British Scandal Podcast: Audible Explores the Post Office Horizon Miscarriage of Justice
Audible has launched a compelling new investigative podcast series that revisits one of the most disturbing miscarriages of justice in modern British history — the Post Office Horizon scandal. The latest instalment of its award-winning franchise British Scandal places the spotlight firmly on the human cost of institutional failure, systemic denial, and a truth buried for decades.
Titled British Scandal: The Post Office Scandal, the four-part Audible Original series chronicles the devastating experiences of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of theft and fraud after the rollout of the controversial Horizon accounting system. At the centre of the narrative is Jo Hamilton, whose personal story mirrors the suffering of hundreds across the UK.
With exclusive interviews, meticulous reporting, and emotionally resonant storytelling, the podcast arrives at a time when public interest in accountability, justice, and institutional transparency is at an all-time high.
A Fresh Chapter in the British Scandal Podcast Franchise
Audible’s British Scandal has earned its reputation as one of the UK’s most respected narrative podcasts, known for dissecting high-profile controversies with clarity, empathy, and investigative depth.
Hosted by Alice Levine and Matt Forde, the podcast has won three British Podcast Awards, and this new series continues that tradition by tackling a case that not only altered lives but exposed alarming weaknesses in Britain’s criminal justice and corporate governance systems.
Unlike previous seasons focused on political or celebrity scandals, this series zeroes in on ordinary people caught in an extraordinary injustice — making it one of the most emotionally powerful entries in the franchise to date.
Who Is Jo Hamilton? The Human Face of the Scandal
A Dream Turned Nightmare
In 2003, Jo Hamilton took over a small rural Post Office in Hampshire, viewing it as an opportunity to build a stable livelihood while serving her local community. The Post Office branch was more than a business — it was a social hub, a trusted space, and a cornerstone of village life.
However, the optimism quickly unravelled following the introduction of the Horizon accounting system, a digital platform designed to modernise Post Office operations.
Instead of simplifying finances, Horizon began showing unexplained cash shortfalls.
False Accusations and Public Humiliation
Despite Jo’s repeated efforts to flag discrepancies, she was met with suspicion rather than support. The Post Office insisted the system was infallible and placed the blame squarely on her shoulders.
Soon, Jo found herself:
Accused of theft
Publicly shamed in her community
Facing legal pressure and financial ruin
Battling severe mental and physical health issues
Her business collapsed. Her reputation was shattered. And like many others, she was left isolated, believing she was alone.
The Horizon System: Technology That Failed — and Was Protected
What Was Horizon?
The Horizon IT system, developed to handle Post Office branch accounts, became the foundation for one of the largest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history.
Despite mounting evidence of software errors, bugs, and data inconsistencies, Post Office leadership:
Denied systemic faults
Prosecuted sub-postmasters aggressively
Suppressed internal evidence
Presented flawed data in court
The result? Hundreds of wrongful prosecutions.
A System That Punished the Innocent
Across the UK, sub-postmasters experienced similar patterns:
Unexplained accounting losses
Pressure to “make good” missing funds
Threats of prosecution
Convictions based on faulty data
Many lost their livelihoods. Some went bankrupt. Others suffered severe mental health breakdowns. Tragically, lives were lost.
The podcast does not sensationalise these events — instead, it carefully reconstructs how a trusted public institution weaponised technology against its own workforce.
The Turning Point: Meeting Alan Bates
Years after her ordeal began, Jo Hamilton crossed paths with Alan Bates, another sub-postmaster who refused to accept the Post Office’s version of events.
From Isolation to Collective Action
What Jo discovered was staggering:
She was not alone
Hundreds shared the same experience
The failures were systemic, not individual
Alan Bates went on to form what became a nationwide campaign, uniting sub-postmasters to challenge the Post Office through legal action, media exposure, and political pressure.
This meeting marked the beginning of a long, exhausting fight for justice — one that would eventually expose a decades-long institutional cover-up.
Exposing the Cover-Up: Power, Denial, and Accountability
The podcast methodically uncovers how the Post Office:
Ignored internal warnings
Withheld evidence from courts
Continued prosecutions despite known flaws
Protected reputations at the expense of truth
Through interviews, archival audio, and expert commentary, British Scandal reveals how deeply the cover-up ran — reaching senior leadership and raising uncomfortable questions about regulatory oversight.
The Legal Breakthrough: Barrister Paul Marshall Speaks Out
Risking Everything for the Truth
The final episode of the series features a pivotal interview with Paul Marshall, the barrister who played a key role in dismantling the Post Office’s legal narrative.
Marshall describes:
The professional risks he faced
Resistance from powerful institutions
The moment evidence finally surfaced
How close the truth came to remaining buried
His testimony underscores a chilling reality: justice often depends on individuals willing to risk their careers to challenge the system.
Why This Podcast Matters Now
A Case That Still Resonates
Although convictions have been overturned and compensation schemes introduced, the story is far from over.
Many victims:
Are still waiting for full compensation
Continue to deal with trauma and stigma
Seek accountability beyond financial redress
The podcast arrives amid renewed public scrutiny of institutional accountability in the UK, making its timing particularly significant.
Audio Storytelling at Its Best
Audible’s production quality elevates the series:
Clear, engaging narration
Balanced pacing across four episodes
Emotional but restrained storytelling
Journalistic integrity throughout
The hosts, Alice Levine and Matt Forde, strike a careful balance between empathy and investigative rigour — allowing the facts to speak while centring human experience.
Episode Release Schedule and Availability
Total Episodes: 4
Format: Audible Original
Availability:
All four episodes available now on Audible (membership may be required)
Episode 1 released on all major podcast platforms
Remaining episodes released weekly
How to Listen
Listeners can access the series through:
Audible app
Audible website
Major podcast platforms (episode one)
This hybrid release strategy ensures wide reach while offering Audible subscribers exclusive early access.
Final Verdict: A Must-Listen Investigative Podcast
British Scandal: The Post Office Scandal is more than a podcast — it is an essential historical reckoning. By amplifying voices long ignored and interrogating institutional power, the series reinforces why investigative journalism remains vital in the digital age.
For listeners interested in justice, technology, law, or human resilience, this series is unmissable.
