I'm Not a Monster

The Shamima Begum Story

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

BBC Radio 4 LW

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

I'm Not a Monster: The Shamima Begum Story: Series 2: 8. No Plan B

The award-winning series returns to investigate the divisive story of Shamima Begum.

Podcasts

News

Factual: Crime & Justice: True Crime

Seeking to separate fact from fiction, the multi award-winning series returns. Josh Baker investigates the divisive story of Shamima Begum.

Seeking to separate fact from fiction, the multi award-winning series returns to investigate the divisive story of Shamima Begum.

When three London school girls went missing in 2015, they generated global headlines and the media storm that ensued continues to this day. Back then, investigative journalist Josh Baker was filming at a mosque in the girls' neighbourhood as their families came to seek help; their daughters were on the way to Syria to join the Islamic State group. But it was too late, and they disappeared inside the so-called caliphate.

For four years, their fate remained a mystery - with only occasional glimpses and sometimes conflicting reports of what they were doing with the terror group being made public. Only one of the girls emerged from the ashes of the so called caliphate - Shamima Begum.

The new series will take listeners inside Josh's attempts to figure out what really happened, unearthing new information about one of the most talked about stories of our time. He travels from Bethnal Green in East London to the depths of what was ISIS controlled Syria as he challenges Shamima Begum and investigates if the story she tells is true.

Series One - 'I'm Not A Monster: from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS'

The first series of I'm Not A Monster told the story of Sam Sally, an American mother who left behind a comfortable life and travelled to the heart of what the Islamic State group called its caliphate with her family. Her husband became an IS sniper and her 10 year-old son was forced to appear in an infamous propaganda video threatening President Trump. It's the BBC's most awarded podcast series to date, having received 16 nominations, winning 11 awards in 10 different international programme competitions including the Rose d 'Or for Best Audio series, three Golds and the Grand Jury Prize at the New York Festivals Radio Awards and Best Documentary Series at the Webbys and the inaugural Podcast Academy Awards (the Ambies) in 2021.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The UK’s home of live news and live sport.

The UK’s home of live news and live sport. With live Premier League and FA Cup football, and Formula 1, Olympics and cricket coverage.

I'm Not a Monster: The Shamima Begum Story

Seeking to separate fact from fiction, the multi award-winning series returns to investigate the divisive story of Shamima Begum.

Seeking to separate fact from fiction, the multi award-winning series returns to investigate the divisive story of Shamima Begum.

When three London school girls went missing in 2015, they generated global headlines and the media storm that ensued continues to this day. Back then, investigative journalist Josh Baker was filming at a mosque in the girls' neighbourhood as their families came to seek help; their daughters were on the way to Syria to join the Islamic State group. But it was too late, and they disappeared inside the so-called caliphate.

For four years, their fate remained a mystery - with only occasional glimpses and sometimes conflicting reports of what they were doing with the terror group being made public. Only one of the girls emerged from the ashes of the so called caliphate - Shamima Begum.

The new series takes listeners inside Josh's attempts to figure out what really happened, unearthing new information about one of the most talked about stories of our time. He travels from Bethnal Green in East London to the depths of what was ISIS controlled Syria as he challenges Shamima Begum and investigates if the story she tells is true.

Series 2: 8. No Plan B

BBC Radio 5 Live - I'm Not a Monster, The Shamima Begum Story, Series 2: 8. No Plan B

The so-called caliphate crumbles and a pregnant Shamima Begum is desperate to come home.

Raqqa falls, the so-called caliphate crumbles and a pregnant Shamima Begum is desperate to come home.

Raqqa falls, the so-called caliphate crumbles and a pregnant Shamima Begum is desperate to come home.

After she and her husband Yago walk out of the ashes of the Islamic State group, she’s discovered in a detention camp where she gives an interview that will change her life. 

Reporter: Josh Baker
Written by: Josh Baker and Joe Kent
Producers: Josh Baker, Sara Obeidat and Joe Kent
Composer: Firas Abou Fakher
Theme music: Sam Slater
Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
Production coordinators: Janet Staples and Helena Warwick-Cross 
Series Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall
Head of Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins

ARCHIVE:
Islamic State's final fighters hold on in Baghouz as caliphate crumbles: ITV News (2019)
Alex Rossi goes inside the Islamic State's last stand in Baghouz: Sky News (2019) 
Anthony Lloyd interviews Shamima Begum: The Times  of London (2019) 

This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and some upsetting moments involving children.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

I'm Not a Monster

The Shamima Begum Story

Series 2: 8. No Plan B

Genres

Brand

Series

About this data