Bad People
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed
"The 'why do people do this' show — hosted by a working criminal psychologist, not a narrator."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
- ✓Listeners interested in British cases and the UK criminal justice system
Pros & cons
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
- +Episodic format — great for both casual listeners and committed fans, start anywhere
About this podcast
Bad People, hosted by criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw for BBC Radio 5 Live, looks at real offenders — murderers, fraudsters, internet trolls — and asks what actually made them do it. It's a science-led counterpart to more narrative true crime shows.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1
Episodic format — episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order
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Frequently Asked Questions about Bad People
What is Bad People about?
Bad People, hosted by criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw for BBC Radio 5 Live, looks at real offenders — murderers, fraudsters, internet trolls — and asks what actually made them do it. It's a science-led counterpart to more narrative true crime shows.
Is Bad People worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Good if you want the psychology behind real cases explained by an actual scientist". It scores 7/10 on binge factor. Dr Julia Shaw applies criminal psychology to real cases for BBC Radio 5 Live — murderers, fraudsters and internet trolls, explained.
Who is Bad People for?
Bad People is ideal for: Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode; Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories; Listeners interested in British cases and the UK criminal justice system.
What is the best episode of Bad People to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1. Episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order.
Where can I listen to Bad People?
Bad People is available on BBC Sounds, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Bad People?
If you enjoy Bad People, you might also like: In the Dark, Serial, Sweet Bobby, The Retrievals. See our full "Podcasts Like Bad People" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Episodic
- Host style
- Dual host
- Style
- Analytical, psychological, accessible
- Episode length
- 40-50 min
- Episodes
- 140+ episodes
- Binge factor
- 7/10
- Country
- United Kingdom
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