Mayday - Ep 9. The Boiling Frog

“My love it’s 10 times worse than we thought.” Things start to unravel. When James Le Mesurier fell to his death in Turkey in 2019 he left behind a tangle of truths and lies. Mayday tells the extraordinary real story of the man who organised the White Helmets – rescuers who film themselves pulling survivors from bombed out buildings in rebel-held areas of Syria – and investigates claims that, far from being heroes, they are part of a very elaborate hoax. James Le Mesurier – his detractors say – was a British secret agent, pulling the strings. So when his body was found by worshippers on their way to morning prayers, there were a lot questions. Produced, written and presented by: Chloe Hadjimatheou

Editor: Emma Rippon

Researcher: Tom Wright

Mixed by: Neil Churchill

Arabic translation and additional research: Vanessa Bowles, Abdul Kader Habak

Turkish researcher: Nevin Sungur

Narrative Consultant: John Yorke

Original music: Nick Mundy and Bu Kolthoum

Production Coordinator - Gemma Ashman REFERENCES Various Newspaper headlines Express Tribune Pakistan: Founder of Syrian 'White Helmets' found dead in Istanbul 12/11/2019 The Scotsman British army officer and founder of Syria volunteers found dead by Margaret Neighbour 11/11/2019 Daily Sabah, Istanbul Officials reveal White Helmets founder's cause of death 20/11/2019 “Entrevista exclusiva com James Le Mesurier no CIBE BRAZIL 2017 – Bombeiros” (“Exclusive interview with James Le Mesurier at CIBE BRAZIL 2017 – Firefighters”) CBMGO YouTube channel, 26 September 2017 “Is Le Mesurier an Epstein?” - Fault Lines, Sputnik International, 12 November 2019 Brandpunt - Witte helmen” (Focal point - Season 1 - White helmets) - KRO-NCRV, 08 Nov 2016. Reporter Piet de Blaauw