Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
The Crime Desk revisits the 2003 disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes from Blackpool — a case that still has no resolution.
Podcasts Like Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
If you loved Charlene: Somebody Knows Something, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Missing Person, Cold Case, Investigation shows.
Why listeners love Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
Shortlisted in three categories at the 2026 True Crime Awards — one of the UK's most enduring unsolved missing-person cases. With a binge factor of 8/10, it sits among the most compulsively listenable shows in the genre. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
8/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Serious, journalistic, unresolved
Presentation approach
Episode Length
30-40 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
The Teacher's Pet
True crime fans who like journalism-driven investigations with massive real-world impact; anyone fascinated by domestic crime and institutional failure.
Bone Valley
True crime fans who care deeply about wrongful conviction, prosecutorial failure, and the fight to free innocent people; fans of In the Dark will find this essential.
Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Your Own Backyard
Listeners who want investigative true crime with real-world consequence and single-minded, passionate focus from a creator who refused to let a case die.
Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo
CBC's Connie Walker investigates the Sixties Scoop through the disappearance of Cleo Semaganis Nicotine.
West Cork
True crime fans who love atmospheric investigative journalism, Anglo-Irish tensions, and cases that remain unresolved and fiercely contested decades later.
Someone Knows Something
True crime fans who value empathy, journalistic integrity, and collaborative investigations conducted alongside the victim's own family.
True Crime South Africa
South Africa's flagship true crime podcast, hosted by award-winning journalist Nicole Engelbrecht — the country's most popular true crime show even against international competition.
We Call Her Emma
Tortoise Investigates and The Observer trace how a high-achieving west London woman ended up at the centre of the Emma Caldwell case.
White Lies (NPR)
True crime fans interested in civil rights history; listeners who want journalism with genuine historical consequence; anyone who believes true crime must engage with political violence and institutional cover-up.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlene: Somebody Knows Something (original) | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Serial | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| The Teacher's Pet | Serialized | Australia | 9/10 |
| Bone Valley | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Bear Brook | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Your Own Backyard | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo | — | Canada | 9/10 |
| West Cork | Serialized | Ireland | 9/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Charlene: Somebody Knows Something?
The best alternatives to Charlene: Somebody Knows Something are podcasts that share its Missing Person, Cold Case, Investigation focus and serialized format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love Charlene: Somebody Knows Something?
Charlene: Somebody Knows Something is known for its serious, journalistic, unresolved approach to Missing Person and Cold Case. It scores 8/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it. It has earned a "Must Listen" rating from our editorial team.
How long are episodes of Charlene: Somebody Knows Something?
Episodes of Charlene: Somebody Knows Something are typically 30-40 min long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to Charlene: Somebody Knows Something?
Charlene: Somebody Knows Something is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Charlene: Somebody Knows Something to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1. As a serialized podcast, it's best to start from the beginning of a season.