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Welcome to The Tip Off- the podcast where we take you behind the scenes of some of the best investigative journalism from recent years. Each episode we’ll be digging into an investigative scoop- hearing from the journalists behind the work as they tell us about the leads, the dead-ends and of course, the tip offs. There’ll be car chases, slammed doors, terrorist cells, meetings in dimly lit bars and cafes, wrangling with despotic regimes and much more. So if you’re curious about the fun, complicated detective work that goes into doing great investigative journalism- then this is the podcast for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026
The Tip Off reconstructs major investigations through the reporting decisions, evidence trails and human consequences behind the finished headline.
Maeve McLennigan starts with a published investigation, then walks backward through the calls, documents, negotiations and wrong turns that made it possible.
Princess Beatrice enters the negotiation; Maeve McLennigan lets you hear a producer rethink her approach.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A patient investigation that turns data into proof and isolation into tension.
The episode tracks reporting on migrant boats in the English Channel after distress calls and the question of what happened next. Its real strength is the patient use of ship-tracking data and repeated checking, which turns scattered reports into a clear and tense account of…
A flaring oil-field image becomes a careful search for who is responsible.
The episode opens on Twitter images of huge flames in southern Iraq and follows Owen Pennell and Joe Sandler-Clark into a report that stays anchored in ownership, field work, and the question of who is responsible for the burning.
A careful look at how a royal interview was won, step by step.
The Tip-Off treats the Prince Andrew interview less like headline drama and more like a piece of work that had to be assembled carefully. Maeve McLennigan follows Sam McAllister through research, off-record conversations, and the second face-to-face negotiation at Buckingham…
A decade-old murder story told through the slow mechanics of reporting.
The Tip-Off follows a decade-old murder through careful reporting: wrong addresses, long waits, and a doorstep conversation that moves the story from rumor to confirmation. Hannah L.
A focused account of legacy, intimidation, and the cost of speaking out.
Silenced presents itself as a podcast from Article 19 about journalists and activists under pressure from governments, and this episode centers Matthew Caruana Galizia speaking with host Nicola Kelly about the murder of his mother, Daphne Caruana Galizia, and his determination…
LA Times reporter Christopher Goffard traces con man John Meehan's fraud, abuse, and its Bravo TV adaptation.
UFO disclosure with teeth.
Bleak news, deadpan jokes, no broadcast polish.
Australian investigations, followed from the ground up.
The episode follows an investigation into migrant boats crossing the English Channel.
Maeve McLennigan frames the story around Owen Pennell, a BBC Arabic producer who spots massive flames in southern Iraq on Twitter.
The episode opens in Italy.
Maeve McLennigan follows a decade-old murder through the work of two journalists.
The Tip-Off pauses between series and points listeners to Silenced, a new podcast from human rights organisation Article 19.
This episode features journalist Amelia Gentleman discussing her investigative reporting on welfare reform and disability benefits, and the impact of journalism.
An open source investigator uses publicly available data to identify the victims and perpetrators of a horrific execution video from sub-Saharan Africa.
A podcast that takes listeners behind the scenes of investigative journalism, starting with music critic Jim DeRogatis's journey into covering R.
This episode explores the story behind an investigative scoop, featuring journalist Alice Ross eavesdropping in a restaurant.
An investigative journalist discusses her reporting on the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and the challenges of understanding medical jargon.
This episode explores how filmmaker Lorna Tucker uncovered a story about women speaking their truths, starting from a backstage encounter at a rock concert.
An investigative journalist recounts his regret over a decision that led to a story of deception and betrayal, beginning with a taxi ride in Leeds while researching a drama documentary about the 7/7 bombings.
The host interviews journalists about their investigative podcast series West Quark, exploring a murder investigation gone wrong.