Stakeknife
BBC's Cover strand investigates Freddie Scappaticci, the alleged IRA double agent, and the British government's role in allowing murders to protect their asset.
Podcasts Like Stakeknife
If you loved Stakeknife, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Terrorism, Investigative, Historical Crime shows.
Why listeners love Stakeknife
High-stakes political true crime from the same team behind Where Is George Gibney?. 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
Investigative, historically grounded, high-stakes
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 Stakeknife
The Missing Cryptoqueen
BBC journalist Jamie Bartlett tracks down Dr Ruja Ignatova, who persuaded millions to invest in OneCoin before vanishing without a trace.
S-Town
From Serial Productions: a man convinced his Alabama town is covering up a murder pulls host Brian Reed into a story that becomes something else entirely.
Spotlight: Snitch City
The Boston Globe Spotlight Team exposes one police department's rampant abuse of confidential informants — a top critical pick of 2025.
The Trial of Erin Patterson
The Crime Desk's courtroom coverage of the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial — one of the biggest cases of the decade.
Pipeline
The Crime Desk's investigation into four professional divers sucked hundreds of feet into a Caribbean oil pipeline in 2022 — and the failing safety standards that put them there.
You Didn't See Nothin
Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award-winning series in which Yohance Lacour revisits a violent Chicago incident from 25 years earlier that shaped his path into journalism.
Inside Murder Trial: Girl in the River
Journalist Jane MacSorley and advocate Thomas Ross KC unpack each day of the Caroline Glachan murder trial as it happens, live from BBC Radio Scotland.
Murder Mile UK True Crime
London-focused true crime where the host physically walks the streets where each murder happened — seven-time award nominee.
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.
Matched with a Predator
BBC Disclosure's investigation into a predator who used dating apps to target and abuse women — the 2026 Best Serialised Podcast winner.
Manhunt: Finding Kevin Parle
Ex-Flying Squad detective Peter Bleksley runs a live fugitive hunt for BBC Radio 5 Live, tracking a man wanted over two murders.
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.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stakeknife (original) | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| S-Town | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Spotlight: Snitch City | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Trial of Erin Patterson | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| Pipeline | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| You Didn't See Nothin | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Inside Murder Trial: Girl in the River | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| Murder Mile UK True Crime | Episodic | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Stakeknife?
The best alternatives to Stakeknife are podcasts that share its Terrorism, Investigative, Historical Crime focus and serialized format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love Stakeknife?
Stakeknife is known for its investigative, historically grounded, high-stakes approach to Terrorism and Investigative. 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 Stakeknife?
Episodes of Stakeknife are typically 30-40 min long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to Stakeknife?
Stakeknife is available on BBC Sounds, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Stakeknife 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.