This Thing of Darkness

BBC Radio 4

Award-winning drama exploring the psychological impact of murder. Inspired by a real forensic psychologist and her work in secure prisons.

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Top 10 This Thing of Darkness Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best This Thing of Darkness episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to This Thing of Darkness for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite This Thing of Darkness episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Part 4

This Thing of Darkness

03/09/20 • 44 min

Written by Lucia Haynes with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert Forensic Psychiatrist, assessing and treating perpetrators of the most unthinkable crimes. In this gripping drama, Alex charts the psychological impact of the murder of a young man on his family, and explores the long shadow of homicide through her therapy group for murderers.

The Group begin to consider their relationships with their parents. And Hannah visits David with a challenging question about his relationships.

Cast: Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Dougie ... Simon Donaldson Hannah ... Jessica Hardwick Kyle/Tyler ... Reuben Joseph David ... Robin Laing Laura... Shauna Macdonald Frankie ... Brian Vernel

Series created by Audrey Gillan, Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams.

Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead

Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Kirsty Williams

Part 3

This Thing of Darkness

03/02/20 • 44 min

Written by Anita Vettesse with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist, assessing and treating perpetrators of the most unthinkable crimes. In this gripping drama, Alex charts the psychological impact of the murder of a young man on his family, and explores the long shadow of homicide through her therapy group for murderers.

Whilst David remains in custody for the murder of his son, the rest of the family must move back into the house where the killing took place.

Cast: Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Hannah ... Jessica Hardwick Kyle ... Reuben Joseph David ... Robin Laing Karen ... Victoria Liddelle Laura... Shauna Macdonald

Series created by Audrey Gillan, Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams.

Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead

Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Kirsty Williams

Part 1

This Thing of Darkness

02/24/20 • 44 min

Written by Lucia Haynes with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist, assessing and treating perpetrators of the most unthinkable crimes.

In this compelling drama, Alex charts the psychological impact of the murder of a young man on his family. A week after 19 year-old Jamie’s murder, Dr Alex Bridges interviews the members of his family. Cast: Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Hannah ... Jessica Hardwick David ... Robin Laing Laura... Shauna Macdonald Series created by Audrey Gillan, Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

Part 7

This Thing of Darkness

11/11/21 • 44 min

The winner of the British Podcast Award for Best Fiction 2021 returns with a gripping drama about trauma, obsession and why we harm the things we love.

Part 7 of 7

Written by Lucia Haynes and Anita Vettesse with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of violent crime.

Desperation for answers, fear and love lead Ros, Paul and Sarah to a place where the truth will be revealed. Sometimes love is traumatic. Sometimes it’s fatal.

Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Sarah ..... Melody Grove Ros ..... Lois Chimimba Paul ..... Robert Jack Kelly ..... Veronica Leer Malcolm ..... Michael Nardone Rowena ..... Wendy Seager

Series created by Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Gaynor Macfarlane

Part 6

This Thing of Darkness

11/11/21 • 42 min

The winner of the British Podcast Award for Best Fiction 2021 returns with a gripping drama about trauma, obsession and why we harm the things we love.

Part 6 of 7

Written by Lucia Haynes with Anita Vettesse; monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of violent crime. Having realised Sarah poses an immediate threat to Paul’s family, Alex has to find a way to tell Paul she has betrayed his trust.

With their baby’s life on the line, and their marriage in crisis, revelations come thick and fast. What else is she set to lose?

Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Ros ..... Lois Chimimba Sarah ..... Melody Grove Paul ..... Robert Jack

Series created by Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Kirsty Williams and Gaynor Macfarlane

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Kirsty Williams

Part 5

This Thing of Darkness

11/11/21 • 43 min

The winner of the British Podcast Award for Best Fiction 2021 returns with a gripping drama about trauma, obsession and why we harm the things we love.

Part 5 of 7

Written by Anita Vettesse with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of violent crime. She also runs a trauma therapy group.

When her professional worlds come dangerously close, Alex is faced with a dilemma: what if the only way to protect someone from harm is to betray their trust?

Dark secrets are revealed as Sarah and Paul’s lives collide. And the lies we tell our loved ones to get their attention are exposed as the Lotus Group continue to work through their various traumas.

Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Ros ..... Lois Chimimba Sarah ..... Melody Grove Paul ..... Robert Jack Dawn ..... Neshla Caplan Kelly ..... Veronica Leer Malcolm ..... Michael Nardone Rowena ..... Wendy Seager

Series created by Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Kirsty Williams and Gaynor Macfarlane

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Kirsty Williams

Part 4

This Thing of Darkness

11/11/21 • 42 min

The winner of the British Podcast Award for Best Fiction 2021 returns with a gripping drama about trauma, obsession and why we harm the things we love.

Part 4 of 7

Written by Anita Vettesse with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of violent crime.

Paul and Sarah discover that the past still exerts enormous power in the present. How far will they go?

Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Sarah ..... Melody Grove Paul ..... Robert Jack Kelly ..... Veronica Leer Malcolm ..... Michael Nardone Rowena ..... Wendy Seager

Series created by Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Gaynor Macfarlane

Part 3

This Thing of Darkness

11/11/21 • 44 min

The winner of the British Podcast Award for Best Fiction 2021 returns with a gripping drama about trauma, obsession and why we harm the things we love.

Part 3 of 7 Written by Lucia Haynes with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of violent crime.

Sarah has made a new friend, which feels like good news to Dr Bridges. But what if we can’t recover from past trauma?

Alex ... Lolita Chakrabarti Sarah ..... Melody Grove Paul ..... Robert Jack Ros ..... Lois Chimimba Kelly ..... Veronica Leer Malcolm ..... Michael Nardone Rowena ..... Wendy Seager

Series created by Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Gaynor Macfarlane and Kirsty Williams

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Gaynor Macfarlane

Part 2

This Thing of Darkness

11/11/21 • 43 min

The winner of the British Podcast Award for Best Fiction 2021 returns with a gripping drama about trauma, obsession and why we harm the things we love.

Part 2 of 7

Written by Lucia Haynes with monologues by Eileen Horne.

Dr Alex Bridges is an expert forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, assessing and treating perpetrators of violent crime.

With Sarah out of prison, Paul begins to feel less and less safe and turns to a trauma therapy group for support.

And so, Alex finds herself treating both the perpetrator of a violent crime and her victim.

Series created by Lucia Haynes, Eileen Horne, Gaynor Macfarlane, Anita Vettesse and Kirsty Williams. Series consultant: Dr Gwen Adshead Produced by Kirsty Williams and Gaynor Macfarlane

A BBC Scotland Production directed by Kirsty Williams