A Very British Cult

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The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates. As the story hots up, they fight back, and there's a surreal final showdown.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates. 

In early 2019 Jeffrey Leigh-Jones from Portsmouth got a life coach. Someone to mentor him in life and help him realise his business ambitions.  

Two years later, Jeff had sold his house, his relationship was in pieces, and he had handed over tens of thousands of pounds. And he wasn't the only one. In this eighteen-month investigation for the BBC, journalist Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a mysterious life coaching company taking over people's lives and ripping families apart.   

As the investigation hots up, the group fights back, and there's a surreal final showdown.

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A Very British Cult: 8. The Showdown

8. The Showdown

BBC Radio 4 - A Very British Cult, 8. The Showdown

Catrin finally confronts Lighthouse's leader as the organisation ends up in court.

Catrin finally confronts Lighthouse's leader as the organisation ends up in court. The showdown results in a crowded interview on a busy London street.

It’s the final showdown. The BBC team finds out there’s been another investigation going on in parallel to their one. It’s by the Government, who want Lighthouse shut down. 

Lighthouse International Group end up in court, and more than 20 team members crowd into the hearing room, squashed alongside the BBC as well as Jeff and Dawn. Catrin finally gets to put her questions to Lighthouse and their leader Paul Waugh, and a massive crowd piles down a central London street as she tries to get answers.   

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye 
Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye 
Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt 
Researcher: Aisha Doherty 
Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat 
Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw 
Original Music by: Phil Channell 
Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

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A Very British Cult

8. The Showdown

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