Emily Maitlis to Host New Global Podcast on the Infected Blood Scandal | 2025 Investigation
Acclaimed broadcaster Emily Maitlis is stepping behind the microphone once again — this time to uncover one of Britain’s darkest and most devastating medical disasters. Global has officially announced a new original podcast series investigating the infected blood scandal, a catastrophe that continues to claim lives decades later.
The announcement came during Global’s first-ever Audio & Entertainment Upfronts, where the company unveiled its upcoming slate of major podcasts and on-demand audio series.
A National Tragedy Revisited: The Infected Blood Scandal
The infected blood crisis is widely regarded as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. From the 1970s through the early 1990s, thousands of people — including children, haemophiliacs, and hospital patients — were unknowingly infected with HIV and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products.
Key Facts Behind the Scandal
Over 30,000 people are believed to have been infected.
Imported blood plasma, mainly from the U.S., was often sourced from high-risk donors, including prisoners and drug users.
Some doctors allegedly infected patients deliberately to observe disease progression.
Today, it’s estimated that one victim dies every four days from complications linked to the contaminated blood.
For decades, victims and families have demanded justice, only to face institutional denial, government inaction, and cover-ups. The long-running public inquiry has revealed shocking evidence of systemic negligence and deliberate obfuscation by those in power.
Emily Maitlis: Fearless Journalism at Its Finest
Emily Maitlis — best known for her cutting-edge interviews on BBC Newsnight and as co-host of The News Agents podcast — will lead this new investigative series for Global Studios.
Her trademark combination of rigorous reporting and empathetic storytelling will guide listeners through the complex web of political decisions, medical failures, and human tragedy that define this scandal.
“The infected blood scandal remains one of the greatest injustices of our time,” Maitlis said during the launch event. “I hope this podcast will give the victims the recognition and platform they have long been denied.”
The Story the Government Tried to Bury
The infected blood tragedy has long been described as a “silent epidemic.” While public outrage has grown in recent years, the full scale of government negligence continues to shock.
Lack of Testing: Authorities knowingly distributed blood products contaminated with deadly viruses.
Suppressed Evidence: Whistleblowers allege that documents were destroyed or withheld to protect reputations.
Ignored Warnings: Internal NHS reports and international data had already signaled the risks — yet the use of tainted plasma continued.
This new podcast aims to pull back the curtain on decades of denial, bringing to light the stories of victims, medical staff, and families who have been silenced for too long.
Inside the Podcast: What Listeners Can Expect
Produced by Global Studios, the podcast promises to blend narrative storytelling with firsthand testimonies, archival recordings, and expert interviews.
Listeners will hear:
Emotional stories from survivors and bereaved families
Exclusive interviews with doctors, policymakers, and campaigners
Investigative deep-dives into government accountability
Analysis of how this scandal mirrors the Post Office Horizon case in scope and injustice
The series will debut in Spring 2026, available on Global Player and major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
Why This Podcast Matters Now
The infected blood inquiry, which has been ongoing for years, recently concluded that the disaster was “avoidable and preventable.” As Britain continues to grapple with the moral and financial fallout, Maitlis’s series will shine a light on:
How victims continue to fight for fair compensation
Why it took decades for the government to acknowledge wrongdoing
The broader implications for public trust in national healthcare institutions
This isn’t just history — it’s a living wound. Many survivors are still battling illness, stigma, and bureaucratic indifference.
Echoes of the Post Office Scandal
According to Vicky Etchells, Global’s Director of Podcasts, the series will carry the same emotional and investigative depth that made the Post Office Scandal such a watershed moment in British journalism.
“Echoing the Post Office scandal in scale and injustice, the contaminated blood disaster is one of the gravest institutional failures in modern British history,” Etchells stated. “We are proud to bring this series to listeners as a Global Original podcast. Emily Maitlis’ fearless journalism will shine a light on a tragedy that has been overlooked for far too long.”
Global’s Audio Expansion: A New Era of Investigative Storytelling
The infected blood podcast marks a major step in Global’s expansion into serious long-form investigative journalism. With Maitlis at the helm, the company aims to create compelling content that not only informs but sparks national conversations about justice, accountability, and reform.
Recent successful series from Global include:
The News Agents (with Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall)
Hunting Ghislaine
The Confession Each has demonstrated that audiences are hungry for deeply reported, emotionally resonant storytelling.
The Victims’ Voices Finally Heard
One of the most poignant promises of the upcoming series is its focus on victim testimony. For years, many survivors have felt forgotten. This podcast aims to give them what official channels often denied — a voice.
Expect raw, emotional accounts of:
Children infected during hospital treatments
Mothers who unknowingly transmitted infections to their babies
Patients ostracized by communities out of fear and misunderstanding
Families left to pick up the pieces after losing loved ones
Their courage forms the emotional backbone of the series.
What the Infected Blood Scandal Teaches Us About Institutional Failure
The infected blood disaster serves as a case study in how bureaucracy, politics, and apathy can turn tragedy into atrocity.
It underscores key lessons:
Transparency must never be optional.
Government and health systems need independent oversight.
Public inquiries should lead to tangible justice, not delayed apologies.
As Maitlis explores these themes, her podcast could well become a catalyst for renewed public demand for accountability — especially as compensation schemes face further delays.
Release Details and Availability
The Global Original Podcast: Infected Blood Scandal, hosted by Emily Maitlis, will launch in Spring 2026. It will be available to stream exclusively on Global Player, as well as across all major podcast platforms globally.
Listeners can subscribe now on their preferred app to receive notifications upon release.
Final Thoughts: A Reckoning in Audio Form
This upcoming podcast is not merely entertainment — it’s journalism with purpose. By combining forensic investigation with empathetic storytelling, Emily Maitlis and Global Studios are set to reignite public awareness around a national disgrace that still demands justice.
As one survivor said at the recent inquiry:
“We were betrayed by those meant to protect us. Maybe now, through stories like this, the truth will finally be heard.”
