April Ashley | Corbett vs Corbett | 3

The couple must meet again in court, as their divorce case becomes a landmark battle over what defines a woman. As the pressure mounts, who will crack first: April, or Arthur? Please vote for us in the British Podcast Awards: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting Do you have a suggestion for a scandal you would like us to cover? Or perhaps you have a question you would like to ask our hosts? Email us at [email protected] mailto:[email protected] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Alice Levine?

  Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. Just a warning before we begin, some of the terms you'll hear in this episode were in common usage at the time the story takes place. We've used them because they're in keeping with how our main character self-described, but we acknowledge that they could be considered outdated today.

• 0:28Alice Levine?

  What is it, Matt?

• 0:30Matt Forde?

  I know this is awkward with everything that's happening, but I just thought we should talk about who gets the studio when. So I just wondered if I could have it Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and you could have it the other days.

• 0:42Alice Levine?

  We really shouldn't be having this conversation without our lawyers.

• 0:45Matt Forde?

  I know. I just think there's some stuff we need to divvy up, and it's just quicker to do it in person. Lots of relationships end like this, so let's just keep it civil.

• 0:53Alice Levine?

  It's really sad it's got this petty, but fine. What is it?

• 0:57Matt Forde?

  On awards, I thought maybe I could keep them.

• 1:01Alice Levine?

  Award? But yeah, okay, fine. Have it.

• 1:03Matt Forde?

  Thank you.

• 1:06Matt Forde?

  Guests.

• 1:07Alice Levine?

  I mean, they definitely, definitely are my friends, not yours. They'll just naturally come my way, anyway.

• 1:12Matt Forde?

  Yeah, they all preferred you. The ham sandwiches, I feel like maybe they're more my thing, and you're vegetarian, anyway, unless you're gonna do me on the bread.

• 1:24Alice Levine?

  I mean, they are months old. I mean, fine. Take them if you want.

• 1:27Matt Forde?

  Thank you. That means a lot. Now, writers, how about I get when do you get Karen?

• 1:34Alice Levine?

  That seems fair. Okay, done.

• 1:37Matt Forde?

  Okay, we've made a lot of progress today. This is, this is good.

• 1:40Alice Levine?

  Is there anything else?

• 1:41Matt Forde?

  Well, we haven't even talked about who gets the kids.

• 1:44Alice Levine?

  You keep them.

• 1:48Alice Levine?

  February 1970, Villa Antoinette, Marbella.

• 1:53Alice Levine?

  Arthur opens his bloodshot eyes, reaches across the bed.

• 1:57Matt Forde?

  April.

• 1:59Alice Levine?

  His heart sinks when he remembers. She's not here. He sits up, blinks at his discarded clothes on the floor, the overturned ashtray on the bed. He puts his head in his hands as a wave of shame hits him.

• 2:16Alice Levine?

  Ashtray in the bed.

• 2:17Matt Forde?

  This was what made Britain great in the 1970s.

• 2:20Alice Levine?

  Lot of bed fires.

• 2:21Matt Forde?

  Chippan fires, bed fires. It was perilous, but it was a laugh.

• 2:29Alice Levine?

  He staggers across the bedroom, kicks away an empty bottle, and lurches to the drinks cabinet. His hand shakes as he pours. He downs one large whiskey after another. He closes his eyes, tries to block out his thoughts, but he can still hear snippets of his barrister's voice echoing around yesterday's courtroom. So were these fantasies new? Or had you always enjoyed wearing women's stockings? A film of sweat breaks out on his forehead. He spins, heads towards the gramophone, tips out a record from its cover, tries to distract himself with music,

• 3:11Alice Levine?

  starts playing a song from his and April's wedding day.

• 3:20Alice Levine?

  He waltzes round the room, his eyes closed, an image of April in his arms. It takes him a while to realise the phone's ringing. He stumbles over, feels his temper bubble up as he slurs down the receiver.

• 3:35Speaker 02

  You scum, it tabloid vermin! Why don't you people just fucking fuck off?

• 3:42Speaker 03

  Arthur?

• 3:44Alice Levine?

  He springs to attention as his father's voice booms down the line.

• 3:49Speaker 03

  What the hell are you playing at? Have you been drinking?

• 3:52Speaker 02

  No, no, of course not, father.

• 3:55Speaker 03

  The judge is giving his verdict this afternoon. Christ, sober up! And get on the fast bloody flight out here!

• 4:04Alice Levine?

  He rubs at his sweaty forehead, feels sick. He can't go back to London. He can't face April, not after everything he's put her through. He drains his glass, pours himself another. But then the room suddenly spins. He gasps, confused, disoriented. Feels his body slump. He catches sight of his reflection, his face distorted, like it's melting down one side. He tries to cry out for help, but he can't form the words. He grabs onto the table, sees April's smiling face in a framed photo. And then collapses into darkness.

• 4:53Speaker 04

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• 5:25Speaker 05

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• 5:57Alice Levine?

  From Wondery, I'm Alice Levine.

• 5:59Matt Forde?

  And I'm Matt Ford.

• 6:01Alice Levine?

  And this is British Scandal.

• 6:16Alice Levine?

  Matt, you are a happily married man, I feel safe in saying. You and your lovely wife have been married for two years now. Lovely, congrats. April Ashley and Arthur Corbett only lasted two weeks. Where do you think, as a marriage expert, they went wrong?

• 6:32Matt Forde?

  Well, she didn't love him.

• 6:35Matt Forde?

  So that feels like the big first mistake.

• 6:37Alice Levine?

  Sure.

• 6:38Matt Forde?

  But she cared about him and he did offer some sort of security. So you can see why she was attracted to him. His form of love was very possessive and he really wanted to live vicariously through her, which again, this is not a sound basis for a marriage. On top of that, there was a lot of alcohol involved. I've lost count of the amount of bottles of champagne and double whiskeys that we've seen in this series. And of course, you can have a good night out in the booze, but what is wrong with an early night, a cup of tea and married at first sight?

• 7:11Alice Levine?

  What is wrong with that? If you can't do that, what can you do? This has all been really, I mean, money can't buy advice, but it is a little too late for April and Arthur. Where do you think they go from here?

• 7:23Matt Forde?

  Well, I think there is a moderate possibility that they managed to come to some sort of amicable arrangement and agree to part on good terms because as Sting would say, if you love someone, set them free.

• 7:36Alice Levine?

  I don't think you even believe that's a possibility, but let's see. This is episode three, Corbett versus Corbett.

• 7:45Alice Levine?

  Three years earlier, 1967, Fulham, London. April hops out of the black cab and grabs her bouquet of flowers. She's just spent the night with her new boyfriend, Clive. It feels good to date again. Most of all, it's good to be free from Arthur and his jealous, controlling moods. She takes in the scent from the roses as she heads to the front door. She's just about to walk in when her friend Sarah jumps out of her silver sports car. April, where have you been? She watches Sarah flick her red hair from her blue eyes. You promised we could go for Bloody Marys and Buzz's Bistro. We're meeting Francis Bacon later for dinner?

• 8:29Alice Levine?

  April lets her shoulders drop. She'd completely forgotten.

• 8:34Alice Levine?

  Francis wouldn't dare start without us, darling.

• 8:37Matt Forde?

  If you want me presentable, I'll need thirty minutes.

• 8:42Alice Levine?

  She opens the door, picks up a wad of mail, and feels a sudden heaviness in her chest as her eyes fall on the familiar cursive on a brown envelope. She can't cope with another forlorn letter from Arthur. Perhaps he's coughed up at last. April has asked Arthur for maintenance payments. She tips her chin at Sarah, smiles and tears it open. But when she reads it, the colour drains from her face. What is it? She lets Sarah take the letter from her shaking hands. Her blood runs cold as Sarah reads aloud. Arthur Cameron Corbett, hereby suing for divorce on the grounds of non-consummation.

• 9:27Alice Levine?

  Oh, darling. April feels herself tremble as Sarah leads her into the living room and sinks into an armchair. Her head is reeling. How could he do this to her? She was only asking for six measly pounds a week.

• 9:43Matt Forde?

  Pocket money, get more for a paper round.

• 9:45Alice Levine?

  And obviously all of her income streams have dropped away since the scandal, so really this would be what would sustain her. Sarah pours her a stiff drink. She downs it in one, then holds her glass for a refill. Arthur Cameron Corbett, seeking an annulment on the grounds of non-consummation. Oh, darling.

• 10:10Matt Forde?

  He's accusing me of non-consummation? I'd say I'm the one with those grounds. Trust me, darling. The only thing standing tall on our knights of passion was his ego. Just want to say for any men out there affected by this, there are pills, pumps and other things available. Contact your GP.

• 10:29Alice Levine?

  Don't do that for free, let's get a spot. Sponsorship in.

• 10:33Matt Forde?

  I'm happy to do an ad read for these things.

• 10:34Alice Levine?

  Sure.

• 10:35Matt Forde?

  I think it helps when you've got personal experience.

• 10:37Alice Levine?

  And it keeps the show afloat. So thank you, Matt.

• 10:39Matt Forde?

  Yes, thank you. It's not the only thing it keeps afloat.

• 10:42Alice Levine?

  I say you have for that one. Come on. Sarah looks at her defiantly. You can't let him get away with it. You're his wife, for goodness sake. April watches her friend scramble in her handbag, then hold out a card.

• 10:58Alice Levine?

  April stares at the name. Terry Walton, Solicitor. She dabs at her eyes, tries hard not to smudge her mascara. Let Sarah take the glass from her hand. Tell him I sent you. And darling, please see him today.

• 11:16Alice Levine?

  April takes a deep breath and nods. She's going to fight this. If Arthur wants a war over six pounds a week, he's got one.

• 11:32Alice Levine?

  Later that afternoon, Terry Walton's office, London. Terry Walton loosens his tie and pushes back his dark-framed glasses. He's spent the last few weeks processing paperwork for stockbroker husbands and litigating which divorcee keeps the silverware. He sighs. He's just about to leave when a tall, elegant woman glides in. She holds out her hand, introduces herself as April Ashley. He takes in her willowy figure. Her Chanel suit. I believe you know a friend of mine. Sarah Churchill. He smoothes down his thinning hair, gestures for her to take a seat.

• 12:16Alice Levine?

  He lights a cigarette as he takes in her high cheekbones. Her almond eyes. Then it hits him. He's seen her on the cover of his wife's fashion magazines.

• 12:29Alice Levine?

  To helping me, you should know, I'm a transsexual.

• 12:35Alice Levine?

  He takes a drag on his cigarette, frowns. Forgive me, I'm not sure what that means. He watches her tilt her head and flutter her thick lashes at him. I was born male, darling, and now I'm female. He feels his mouth drop, hears himself mutter. I'd never have guessed. She cuts in. Why would you? I, I, I mean, it's just, you, you don't look like trouble. Oh, darling, give it time. Arthur can't help but laugh. He likes this woman. And you were married?

• 13:19Alice Levine?

  She raises an arched eyebrow at him. Arthur, my ex-husband, promised he'd make me the next Lady Roallan. And now he's quibbling over a tiny maintenance payment. Terry stares at her. His mind scrambles. Lord Roallan? He jolts forward. The scout leader? You, you married his son? Terry, massive scout fan, bit starstruck.

• 13:47Matt Forde?

  Whoa, he's like one above Archela.

• 13:51Alice Levine?

  With all due respect to adult scouts, weird, isn't it?

• 13:55Matt Forde?

  Massively weird.

• 13:56Alice Levine?

  If I came in dressed as a brownie, you wouldn't like it, would you? Is it a yellow sweatshirt, brown skirt, with all my badges on, a massage? No.

• 14:03Matt Forde?

  I'd have you sedated and committed, because that's what you would need.

• 14:07Alice Levine?

  Is this syringe straight in the neck? You don't even check.

• 14:09Matt Forde?

  That's it. Dart.

• 14:13Alice Levine?

  April smiles at him. Scouts were never my thing, darling, but yes, that's the one. Arthur.

• 14:21Alice Levine?

  She pushes a letter across the desk at him. He picks it up, begins to read.

• 14:28Alice Levine?

  "On the grounds of non-consummation. Is it true?" She crosses her legs, smooths down her skirt. "I tried to have sex with Arthur on several occasions. Believe me, he just couldn't get it up." Terry stares at her, open-mouthed. He's never met anyone as forthright. He crushes out his cigarette, fumbles in his packet for another, feels his heart race.

• 14:59Alice Levine?

  Arthur Corbett will have a powerful team behind him, and the tabloids will be all over this case. But his thoughts are interrupted when April leans forward.

• 15:10Alice Levine?

  "I know you can help me.

• 15:13Alice Levine?

  Will you?"

• 15:15Alice Levine?

  He bites his lip, then, before he can stop himself, he tells her. "Come back tomorrow, first thing." He watches her smile graciously, then glide out. When she's gone, he lets out a sigh, tries to figure out what he's just got himself into. But he's already decided. This will be the most high-profile case of his whole career, and he knows exactly what his first line of argument will be.

• 15:48Alice Levine?

  A few months later, central London. Arthur puts his head down, strides along the street to the law office. He's finally been given a court date, and he's arranged to meet his barrister, Joe Jackson, to discuss his case. But his head throbs and his body aches. He's been drinking non-stop since he arrived in London two days ago. Everywhere he goes reminds him of April.

• 16:14Alice Levine?

  A few minutes later, he sits opposite Jackson in his small, crowded law office. We've hit a snag, I'm afraid. Your ex-wife's lawyer is arguing his client isn't responsible for the non-consommation of the marriage. That in fact, you are. Arthur lets out a heavy sigh, closes his eyes. There is another way, of course. I've been speaking with your father.

• 16:39Speaker 02

  My father!

• 16:41Alice Levine?

  But Jackson cuts in. Two men can't marry. April, as we both know, was not born a woman. So, I propose we set about proving April is really a man. The marriage will be deemed null and void. Arthur shakes his head. He can't do that to April. It would destroy her. He spits out.

• 17:07Speaker 02

  Absolutely not!

• 17:10Alice Levine?

  Jackson stares at him, his small eyes widening in disbelief. But your father and I think we could make a good case. Arthur clears his throat, tries to regain his composure, holds Jackson's gaze. He doesn't even want this stupid divorce. He only started it because he was so angry April had left him. All he wants is for her to come to her senses and come back to him.

• 17:38Speaker 02

  I need to make a phone call.

• 17:40Alice Levine?

  Jackson looks at him for a moment. Of course. Arthur waits until his lawyer has left the room, then picks up the receiver, feels his hand shake. As soon as he hears his father's voice, he blurts out.

• 17:56Speaker 02

  I've changed my mind. I'm not suing April for divorce. I'm calling the whole thing off.

• 18:02Alice Levine?

  A vein in his forehead pulses as he waits for his father to reply. Eventually, he hears his father's cold, measured voice.

• 18:13Speaker 03

  It isn't about you, Arthur, or what you want. It's about the family title.

• 18:21Alice Levine?

  Arthur feels his mouth dry, but he's determined to stand his ground.

• 18:26Speaker 02

  Sir, I've decided.

• 18:30Alice Levine?

  His father cuts in.

• 18:31Speaker 03

  Damn it, Arthur, a man cannot marry another bloody man.

• 18:37Alice Levine?

  Arthur stares at the receiver, but then, to his surprise, his father softens his tone.

• 18:43Speaker 03

  Arthur, the whole Roan name is at stake here. That creature cannot inherit the title. Future generations will never forgive you. I will never forgive you.

• 18:58Alice Levine?

  Arthur's vision narrows as he stares out of the window and fixes his eyes on a passing couple, hand in hand, not a care in the world.

• 19:08Speaker 03

  You need to choose, Arthur, your family or April. So what will it be?

• 19:17Alice Levine?

  Arthur stares at the receiver, feels himself shake with impotent rage.

• 19:21Matt Forde?

  Not for the first time.

• 19:23Alice Levine?

  But now he has to decide. Does he fight a battle he doesn't want to win? Or does he please his father and lose April forever? A few days later, Vidal Sassoon Salon, Mayfair, London. April tips back her head as Vidal Sassoon snips at her hair. She takes in his sharp suit and cravat as he moves around her. He's been cutting her hair since she was a model, but this time it's different. Her divorce case starts in a few days, and she needs to look right. He grabs a mirror, holds it behind her. She smiles.

• 20:08Alice Levine?

  It's perfect. He is a bloody fool to divorce you.

• 20:13Matt Forde?

  Okay, so Vidal Sassoon was a real person?

• 20:16Alice Levine?

  Real man, East London hairdresser to the stars. You might remember Mary Quant's five-point haircut, made very, quite avant-garde haircuts, actually, not just a kind of short back and sides.

• 20:27Matt Forde?

  I can't believe it. I just thought Vidal Sassoon was like a made-up brand for shampoo.

• 20:32Alice Levine?

  Well, a brand of shampoo, sure, but not made up.

• 20:34Matt Forde?

  A Tony and Guy real?

• 20:36Alice Levine?

  I actually think yes. Is Tim O'Teary real?

• 20:42Alice Levine?

  She lets him kiss her hand. She's about to walk out when she sees a thin-faced man peering in the window. He's wearing a raincoat and a pork pie hat. And he's staring straight at her. She feels her stomach grip at the look of disgust on his face.

• 20:59Alice Levine?

  She hovers in the salon, waits until he's gone, then steps out into the busy street, feels her shoulders relax when she realises he's disappeared. She walks along New Bond Street, turns into a quiet muse, then freezes at the sound of footsteps. She looks over her shoulder. He's there, right behind her. Her heart thuds. She breaks into a run. But he chases, grabs her arm. She's about to scream when he pushes a News of the World ID at her.

• 21:32Speaker 02

  April Ashley, any comment for our readers on your divorce case?

• 21:36Alice Levine?

  She pushes herself free.

• 21:38Speaker 02

  You must have something to say on your husband's latest claim. I don't know what you're talking about.

• 21:43Alice Levine?

  But the reporter steps closer.

• 21:46Speaker 02

  That you were never really married. Because you're a man.

• 21:51Alice Levine?

  She stares at him in shock.

• 21:53Speaker 02

  What? He's saying...

• 21:56Alice Levine?

  She hears her words peter out. She feels sick, lightheaded. Her mouth dries. She shakes her head, tries to take it in. Arthur might be guilty of a lot of things. He drinks too much and his jealousy always gets the better of him. But he's always treated her as a woman.

• 22:17Speaker 02

  Arthur would never do that.

• 22:20Alice Levine?

  But the reporter leers at her.

• 22:22Speaker 02

  He has though, darling. Are you going to prove otherwise?

• 22:26Alice Levine?

  She pushes past him. She needs to speak with Terry.

• 22:34Alice Levine?

  An hour later, she's in her solicitor's office, hunched near the electric fire with a cup of tea in her hand. She watches him readjust his black-framed glasses. "I'm afraid it's true, April. It seems Arthur's team has changed tack. Though, how the hell the press got wind of it?" He pushes a file towards her. She puts down her cup, trembles as she turns the pages, feels herself jolt at the words. "Respondent: A Person of the Male Sex." She closes the file, blinks back tears as she looks at Terry, and realizes: This case isn't about her marriage anymore,

• 23:17Alice Levine?

  or who could or couldn't consummate. It's about her body. She's going to have to defend who she is in a court of law, prove she is a woman, and fight for everything she believes about herself as a human being.

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• 24:26Speaker 06

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• 24:50Alice Levine?

  The following day, November 1969, law courts. April steps out of her hired limousine, puts out her hands to shield herself from the glare of flashing cameras, and pushes her way through the scrum of reporters to get to the doors of the law courts. But she keeps getting pushed back. She glances over at the television crews setting up from their huge lorries. She knew her divorce would be big news, but not on this scale. She starts to panic as she's surrounded. She can hardly breathe.

• 25:25Speaker 02

  "Let me through, please."

• 25:28Alice Levine?

  But a reporter shoves a microphone in her face. "Can you convince the court you're not a man?" A middle-aged man pushes him aside.

• 25:37Speaker 02

  "Her husband didn't think so, did he, love? When you gonna act like a real man?"

• 25:42Alice Levine?

  She glares at him.

• 25:44Speaker 02

  "When are you?"

• 25:46Matt Forde?

  "That is a great heckle put down."

• 25:48Alice Levine?

  "It's fantastic, on the spot when you're stressed."

• 25:50Matt Forde?

  "Oh, in a comedy club, that would smash it."

• 25:58Alice Levine?

  An hour later, April adjusts her Chanel jacket as she takes the stand. She stares at Arthur. He's sitting rigid in his seat, his face grey and thin, his shrunken frame swamped in his suit. She can't believe how old he looks. She blinks at Jackson, watches him adjust his wig as he sweeps towards her.

• 26:21Speaker 02

  "You were born in Liverpool, were you not?"

• 26:24Matt Forde?

  "Surely they're not gonna use that against her."

• 26:28Matt Forde?

  "No further questions, Your Honour."

• 26:33Alice Levine?

  She nods.

• 26:34Speaker 02

  "Correct."

• 26:36Alice Levine?

  His eyes narrow.

• 26:38Speaker 02

  "And does your birth certificate record you as male or female?"

• 26:44Alice Levine?

  She tips her head up.

• 26:47Speaker 02

  "I was born male, but..."

• 26:50Alice Levine?

  He cuts in.

• 26:52Speaker 02

  "Male, indeed. And therefore, as a result, you are incapable of having heterosexual marital sex, are you not?"

• 27:03Alice Levine?

  She raises an eyebrow at him.

• 27:06Speaker 02

  "I had heterosexual intercourse after my operation..."

• 27:11Speaker 02

  A lot of men, none of them complained, nor has any man since I left Arthur.

• 27:17Alice Levine?

  She sees Arthur flinch, watches the barrister rock on his heels, feels a surge of triumph.

• 27:25Speaker 02

  And yet, you've admitted your marriage was unconsumated.

• 27:30Alice Levine?

  She glares at him.

• 27:32Speaker 02

  I tried, believe me, but Arthur couldn't perform in the trouser department. Perhaps he wasn't man enough.

• 27:42Alice Levine?

  She tilts her head at Jackson.

• 27:45Speaker 02

  All I can say is, despite my best efforts, my husband remained obstinately limp the whole time.

• 27:55Alice Levine?

  Jackson glares at her. She sees a vain pulse in his forehead. He looks at his notes, then smiles at her, a glint in his small eyes.

• 28:06Speaker 02

  Before your operation, Miss Ashley.

• 28:09Alice Levine?

  April corrects him.

• 28:11Speaker 02

  Mrs. Corbett.

• 28:12Alice Levine?

  But Jackson continues.

• 28:14Speaker 02

  Can you describe your body to us? How large would you say your penis was?

• 28:21Alice Levine?

  Her heart starts to race.

• 28:23Speaker 02

  Did you get erections?

• 28:26Alice Levine?

  She stares at him in horror. Her lungs can't get enough air. She grips the stand.

• 28:32Speaker 02

  Ejaculations.

• 28:34Matt Forde?

  I get that Jackson's case rests on a particular point, but the sorts of questions he's asking, does he really have to put it in this way?

• 28:44Alice Levine?

  It feels very invasive and as we know from previous series of British scandal, humiliation in the courtroom is a very real thing and a very common tactic. So this could well be trying to prove a point, but you can't help but feel it's also to shame her.

• 29:03Alice Levine?

  She tries to regain her composure, but she's pushed that part of her life so far down, it's almost physically painful to think of her pre-op body. Eventually, she manages to say,

• 29:16Speaker 02

  I was born male, but I became a woman. I am transsexual. Some doctors refer to my condition as intersex.

• 29:28Alice Levine?

  She watches Jackson sweep around the room, grinning.

• 29:32Speaker 02

  Intersex indeed, and how can that be? Surely a one thing or another?

• 29:38Alice Levine?

  Her eyes fill with tears. She's about to snap back when Justice Ormrod cuts in.

• 29:44Speaker 02

  I'd like both sides to approach my bench, please.

• 29:48Alice Levine?

  She shoots a look at the judge. His square face is grim under his long wig. She watches as both legal teams approach the bench and whisper. Eventually, Justice Ormrod clears his throat.

• 30:03Speaker 02

  Since this case rests on whether the respondent is male or female, I'd like Mrs. Corbett to undergo medical tests and prove her true sex to the court.

• 30:16Alice Levine?

  She glares at the judge, feels her cheeks burn with humiliation. She pulls herself up to her full height and decides. If this is the only way to win this case, so be it. She'll take the tests and prove she's a woman once and for all.

• 30:39Alice Levine?

  The following day, Wimpole Street, London. April strides into the doctor's surgery. She refuses to be humiliated. She glances down at the letter from the court, at the titles of the men who'll examine her. Consultant psychiatrist, gynecologist, professor of human metabolism. She jumps to her feet as a nurse approaches. Could you tell me what these tests will be?

• 31:08Alice Levine?

  But the nurse frowns. This way, please.

• 31:12Alice Levine?

  She follows her along a narrow, dimly lit corridor to an examination room. Three middle-aged men stand as she walks in the room. April blinks at them, then over at a huge X-ray machine. A gaunt, balding man steps forward.

• 31:29Alice Levine?

  If you could just sit in this chair, please.

• 31:32Alice Levine?

  She starts to tremble, tries to push down memories of her teenage self being given electric shock therapy. But she can't stop shaking. The doctor fixes a lead vest to her body, attaches wires to her head. This shouldn't take long. Try to keep still. She turns her head.

• 31:53Speaker 02

  What are you doing?

• 31:55Alice Levine?

  He purses his lips. Sit back, please. We're looking for male characteristics in your skull. She stares at him in horror, tries to breathe through her anxiety.

• 32:09Alice Levine?

  When it's over, she picks up her handbag, heads for the door, relieved it's all over.

• 32:15Alice Levine?

  But a tall, round-shouldered doctor steps forward, clears his throat.

• 32:21Speaker 02

  If you could lie down here, please.

• 32:23Alice Levine?

  She follows his small, beady eyes to a medical bed. She hadn't noticed it when she came in. She tips up her chin.

• 32:32Speaker 02

  And this test is?

• 32:36Alice Levine?

  He shuffles awkwardly.

• 32:38Speaker 02

  Internal.

• 32:41Matt Forde?

  Oh, God. I mean, she's obviously agreed to submit to the tests without knowing what the tests are going to be.

• 32:48Alice Levine?

  One thing is not knowing what the tests are, another is the lack of transparency about what the criteria are.

• 32:56Alice Levine?

  She feels her legs weaken, then holds up her head, walks to the bed, undresses, and closes her eyes as the doctor examines her. She grimaces at the instant pain, silently curses Arthur for humiliating her like this.

• 33:15Alice Levine?

  The following day, she sits next to Terry in the courtroom, looks at the tall, round-shouldered doctor on the stand.

• 33:23Speaker 02

  The head X-ray proved inconclusive. However...

• 33:27Alice Levine?

  She holds her breath, feels her heart thud.

• 33:31Speaker 02

  The full physical examination showed the breasts to be well-developed.

• 33:36Speaker 02

  There are almost no penile remains, and the vagina is of ample size to admit a normal and erect penis.

• 33:47Alice Levine?

  She watches the doctor squirm.

• 33:51Speaker 02

  Therefore, we conclude there is no impediment on her part to sexual intercourse.

• 34:01Matt Forde?

  Obviously, in that moment, that's the thing she wants to hear. But this is still a humiliating process to have been put through.

• 34:08Alice Levine?

  It's hard not to think, on the one hand, when April is going through this court case, there isn't the heated, very public, divided conversation about trans rights that there is now. But on the other hand, she has no other experiences or support to call on. So as long as she hides away, there's the possibility of existing. But this is the opposite. This is on a very, very public stage.

• 34:38Alice Levine?

  She closes her eyes for a moment, feels her shoulders melt, and then glares across at Arthur. He blinks back at her, then looks down at his feet like a beaten dog. She almost feels sorry for him. But he's put her through hell. She takes a deep breath and decides she's going to make full use of these results, hammer home her case, and destroy him.

• 35:12Alice Levine?

  Later that afternoon, law courts, London. Arthur rubs his aching forehead as he makes his way to the door of the court. He's desperate for a drink. He hates himself for everything he's putting April through, hates the ugly way the doctors described her. He stops in his tracks as he spots the throng of waiting press. That's all he needs. He lights a cigarette, is about to try and beeline into a pub when...

• 35:40Speaker 02

  Mr. Corbett.

• 35:42Alice Levine?

  He spins, sees his barrister, Joe Jackson, wig in hand, his gown billowing behind him. His face is knotted into a deep frown.

• 35:52Speaker 02

  A quick word, if you don't mind.

• 35:55Alice Levine?

  He crushes out his cigarette with his heel, follows Jackson along the corridor to a small office.

• 36:03Alice Levine?

  He's about to sit, but instead he reels back in horror as his father emerges from the shadows. Arthur composes himself, offers a deep bow.

• 36:13Speaker 02

  Wha-what's this about?

• 36:18Alice Levine?

  Jackson glances at his father, then fixes Arthur with a determined glare. I'll cut to the chase. We're losing this case. We need to find a new angle. Two men can't marry each other. Arthur cuts in.

• 36:34Speaker 02

  I don't want you to call her a man.

• 36:37Alice Levine?

  But his father glares at him.

• 36:39Speaker 02

  Dammit, Arthur, we're on the bloody ropes.

• 36:43Alice Levine?

  Arthur feels a film of sweat break out on his forehead.

• 36:46Speaker 02

  You need to do the right thing. Admit to your sordid past, your homosexuality. The judge will then have no option. He'll have to declare the marriage void.

• 37:00Alice Levine?

  Arthur shakes his head.

• 37:01Speaker 02

  I-I don't understand, I-

• 37:06Alice Levine?

  Jackson cuts in. We can argue that you were only attracted to April because of your homosexuality, because April is a man.

• 37:15Speaker 02

  No, I-I won't do it. You'll get on that stand and tell them everything.

• 37:23Alice Levine?

  Arthur jumps up, his whole body is shaking with rage.

• 37:26Speaker 02

  I won't humiliate myself or April any longer.

• 37:32Matt Forde?

  But mainly myself.

• 37:33Alice Levine?

  His father bangs his fists on the table, yells in his face.

• 37:37Speaker 02

  You think I want my own son to admit he's a filthy bloody pervert? Your deviancy got us into this mess, so now it can damn well get us out.

• 37:48Matt Forde?

  I love you too, Dad. And they say men don't talk about their feelings.

• 37:58Alice Levine?

  Arthur stares at his father, feels his legs give. He slumps back down into the chair.

• 38:05Speaker 02

  April is gone, Arthur. Hates you. The only thing you can do now is win this thing.

• 38:12Alice Levine?

  Arthur lights a cigarette with shaking hands. He looks at Jackson.

• 38:18Speaker 02

  I'll be arrested, surely. It's illegal to...

• 38:23Alice Levine?

  Jackson shakes his head, cuts in.

• 38:26Speaker 02

  Homosexuality was decriminalised two years ago. I can guarantee you won't be arrested. Especially if you tell the judge you've seen the error of your past ways.

• 38:38Alice Levine?

  Arthur feels tears spring into his eyes. Jackson looks away, embarrassed, then tells him.

• 38:45Speaker 02

  If there were any other way, we'd take it. But this is our only chance.

• 38:51Alice Levine?

  Arthur stares at his feet. It'll be the ultimate betrayal of April. There won't be any chance of winning her back after this.

• 39:01Alice Levine?

  Dare I say it's past that point?

• 39:03Matt Forde?

  Every couple has arguments. This one just escalated a little bit and resulted in you having to have medical examinations that were described in detail in a court of law and in the media. But, look, we're good together.

• 39:20Alice Levine?

  Arthur blinks at his father and realises. He has no choice. He clears his throat, hears his feeble voice say.

• 39:31Speaker 02

  I'll, I'll do it.

• 39:36Alice Levine?

  Next day, law courts, London. April grips the side of her chair. Her eyes widen in horror as she stares at Arthur on the stand. She can't believe what she's hearing.

• 39:50Speaker 02

  I started visiting male brothels in my twenties. I would regularly dress in female clothing and engage in mutual masturbation.

• 40:02Matt Forde?

  That's great. We did just ask you to confirm your name.

• 40:08Alice Levine?

  She watches Arthur's barrister rock on his heels.

• 40:12Speaker 02

  And when did you first realise you were sexually attracted to men?

• 40:18Alice Levine?

  April's jaw slackens as Arthur's unsteady voice fills the room.

• 40:23Speaker 02

  I knew in my teens. Of course, I tried to fight it. I married, had children. But my attraction to the male sex just wouldn't go away.

• 40:38Alice Levine?

  April catches his eye, wills him to stop. But his attention snaps back to the barrister. She shakes as he goes on.

• 40:47Speaker 02

  When I met Miss Ashley, I was immediately caught up in a fantasy, which of course I now bitterly regret.

• 40:58Alice Levine?

  Her face reddens with fury. She jumps to her feet. She can't stand another minute of this.

• 41:06Alice Levine?

  She runs out into the corridor, tries to steady herself against the wall, but her vision swims with tears. She looks up, sees Arthur's father, Lord Roallan. His cold eyes bore into hers, his pipe dangling from his snarled lips.

• 41:25Alice Levine?

  For a second, neither of them moves.

• 41:29Alice Levine?

  Eventually, she spits out.

• 41:31Speaker 02

  Excuse me!

• 41:34Alice Levine?

  She marches past him, and as soon as she's alone, bursts into tears.

• 41:47Alice Levine?

  A few days later, April holds up her head, tries to steady her breathing as Justice Ormrod walks in to deliver his verdict. She looks over at Arthur's empty chair, feels a flush of irritation. He hasn't even bothered to turn up. Terry slides into the chair next to her, whispers. Arthur's in Spain, in a coma. They don't know if he'll make it. Her eyes widen.

• 42:16Speaker 02

  A coma? How?

• 42:20Alice Levine?

  But at that moment, Justice Ormrod clears his throat and the courtroom quietens. She looks up at his scowling square face underneath his long wig, watches him purse his lips. April takes a breath.

• 42:36Alice Levine?

  In order for this marriage to be legitimate, it must be deemed to be between a man and a woman. In other words, a heterosexual relationship.

• 42:47Alice Levine?

  His small eyes swivel towards her. The respondent looks convincingly female. The medical evidence supports heterosexual capability. April's heart thuds. Her pulse pounds in her ears as her hopes rise. But, on closer examination, the voice, manner, and attitude are reminiscent of a female impersonator. She lets out a horrified gasp. Her eyes swim with tears. I commend Mr. Corbett's bravery and honesty. His involvement in the society of sexual deviants cannot have been an easy thing to admit to.

• 43:33Alice Levine?

  This case has been as incredible as it has pathetic. Tears spill down her cheeks as he announces, I conclude, the respondent is, and always was, biologically male.

• 43:49Alice Levine?

  It follows that the so-called marriage of the 10th of September 1963 is void ab initio.

• 43:59Alice Levine?

  The room spins around her. She wants to stand up, but her legs won't move as the full horror hits her. It's not just her marriage that doesn't exist in law. It's her whole being. Everything she's fought for her entire life. To be seen as a woman, to be treated as a woman, to be respected as a human being, is crumbling around her. She drops to her knees and feels the darkness engulf her.

• 44:36Speaker 04

  Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat and Fish are back for a whole lot of wonderfully whimsical fun. What happens when you switch bodies with your best friend? Discover a caveman frozen in ice? Or make an alien so angry he threatens to destroy the planet? Find out in season two of the Cat in the Hat podcast. The Cat and Fish are traveling the world in the great catastrophic cacophony cruiser, meeting genies, clown professors, cave trolls, and extraordinary characters along the way. With clever wordplay, imaginative rhymes, original songs, and stories celebrating curiosity, empathy, and creative problem solving, every adventure brings something new to discover.

• 45:19Speaker 04

  It's a world of wonderful words, big imaginations, and plenty of heart for the whole family. Listen to the Cat in the Hat podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all 20 episodes early and ad-free right now.

• 45:36Speaker 05

  By 1779, Benedict Arnold had sacrificed more for the revolution than almost any other man in America. One of George Washington's most effective commanders, he had nearly lost a leg in the Second Battle of Saratoga. But in return, Arnold believed he had been humiliated by Congress and cheated of his glory by lesser men, so he decided to make them pay. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of the podcast American Scandal. We bring to life some of the biggest controversies in U.S. history: presidential lies, environmental disasters, corporate fraud. In our latest series, Benedict Arnold turns his back on his comrades in the Continental Army and secretly defects to the British. With the help of his wife, he plots to hand over the most important colonial fortress

• 46:20Speaker 05

  to the enemy and doom the revolution he once served. Follow American Scandal wherever you get your podcasts.

• 46:26Alice Levine?

  Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 46:47Alice Levine?

  A few months later, March 1970, Forestmere, Hampshire. April carries her plate to a small table. She's at this health spa to rebuild her strength. Since the trial, she's lost two and a half stone. She can't sleep, can't concentrate on anything, and she can't stop bursting into tears. She glances up at the other spa residents, chatting happily with each other in tennis whites or riding gear. But the truth is, all she wants to do is hide from the world. April! Her body tenses. April Ashley?

• 47:25Alice Levine?

  She turns, stares at a large man with his belly hanging over his belt. If he's a reporter, there's no notebook, no camera. Bloody freak! Why don't you get back into some trousers? She freezes in the sudden silence, forces a sardonic smile. Why don't you just concentrate on fitting into your own?

• 47:48Matt Forde?

  We've said it before, her comebacks are perfect.

• 47:51Alice Levine?

  Stage-worthy.

• 47:52Matt Forde?

  So good.

• 47:55Alice Levine?

  He slams down a newspaper in front of her, then storms off, muttering under his breath. She picks it up, looks at the headline. The sex-change gold digger and the aristocrat. At the photo of herself underneath, she turns the page. The bride who was, at all times, a man.

• 48:20Alice Levine?

  An hour later, she's in her room, curled into a ball. She looks at the pile of tabloids on the floor. Stories of her wicked deeds, and Arthur's recovery after his fall. She reaches for a bottle of vodka, pours herself a glass, then sees the bottle of pills. She takes a breath, tips out a pile into her palm, then catches sight of her gaunt face in the mirror.

• 48:47Alice Levine?

  She hides the pills quickly as one of the staff walk in. Your post, April. Someone's popular. She blinks at the pile of letters in the woman's hand. Thank you. She stares at the letters for a moment, then opens an envelope. Her eyes widen as she starts reading. It's from a teenage boy in Scotland, asking her advice on how to become a woman. She opens another, with a Liverpool postmark, from a married woman with two kids. You were so brave facing all that in court, all the papers against you. It gave me the courage to leave my husband. I'm going to start a new life, just me and the kids.

• 49:32Alice Levine?

  She slumps back. She's felt persecuted for so long, she had no idea she had any support. Tears well in her eyes, as she looks down at the dozens of letters, from well wishers, or from people who are worried and scared, asking for her advice. She clears a space on the table, grabs her notepaper and her fountain pen, sits down, and gets to work.

• 50:00Alice Levine?

  She's going to put the court case behind her, throw herself into this. She'll reply to every single letter, and try her best to stop anyone from suffering the way she has.

• 50:25Alice Levine?

  Twenty-two years later, 1993, central London. April smiles out at the audience, brushes down her brightly-coloured chiffon dress. She's been invited by a transgender support group, the Beaumont Society, to talk about her life and her work helping people like her. She wants to keep it light and witty, but the interviewer asks about her painful operation. You had a 50/50 chance of survival. She smiles, nods, tells the audience she recovered quickly.

• 50:58Speaker 02

  Of course, it helped that Dr. Buru was devastatingly handsome.

• 51:05Alice Levine?

  She smiles at the ripple of laughter, then takes a breath, talks about being outed as a model and her marriage to Arthur.

• 51:12Speaker 02

  It was hellish, but massively short. Rather like Arthur himself.

• 51:20Alice Levine?

  Her smile freezes. She doesn't want to show how much the court verdict still hurts.

• 51:25Speaker 02

  Despite everything I've done with my life, it amuses me that my name is forever linked with his. So my advice is this: think carefully before you marry the first aristocrat that comes along.

• 51:43Alice Levine?

  When the interviewer asks for questions, a dozen hands shoot up. A young trans woman with long red hair stands up and takes the mic. If you had a chance to say something to your ex-husband now, what would it be? Her smile fades. She lets the question hang in the air as her heart thuds in her ribcage. The truth is, she doesn't have an answer. Her whole life has been scarred by her time with Arthur. It's taken her years to get over it. She still isn't sure she has. She tips her head.

• 52:17Speaker 02

  Well, it certainly wouldn't be "Let's try again".

• 52:30Alice Levine?

  An hour later, she heads to a quiet corner of the marquee, takes a letter from her handbag and stares at it. The writing is shaky, but she'd recognise Arthur's scrawl any time. She feels her heart race as she reads it.

• 52:46Speaker 02

  "My darling April, I have no right to expect anything from you. But I'm in hospital in Marbella and I don't expect to recover. Would you visit me one last time?"

• 53:02Alice Levine?

  She pulls her pink shawl around her, feels suddenly cold. The gall of this man, after everything he's put her through, upending her whole life, how dare he even ask?

• 53:15Alice Levine?

  She rips up the letter, downs her champagne, and walks out to the car waiting to take her home.

• 53:22Alice Levine?

  She looks out at the passing streets, closes her eyes, but her thoughts crowd in her head. She opens her bag, takes out the pieces of the torn-up letter, and tells the driver,

• 53:35Speaker 02

  "Change of plan. Take me to the airport."

• 53:41Alice Levine?

  Next day, she makes her way along the polished corridor to Arthur's room, feels a trickle of sweat run down her back in the cloying heat.

• 53:51Alice Levine?

  A few seconds later, she walks in. She stops in her tracks, stares at Arthur, asleep, hooked up to numerous wires and machines, his face sunken and grey and covered in a sheen of sweat. He's so thin, she can almost see his bones underneath his wasted muscles. She steps back, shocked and horrified.

• 54:15Matt Forde?

  Is this what it was like visiting me in hospital?

• 54:18Alice Levine?

  Everything yes, apart from you had a massive smile on your face inexplicably.

• 54:21Matt Forde?

  And a massive bowl of macaroni cheese.

• 54:25Alice Levine?

  The whole visit was a huge mistake. She quietly walks to the door so she won't wake him.

• 54:32Speaker 02

  April?

• 54:34Alice Levine?

  She turns. Arthur's sunken eyes shine at her. He reaches out with a shaking hand. She hesitates, then walks over to his bed, sits next to him. He gazes up at her, struggles to speak.

• 54:51Speaker 02

  April, I wanted to see you because I wanted to say I'm so sorry.

• 55:03Alice Levine?

  She doesn't know what to say. She watches a tear trickle down his face.

• 55:09Speaker 02

  You were the only woman I ever loved, and I betrayed you. Can you forgive me?

• 55:18Alice Levine?

  Her mouth opens, but she can't speak. She closes her eyes, then looks back at him, and finally lets the past go.

• 55:38Alice Levine?

  Arthur Corbett died a few days later, at the age of 74. He'd become distanced from most of his family and lived in Marbella since his divorce. April Ashley was awarded an MBE in December 2012 at the age of 77 for services to gender issues, when she finally became a member of the establishment.

• 56:00Alice Levine?

  She died in December 2021, aged 86. The decision in April's court case set a precedent that transgender people would be defined by their assigned sex at birth, rather than their gender. The ruling became a super precedent, affecting how trans people were viewed in law all over the world. It wasn't until the Gender Recognition Act in 2004 that trans and insex people were able to correct their birth certificates.

• 56:29Alice Levine?

  In April 2025, the UK Supreme Court revisited the question of how to legally define a woman, ruling it should be based on biological sex.

• 56:40Alice Levine?

  Gender reassignment remains a protected characteristic under equalities law.

• 56:52Speaker 05

  There are books that change how you see the world, and there are books that change how you see yourself. In a new podcast series, A Great Book with Barack Obama, President Obama sits down with a series of surprising and sharp guests to explore six books that have shaped his life and perspective on the world. From Song of Solomon and The Fire Next Time, to All the Pretty Horses and Gilead, the president is joined by guests like Tom Hanks and Ta-Nehisi Coates to reflect on how these timeless stories shaped his thinking on everything from fatherhood to leadership, and discover together what they tell us about the world we live in and the world we want to create.

• 57:36Speaker 05

  Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of A Great Book with Barack Obama ad-free right now, plus access each audiobook discussed in the series. Download the Audible app today.

• 57:52Speaker 06

  Ghosts aren't real. At least, that's what journalist Tristan Redmond always believed. Sure, odd things happen in his childhood bedroom, but ultimately, he shrugged them off. Until he discovered that he wasn't alone, that everyone who lived thereafter him also had bizarre experiences they couldn't explain. And it gets even weirder. It just so happens that his wife's great-grandmother was murdered in the house next door. Is this ghost somehow connected to her murder? He decides to go where no son-in-law should, digging up a cold case and asking questions that nobody wants answered. Like, could his wife's great-grandfather have gotten away with the perfect crime? This is a podcast about family secrets, overwhelming coincidence, and the things that come back to haunt us.

• 58:37Speaker 06

  For the best bingeable series, like Ghost Story, listen to the Audible True Crime podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can get all episodes early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 58:58Alice Levine?

  From Wondery and Sammuzdat Audio, this is the third episode in our series, April Ashley.

• 59:04Matt Forde?

  A quick note about our dialogue: in most cases, we can't know exactly what was said, but all our dramatizations are based on historical research.

• 59:11Alice Levine?

  If you'd like to know more about this story, you can read April Ashley's Odyssey by Duncan Fallowell and April Ashley, Inside Out: The Extraordinary Legacy of April Ashley by Douglas Thompson, and Bonjour Madame Musel by Jacqueline Kent and Tom Roberts.

• 59:26Matt Forde?

  If you've got a scandal you'd like us to cover, email us at [email protected].

• 59:32Alice Levine?

  British Scandal is hosted by me, Alice Levine.

• 59:34Matt Forde?

  And me, Matt Ford.

• 59:35Alice Levine?

  Written by Karen Laws. Additional writing by Alice Levine and Matt Ford. Our story editor is James Maniac. Sound design by Louis Blatherwick. Our engineer is Jai Williams. For Sammuzdat, our producer is Redzi Bernard. Our assistant producer is Louise Mason. Our senior producers are Joe Sykes and Dashalisa Tzina. For Wondery, our senior producer is Theodora Laloudis, and our senior managing producer is Rachel Sibley. Executive producers for Wondery are Estelle Doyle, Chris Bourne, and Marshall Louie.

• 1:00:13Alice Levine?

  In the summer of 1881, US Army Lieutenant Adolphus Greeley and 24 other men embarked on an ambitious scientific mission to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. But despite several triumphs of discovery, the men would soon face tragedy. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of the podcast American History Tellers. We take you to the events, times, and people that shaped America and Americans, our values, our struggles, and our dreams.

• 1:00:39Matt Forde?

  In our latest series, after Adolphus Greeley and his men arrive at their destination, more than 1,000 miles above the Arctic Circle, they get to work collecting scientific data and exploring the frigid landscape. But when resupply ships fail to reach them two summers in a row, they're forced to set out on a desperate search for rescue, and not all of them will make it home. Follow American History Tellers wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of American History Tellers: Greeley Arctic Expedition early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. You stepped out for your morning jog. Except it's not your usual morning jog. You started listening to an epic sci-fi book on Audible. Thirty chapters later, you've

• 1:01:24Matt Forde?

  accidentally run a half marathon. You've lost track of how far you've run, somewhere just past the city limits. You can't stop. You have to find out what happens next. Then it's over. The universe seems bigger. You feel different. You feel like you have no idea where you are. Audible. Stories that speak to you.