast

Strangers on a Bench