Stakeknife
True crime podcast review — 2026
"High-stakes political true crime from the same team behind Where Is George Gibney?."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news
- ✓Listeners interested in British cases and the UK criminal justice system
Pros
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
About this podcast
Stakeknife, Series 2 of the BBC's Cover strand from Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy (the team behind Where Is George Gibney?), investigates Freddie Scappaticci, the man alleged to be Stakeknife — a top IRA double agent run by British intelligence — and the state's role in allowing murders to continue in order to protect him.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
Rate this podcast
Community reviews
0 reviewsWrite a quick review
No reviews yet. Be the first!
Frequently Asked Questions about Stakeknife
What is Stakeknife about?
Stakeknife, Series 2 of the BBC's Cover strand from Mark Horgan and Ciarán Cassidy (the team behind Where Is George Gibney?), investigates Freddie Scappaticci, the man alleged to be Stakeknife — a top IRA double agent run by British intelligence — and the state's role in allowing murders to continue in order to protect him.
Is Stakeknife worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". 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.
Who is Stakeknife for?
Stakeknife is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news; Listeners interested in British cases and the UK criminal justice system.
What is the best episode of Stakeknife to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
What podcasts are similar to Stakeknife?
If you enjoy Stakeknife, you might also like: Fur and Loathing, Bad, Mad & Northern, Gone South, Forgotten Australia. See our full "Podcasts Like Stakeknife" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Investigative, historically grounded, high-stakes
- Episode length
- 30-40 min
- Episodes
- 14 episodes
- Country
- United Kingdom
Browse category
In our guides
Newsletter
Get weekly recommendations
Curated picks, new reviews, hidden gems.
You can unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.
If you liked this, try…
See all alternativesFur and Loathing
Brazen series on a 2014 chemical attack at a furry convention.
Bad, Mad & Northern
A historical true crime show digging into dark and odd stories from the North of England.
Gone South
Narrative series about crime in the American South, now widening to other regions.
Forgotten Australia
Strange and dark stories from Australian history, including crimes and unsolved mysteries.
Michigan Monsters
Forgotten crimes and dark history from Michigan, told with some humour.
A Moment In Crime
NZ Herald crime reporter Anna Leask revisits a major New Zealand case each month with the reporting behind it.
Explore more in these categories: