Serial: BBC Radio 4 Extra to broadcast hit American true crime podcast
Sarah Koenig's series re-examines the events surrounding student Hae Min Lee's murder 15 years ago
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An online podcast series which has been accessed 21 million times since its launch in October is to be broadcast by the BBC.
Serial, which re-examines a real-life US high school murder case, has topped download charts in around the world.
The tenth episode was released online only yesterday.
The series is to be broadcast by Radio 4 Extra from Sunday.
The station has already built links with its creators after airing another of its programmes, This American Life, earlier this year.
In Serial, journalist Sarah Koenig unfolds her examination of the circumstances surrounding the death of student Hae Min Lee in Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1999.
Hae Min Lee’s former boyfriend Adnan Syed, who was her classmate at Woodlawn High School, was sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder. He has always maintained his innocence.
The series’ finale, which features interviews, legal papers and Koenig's narration of how she pieces the story together, is expected to appear online on 18 December.
Radio 4 Extra - the first station to air the programmes - will broadcast the episodes each day at 9pm, finishing on the same day the podcast reaches its conclusion.
Serial has been such a success that fans and sponsors have pledged to finance another series, although the subject has not been decided.
Gwyneth Williams, controller of the station, said: "We are thrilled to be sharing Serial's innovative journalism and storytelling with our audiences on Radio 4 Extra."
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Ira Glass, editorial adviser for Serial said: "We know we already have tons of Serial listeners in the UK but we love that the BBC will help us reach many, many more than we ever could with podcast alone."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments