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World of Secrets — Documentary
World of Secrets

Global investigations from the BBC. Gripping stories from around the world – delve into a World of Secrets.

Latest season:

Catching My Teacher. They were taught to obey. But they learnt to resist. When students from a network of boarding schools in Indonesia hear about a dark secret at the heart of a national institution, they set out to find the truth — not knowing what it will cost them. This is a story about friendship, love and who you can trust.

Also, previously on World of Secrets:

Searching for Soldier Dad. DNA detectives track down the British soldiers who fathered children in Kenya then disappeared.

Al Fayed Predator at Harrods. Women accuse Mohamed Al Fayed of rape.

And The Abercrombie Guys. Investigating sexual exploitation claims against the former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2025

Latest Episodes:

The Child Cancer Scam: 6. The calls Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

After never receiving the money raised in their children’s name, mothers are finally confronting the scammers and demanding answers.

Now is the time to ask why. Where is the money?

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

World of Secrets will be back with gripping new investigations in 2026.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Child Cancer Scam: 5. The agency Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

The investigation into why millions of dollars promised to families with sick children never reaches them moves to Israel. There we find misleading addresses and more questions than answers. Who is making these online campaigns which claim to help desperate parents? New ones keep appearing, but the story’s the same.

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Child Cancer Scam: 4. The contract Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

A mother from Ukraine signs a contract, hoping that it will help her young daughter. Viktoriia has a brain tumour: her story is plastered all over social media despite her family’s request that the video they made isn’t shared.

Olena says she wasn’t given time to read the contract properly. When we look more closely, it makes for shocking reading. Now she knows the truth, she wants to stop the scammers, agreeing to help us go undercover.

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Child Cancer Scam: 3. The recruiters Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

A woman called Isabel pushes a little girl to send videos from her hospital bed. It’s part of a recruitment drive for sick children in Colombia to take part in campaigns. What does she know about the hundreds of thousands of dollars that appear to have been raised? It’s money the family never saw. Who was she working for, and what can she tell us about this scam?

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Child Cancer Scam: 2. The director Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

As videos of other sick children pleading for money are found online, we find out more about the man behind the camera. And it becomes clear that there’s a complex network of organisations registered in Israel, the United States and Canada, exploiting families who just need help.

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Child Cancer Scam: 1. The video Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Seven-year-old Khalil from the Philippines has cancer. His family hope making a campaign video might save him, because they desperately need help to pay for his treatment. But the shoot is demanding, exhausting. Khalil even has onions put in front of his eyes to make him cry.

For his mother Aljin, it’s a last-ditch attempt to help her son. But despite following every demand made by a “foreign sponsor”, she’s told the video doesn’t make any money.

Season 10 of World of Secrets, The Child Cancer Scam, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the child depicted is a model.

Reporter and Presenter: Simi Jolaoso Additional reporting: Jack Goodman and Ned Davies Writer and Producer: Neil McCarthy and Rob Wilson Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producer: Sarah Green Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

The Child Cancer Scam: Trailer Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Your child is critically ill with cancer. It’s the worst news you can get. But to make the situation even more awful, you struggle to afford the care they need. So, when someone tells you a foreign sponsor can help raise the money, you’ll do anything.

You make a video: your child begs for help from strangers online. But it comes to nothing. You wait and wait for the cash from the donations. It never comes, and all the while your child is fighting for their life.

In this World of Secrets podcast from the BBC World Service, BBC Eye uncovers the shocking truth.

Released from 15th December.

Please note, the show image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.

Death in Dubai: 6. The deal Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

An undercover meeting with the pimp we’ve been investigating for two years. And a chase from Dubai to the UK to get answers. Back in Uganda, Monic’s family have been waiting for this moment.

This episode includes discussion of suicide and some disturbing events.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Here’s a link to the BBC Eye documentary film, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/bbcdeathindubai

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina Producers: Ruth Evans, Ly Truong and Runako Celina Field Producer: Bondo Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producers: Anne Dixey and Hatty Nash Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel Death in Dubai is a BBC Eye Investigation produced in association with Thread Studios.

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris Head of Production: Alex Farquharson Production manager: Siobhan Rae Assistant Producer: Chris Jones Additional production by: Jamie Welham Composer: Huw Jones

Death in Dubai: 5. The reality of ‘Porta Potty’ Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

The story behind the viral Dubai Porta Potty rumours and why, even in death, Monic became the subject of an online witch hunt. Meanwhile we go undercover – are we getting closer to Monic’s boss? And a breakthrough in the quest to find where she is buried.

This episode includes discussion of disturbing events, including sexual abuse and violence. It also contains racist language.

Audio for this episode was updated on 22nd September 2025.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Here’s a link to the BBC Eye documentary film, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/bbcdeathindubai

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina Producers: Ruth Evans, Ly Truong and Runako Celina Field Producer: Bondo Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producers: Anne Dixey and Hatty Nash Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel Death in Dubai is a BBC Eye Investigation produced in association with Thread Studios.

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris Head of Production: Alex Farquharson Production manager: Siobhan Rae Assistant Producer: Chris Jones Additional production by: Jamie Welham Composer: Huw Jones

Death in Dubai: 4. The right hand man Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

A key insider agrees to talk. He says he worked at the centre of this illegal prostitution ring. Why is he speaking out now? And what can he tell us about the world Monic was caught up in, and the man she was working for? We follow in Monic’s footsteps to the glitzy clubs and bars where we are told she was sent. This episode includes discussion of sex and abuse.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Here’s a link to the BBC Eye documentary film, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/bbcdeathindubai

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina Producers: Ruth Evans, Ly Truong and Runako Celina Field Producer: Bondo Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producers: Anne Dixey and Hatty Nash Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel Death in Dubai is a BBC Eye Investigation produced in association with Thread Studios.

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris Head of Production: Alex Farquharson Production manager: Siobhan Rae Assistant Producer: Chris Jones Additional production by: Jamie Welham Composer: Huw Jones

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