Pod Insights British Scandal Thatcher's Favourite Fraudster | Big Bird | 2 About this episode Asil Nadir claims he can prove his innocence. He just needs to stick around for the trial. But when someone offers him a seat on a small plane to Cyprus… Well, wouldn’t you?
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Transcript 8,631 words · 11 speakers
Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
0:00 Alice Levine? Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
0:13 Matt Forde? Hi Alice. So, you know how we're best friends now?
0:16 Alice Levine? Um, I mean, well, definitely, yeah, like friends or acquaintances, colleagues, yeah.
0:20 Matt Forde? That'll do. Um, I need a favour, if that's okay?
0:24 Alice Levine? Oh god, yes, what is it now?
0:26 Matt Forde? Well, I'm gonna be away for the weekend, so I wondered if you wouldn't mind just popping around to mine and watering my house plants?
0:30 Alice Levine? Oh, okay. Okay, fine. But if I ever need anything, you owe me a favour?
0:35 Matt Forde? Yeah, anything. Just whenever, wherever, I'm there.
0:39 Alice Levine? Matt, can I ask a favour?
0:41 Matt Forde? Yeah?
0:42 Alice Levine? Be immediate, say, whenever.
0:43 Matt Forde? Sure.
0:44 Alice Levine? So, it doesn't really matter the details, but like, last night, there was this car, and like, I kind of borrowed it, and you know I can't, like, technically drive, and like, there's a thing with like a kind of like shopfront, and like, the car doesn't look great, the shopfront doesn't look great, um, and it doesn't look good on me either. And so I was just thinking, maybe could you just say it was you?
1:06 Matt Forde? What? No!
1:09 Alice Levine? But you, you just said if I ever need a favour.
1:11 Matt Forde? I'm not sure it applies in this case.
1:14 Alice Levine? Okay, well, I guess, say goodbye to those spider plants.
1:18 Matt Forde? Well, okay, let's just calm down. I'll do it.
1:23 Alice Levine? The police will probably be around tonight.
1:27 Matt Forde? April 1993, Ballam. Asil turns up the collar on his trench coat, slips into a doorway, and holds his breath. He waits until the unmarked police car behind him disappears into the evening traffic. Then he quickly thumps on the imposing black door. Number 10.
1:48 Alice Levine? Maybe, knowing Asil.
1:52 Matt Forde? A few minutes later, he follows a small, hunched woman down a dark passageway, into a small cluttered room.
1:58 Alice Levine? So it is number ten. There she is. Mrs T.
2:02 Matt Forde? He feels his stomach churn. His trial is coming up soon. If he's found guilty, he'll be locked up for a decade. He sits down as the woman hovers her hands above his head. He blinks at the tarot cards on the table. He hears her mutter out a chant. You have a strong spirit presence. Someone is guarding you. Is it definitely not Thatcher?
2:32 Alice Levine? I love the idea of Thatcher doing tarot.
2:35 Matt Forde? On that basis, she closed the coal mines down. Sorry, Arthur, you got the death card. Asil waits for the woman to continue. But she stares at him. Her watery eyes look huge behind her thick glasses. His mouth dries in the silence. Then, he realises what she's waiting for. He reaches into his pocket, takes out an envelope. I'd like to make this offering. He watches her put the money in a drawer. Then she holds up a crooked finger. Remember, if it's written, it can't be changed.
3:18 Matt Forde? She grabs his hands, stares at his palms. Her wet eyes widen. Then they meet his. This line. Do you see it? He feels himself not. It's the money line, also called the fate line. Yours is strong, but...
3:42 Speaker 02 It ends suddenly.
3:45 Matt Forde? His blood chills as she spreads out the tarot cards in front of him. She slowly turns three cards towards him. He stares in horror. The fool. Justice on its head.
4:00 Matt Forde? The hanged man. Asil knows exactly what these cards mean. His eyes dart up to the woman. She's staring at him with pity. He staggers to his feet, stumbles backwards and runs from the house. He leans against the wall, tries to get his breath. He knows for sure now he's going to lose this trial. He takes a deep breath, looks back at the Clairvoyant's dark, rambling Victorian house, then fumbles in his pocket for the lucky gold ring his father left him before he died.
4:36 Matt Forde? He wraps his fingers around it. The woman was right. He does have a spirit guide. His deceased father.
4:45 Matt Forde? He feels the ring dig into his palm as he vows. He's going to call on his spirit guardian to intervene, change his destiny and move heaven and earth to avoid this trial.
5:01 Speaker 03 Hey, I'm David Brown, the host of Business Wars from Audible Originals. Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson once defined American riding until Indian collapsed. Decades later, against the odds, one company dared to bring the iconic brand back and the rivalry has returned. Listen to Business Wars on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts.
5:20 Speaker 04 Hi, I'm Candace DeLong, former FBI profiler and host of the podcast Killer Psyche. In our latest episode, we go inside the case of Krista Pike, the woman Tennessee tried to execute and failed. Listen to Killer Psyche on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts.
5:42 Alice Levine? From Wondery, I'm Alice Levine.
5:44 Matt Forde? And I'm Matt Ford.
5:45 Alice Levine? And this is British Scandal.
5:58 Matt Forde? So Alex, how is Azul Nadir shaping up as a British scandal protagonist? Is he everything you'd hope for?
6:03 Alice Levine? Oh yeah, as a story, this is an absolute riot, isn't it? It's really good fun from a distance. I mean, he as a character has some traits that we'll be familiar with in this show. Ambition, of course, entitlement, hubris, a very healthy dose of daddy issues, which can be very, very potent. And he has this personality complex, if you like, that we also know very well, which is the idea that he is the victim, which he sort of needs to do in order to justify all of his actions. The thing that I find sort of out of character is that he's a bit shonky when it comes to covering his tracks. He's sort of made no attempt to hide his dodgy dealings. They just seem to be there to be found.
6:47 Matt Forde? Yeah, that is a bit of an issue for him. But to play the devil's advocate on his victim mentality, we did see racism in this story. We know from previous series how the British establishment treats people who it sees as outsiders. So maybe those experiences are still framing how he sees things.
7:05 Alice Levine? Oh, I think that absolutely could be the case. And it could have been part of why he tried to buy his own protection, if you like, by donating a hell of a lot of money to the Conservative Party and generally why he was buttering up Margaret Thatcher. Maybe he just liked her company, though.
7:18 Matt Forde? Maybe, but that strategy hasn't worked. And at the end of the last episode, his icon, the woman of his business dreams, Maggie, left him high and dry, or as some might see it, refused to break the law to help him out. So he definitely feels abandoned. Where do you think he goes from here?
7:34 Alice Levine? Okay, he's backed into a corner. And there are only two routes out for a British scandal protagonist when they feel trapped like this. I don't know if you've heard of a little thing, Matthew, called fight or flight?
7:46 Matt Forde? I have, and I fear that this episode may take that absolutely literally. This is episode two, Big Bird.
7:56 Matt Forde? Three years earlier, December 1990, Hoban Police Station. Asil lights a silk cut, brushes a few flakes of ash from his Armani suit, then glares at the two serious fraud officers across the desk. He's been accused of stealing £25 million from Polly Peck to fund his lifestyle and inflate his company shares, but he's determined to prove his innocence. He fixes them with a steady gaze. Polly Peck's my own company. How can I steal from myself?
8:32 Alice Levine? Case closed. They hadn't thought of that.
8:34 Matt Forde? God, this guy's good.
8:37 Matt Forde? He lets his eyes slide from one SFO officer to the next. If they had any real evidence, they'd have produced it by now.
8:46 Matt Forde? He looks at his solicitor. Mr Nadir has conducted his business fully within the law, and unless you can produce... Asil's eyes widen as the SFO officer thumps down a pile of documents. He feels light-headed as his eyes dart over the printouts of payments from Polly Peck's account into his own private offshore bank. His blood chills. How have they got hold of these documents? He swallows hard as the officer glares at him. I admit, I moved money around. But the SFO officer cuts him off. 64 illegal transfers. Every transaction is right here. His head swims. He feels cold and sweaty.
9:32 Matt Forde? He tries to focus on the table, but the walls feel like they're closing in. He needs to get out of here. He jumps to his feet, but pain rips through his chest. He crashes to the floor. His solicitor's worried face looms over him.
9:47 Alice Levine? Have you paid my invoice yet?
9:49 Matt Forde? Just sign here. Asil?
9:53 Matt Forde? Asil, can you hear me? Asil squints as a doctor shines a light in his eyes, listens to his heartbeat, hears him mutter to the room. It's just a panic attack. Nothing to worry about.
10:07 Matt Forde? Two hours later, Asil steps out of the police car in Bow Street for his bail hearing.
10:13 Matt Forde? He puts his head down, tries to shield his face from the photographers as they swarm and jostle around him.
10:20 Matt Forde? He shakes as he stands in the dock. Listens as the charges are read. Fifteen minutes later, they're still coming.
10:29 Alice Levine? The charges are still coming?
10:30 Matt Forde? It's a long old rap sheet. He looks at his solicitor, who sits with his head in his hands as the judge reads the sixty-sixth and final charge.
10:39 Alice Levine? I love that even his solicitor is like, "You are in so much shit. Sixty-six!"
10:46 Matt Forde? If it's that many charges, you think, "Surely there's no smoke. Is there, without fire?" Asil feels sick. All he wants to do is get home and figure out his next move.
10:58 Speaker 02 Bail is set at three million, five hundred thousand pounds.
11:03 Alice Levine? That is a ludicrous sum for the bail.
11:06 Matt Forde? It is, and at that point, it was the highest ever recorded bail set in Britain, and in today's money, would be eight and a half million pounds. Asil stares, horrified. Three and a half million? That can't be right. He must have misheard. His solicitor's on his feet, shouting his objections. But the magistrate cuts through.
11:29 Speaker 02 Mr. Nader will surrender all his passports and report to Savile Row Police Station every day.
11:36 Matt Forde? Asil closes his eyes. Why are these people so hell-bent on making his life a misery? He takes a deep breath and vows. He's going to raise that money if it kills him. And then, he's going to get the best legal team in the country. If the British establishment want a war, they've got one. And he's going to win.
12:06 Matt Forde? A few months later, Christie's Auction House, London. Asil tilts down his Panama hat, and slips into a chair on the back row. He takes in the auction room's grand wood-paneled walls, the priceless art hanging around him. Three thousand, five hundred, beard. Any advance on three thousand, five hundred? Asil's belongings are being auctioned today, and he needs it to go well.
12:32 Alice Levine? If you were in this situation, and you needed to find some cash, what do you think would be worth the most at auction that you currently own? His football memorabilia, I know it's gonna be.
12:40 Matt Forde? Football memorabilia, yeah.
12:41 Alice Levine? I knew it was gonna be that. All of those things that your wife doesn't let you put on the wall that are under the bed. Not like that. Framed football shirts, right?
12:49 Matt Forde? I actually think tragically, the thing that is worth the most is probably just the food in the cupboard.
12:55 Alice Levine? What food have you got?
12:57 Matt Forde? Those barbecue beans that Heinz do, they're worth more than your average tin.
13:01 Alice Levine? Yeah, and they could sort of do it like, live like Matt Ford lives, like a hamper, almost.
13:05 Matt Forde? Great idea. Some England shirts, the beans, supernoodles.
13:09 Alice Levine? I'll start the bidding at £3.50.
13:12 Matt Forde? Brutal.
13:15 Matt Forde? Asil squeezes his eyes shut. Finding the bail money has wiped him out. So has the 50-strong legal team he's hired to fight this case.
13:25 Alice Levine? Fifty? That's always one per charge.
13:28 Matt Forde? £3,750 and eight. He watches as people bid for his Hanoverian silver cutlery sets. A thin, dark-haired man a few chairs along seems determined to win. Asil narrows his eyes, jolts forward slightly when he realises who he is. It's Yuri Geller, the Spoonbender.
13:49 Alice Levine? Stop, stop. Well, he will get through a lot, won't he? He's probably always at auctions.
13:54 Matt Forde? Asil watches now as Geller outbids his rivals. For £4,300, so.
14:03 Alice Levine? Why is he buying a cutlery set? He just wants the spoons, doesn't he?
14:06 Matt Forde? I guess even a Spoonbender would eat with a knife and fork.
14:12 Matt Forde? Asil rubs his eyes, feels a pang of despair. He just hopes Geller uses the cutlery to eat with and doesn't bend it all with his mind.
14:20 Alice Levine? We're all thinking it, and of course you would be.
14:23 Matt Forde? He watches as one by one, all the treasures he's collected for his office are gone. His Georgian mahogany desk, the antique globe tracing Captain Cook's voyage of discovery. A matching celestial globe to predict the future. His collection of small golden turtles. And his favourite possession of all, a 12-foot square painting he hung behind his desk of a snarling panther.
14:49 Matt Forde? Asil lets out a sigh. It had cost him £7 million to buy this lot. He'll be lucky if he gets a fraction of it.
14:58 Matt Forde? An hour later, he heads back to his near-empty office, looks out of the window at an unmarked police car. It's been following him since he was bailed. He sits down, grabs his legal papers, starts to read through them when the door bursts open. He looks up startled as a horde of SFO officers steam in. He throws up his hands. This is bloody ridiculous! Why can't you people leave me alone? An officer shoves a new search warrant at him. Mr Nadia, you are compelled to fully answer any questions. He waves the man away, reaches angrily for his cigarettes. You've got everything, there's nothing left! One of the officers snatches up his legal papers.
15:43 Matt Forde? Asil reaches for them.
15:45 Speaker 02 No, you can't take those, that's illegal!
15:48 Matt Forde? But the officer bags them up. He jumps to his feet. Order's put you due! That means son of a bitch. He blinks around his empty office. He's being persecuted.
16:00 Alice Levine? Prosecuted, really?
16:02 Matt Forde? He crushes out his cigarette, grabs his coat. If they won't play by the rules, neither will he. It's time to play the serious fraud office at their own game.
16:20 Matt Forde? Three weeks later, Les Ambassadeurs Club, Mayfair. Asil takes off his aviator sunglasses, smooths down his long slicked-back hair, and heads to the library of his favourite private members' club. He's asked his friend Cabinet Minister Michael Mates to meet him here. He scans the room, nods at a group of Conservative MPs smoking cigars and sipping brandy. They all turn away. His lips tighten. A few months ago, these people were all over him! He sinks into a Chesterfield, lights a silk cut.
16:58 Speaker 05 Sorry, Asil, can't stay long. Got a vote coming up in the House.
17:04 Matt Forde? Asil watches his friend Michael slump into the armchair next to him, then leans forward. You heard the SFO took my papers. I can't get a fair hearing, Michael. If you could raise it in the house for me. He watches Michael's thick eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I can't interfere in legal proceedings, Asil. You know that. Asil glances around, lowers his voice to a near whisper. You're the only person left I can trust. Excuse me, sir. Asil looks round at the waiter, irritated.
17:38 Speaker 06 Not now!
17:40 Matt Forde? But he's holding out a letter on a silver tray. Asil snatches it up. The words swim in front of him: non-payment of bills, membership terminated. He feels a dozen eyes watching him in the sudden silence. His hands tremble with humiliation as he sees Michael awkwardly look away. Asil slowly tears the letter up, dumps the pieces on the tray, and stares at the waiter defiantly. But the man clears his throat.
18:10 Speaker 06 I've been asked to escort you to the door, sir.
18:13 Matt Forde? Asil hangs his head as Michael mutters. I'm sorry, Asil. Asil fills the room crackling with tension and shame as he's forced to slowly walk to the door, then out into the street.
18:30 Matt Forde? Ten minutes later, he slumps up the steps to his flat in Eaton Square, slides his key into the door, and stops dead.
18:42 Matt Forde? He'd completely forgotten. His girlfriend Lesley's having a party. Oh god, no, not now. He rubs at his throbbing forehead. Asil! Thought you weren't coming, mate! He stares at the tall, thin man in front of him, takes in his shiny suit and springy hair. Peter! Remember? Ex-R A M. Asil lets out a sigh as he remembers. Peter, the pain in the backside hanger-on. He can't deal with this now. He mumbles an apology, hurries to his office. But Peter doesn't take the hint. I must say, Asil, I think you've been very poorly treated. If you want a beer sometime...
19:25 Matt Forde? He spins around. He's about to spit out that hell would freeze over first. But he stops, stares at Peter's tie pin. At the aviation logo. Peter looks at it, then grins. That's my job now, buying and selling light aircraft. If you fancy a spin one day, to take your mind off things. Asil's jaw slackens. He stares down at the tie pin. A tiny plane, over an open sea. Thinks about his visit to the fortune teller. This must be a sign his father's looking out for him, guiding him to safety. He smiles at Peter. How about a whiskey? You can tell me all about it.
20:14 Matt Forde? Next morning, Peter's house, Petersfield, Hampshire. Peter rubs his aching head, he needs a coffee. He spent all night drinking whiskey with Asil, and his head is pounding. He lights a cigarette, takes a drag. Tries and fails to remember what he and Asil talked about last night. It's one of the best nights he's had in years. Especially since he lost his last business.
20:42 Matt Forde? He pushes his kid's toys from the kitchen table, lets out a heavy sigh. He and Asil are the same age, but he'd give anything to have his glamorous life. The private jets, the vintage Jag, the glamorous girlfriends. Still, he can't wait to go down the pub later and brag to his mates he spent the whole night drinking with Asil Nadia.
21:05 Speaker 02 Peter darling, you've got a visitor.
21:09 Matt Forde? He looks up as his wife Hopey comes into the kitchen. Beams when he sees Asil, holding up a bottle of whiskey. Hair of the dog? A few minutes later, Asil pours him a drink. After our talk last night, Peter, I know I can trust you. He nods, tries hard to remember what he said. But Asil leans forward. You're sure you can help me escape to Cyprus?
21:35 Alice Levine? Worst hangover ever.
21:40 Matt Forde? Peter's eyebrows shoot up as he remembers. He'd promised Asil he'd secretly fly him to Cyprus.
21:47 Alice Levine? Sorry, that is so stupid to forget that. Why are you so stupid, Peter?
21:53 Matt Forde? I mean, it's one thing to drunkenly hit it off with a new mate and be like, yeah, we should meet up more often. Tell you what, Sunday, let's go for a roast with our wives, bottle of wine, and then wake up the following morning and think, oh, I can't be bothered to do that. But helping someone flee the country. Peter's about to tell him it was the drink talking when Asil takes his hands. I'm so grateful, Peter. It's my only chance of proving my innocence. I can't fight back from this country.
22:21 Matt Forde? When can we go? Peter looks into Asil's pleading eyes. He feels a pang of anger at how the establishment has treated this kind, generous, charming man. Asil's right. The whole establishment is out to drag him down. He grabs a handful of flight charts, spreads them out on the table, starts to explain a few options. But Asil snatches them up. Not here. I'm being followed by the police. They might have this place bugged. Peter's eyes bulge. His stomach flips with sudden excitement. As he leads Asil into the garden. Peter glances over at Hoppy and the kids on their swings. Then unfolds the flight map on the tiny garden table.
23:06 Matt Forde? You could fly from here, Compton Abbas Airfield in Dorset to France, Asil. Then... But Asil puts up his hand. Don't use my real name. From now on, use my codename. Big Bird.
23:20 Alice Levine? Sorry, sorry. You got to pick your own codename and you picked Big Bird.
23:26 Matt Forde? Peter smiles nervously, then sees that Asil is deadly serious and nods. Big Bird could then catch another plane from France to Cyprus. But Asil's shaking his head. Big Bird doesn't like takeoffs. He won't do two flights. Peter clears his throat. Sorry, Asil, I mean, I mean, Big Bird. I can get you a Piper Seneca twin engine from Compton Abbas, but it won't take you all the way.
23:55 Alice Levine? I love how rubbish Peter is at this. Sorry, Asil, I mean, Big Bird, don't say both. If you've started to say it, don't put my name next to the codename.
24:04 Matt Forde? Shall I just call you mate from now on? It simplifies things. Asil's eyes widen. It? I thought you were going to fly me. Peter shakes his head. I'm sorry, I don't have my pilot's licence. Peter looks at his feet. Feels like he's let his friend down. But Asil reaches into his jacket, hands him an envelope. Three hundred pounds to cover the pilot's... expenses.
24:35 Matt Forde? Peter thumbs through the notes, glances back at his wife and kids. Feels a thrill run through his body as he pockets the money. He grins at Asil. He can't believe he's secretly helping him escape injustice. This is the most exciting thing he's ever done in his life. But Asil's eyes are filling with tears. I'll never forget this kindness, Peter. I'm forever in your debt. He feels Asil draw him close and hug him. No one's ever needed him like this before. Right now, he feels like the most important person in Asil Nadir's life. He looks back at his friend and vows.
25:18 Matt Forde? He's going to make this escape run like clockwork. And get Big Bird to freedom if it's the last thing he does.
26:03 Speaker 06 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. 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
26:45 Speaker 06 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.
27:13 Matt Forde? Several weeks later, May 1993, Eton Square, London. Asil peels back the velvet curtain in his bedroom, stares out at the building opposite. The police have been monitoring him from across the street for weeks now. If today's escape plan has any chance of working, he has to get out unnoticed. He closes his eyes and runs through the plan in his head. Peter will ring him with the code word, and he'll leave straight away. Peter will then drive him to Compton, AB to arrive at 1:30 PM. He'll jump in a light aircraft, fly to France, then from France to Cyprus.
27:57 Matt Forde? All he has to do is wait for the call and dodge the police. He snatches his Panama hat from the bed, buttons up his trench coat, and stares at himself in the mirror. Damn it. He looks like Inspector Clouseau. Too late to change it now. He heads to the living room, lights a bundle of olive leaves, and wafts the smoke around the large sash window to ward off evil spirits.
28:20 Alice Levine? Phew, I almost thought he was gonna forget to do that. Definitely smudge the room, that's very important.
28:25 Matt Forde? He looks at the police hideout. Grins when he sees the lens of a camera peeping through the curtains.
28:31 Alice Levine? Do you mean he grins to get a good shot, or it amuses him that they're watching him?
28:35 Matt Forde? Work it, baby.
28:36 Alice Levine? Do you think that ever happens, by the way? You're like, "I know you guys were, like, taking some snaps of me. I was kind of feeling myself on Thursday. If you don't need them for evidence, could I just get a few, sort of as headshots, some nice candids?"
28:47 Matt Forde? You got that one in your shot from the helicopter with me and the crosshairs? I'd like to use that for my Twitter profile picture.
28:54 Matt Forde? He snatches up the phone, hears Peter's voice.
28:58 Speaker 02 The weather is fine here today.
29:01 Matt Forde? His heart races. This is it. He runs into the kitchen, grabs his bodyguard. We're on. He hands over his coat, watches the man squeeze into it. He'd thought they were the same size, but this guy's at least six inches taller and much broader. He wincers as the hat wobbles awkwardly on the bodyguard's head. Sit on the window sill, don't look into the street, and don't move for at least an hour.
29:30 Alice Levine? Do they know how normal human beings act? People don't ring each other and go, "The weather is fine today." People also don't sit in a trench coat and a trilby, stock still for an hour in the window.
29:39 Matt Forde? Well, you say that, but what Asil did for these six weeks was deliberately walk around his apartment in a Panama hat and trench coat, sit for periods of time like this, so that the police monitoring him would think this is how he always behaved, and therefore, on this day, nothing would have seemed unusual.
29:59 Alice Levine? That's actually genius. I'm so used to the buffoons of British scandal not putting in any prep, so I'm delighted that he's planned ahead. I love this.
30:09 Matt Forde? Yeah, well done, Asil. He runs into the bedroom, puts on his blue blazer, snatches up his Louis Vuitton bag and car keys.
30:19 Matt Forde? He climbs up into the loft, crawls along the roof space, then stops. His father's ring, it's not on his finger. He can't leave without it. You can, it's fine, it's given you all the superpowers. He feels sick, he has to go back. He scrambles back into the house, he gets on all fours, checks the floor, looks everywhere. Finally, he finds it, at the back of a drawer. He lets out a sigh of relief, shoves the ring on his finger, but time is running out. He has to cover as much distance as he can while his bodyguard decoy distracts the police. He climbs back into the loft,
31:03 Matt Forde? then squeezes out of a small window. He glances at the police hideout, checks they're still watching his window, then jumps down onto the flat garage roof, lowers himself onto the ground,
31:16 Matt Forde? dives into his hire car, and roars away. So far, so slick. He checks his watch, he's already twenty minutes behind schedule. Okay, not so slick. He looks into his rearview mirror. Sooner or later, the police will realise he's not the man at the window, and then, there'll be an almighty hunt for him. He puts his foot down, determined to get out of London as fast as possible, and get to that airfield before he's caught.
31:52 Matt Forde? Two hours later, Peter's house, Petersfield. Peter checks his watch, mutters, "Come on, asshole, where the hell are you?" He takes a last nervous drag on his cigarette, crushes it out, and lights another. If they don't leave for Compton Abbas Airfield in the next few minutes, they'll lose their slot for takeoff. He jumps up as asshole rushes in, lets out a relieved breath, then does a double take. Bloody hell! They're wearing almost identical clothes.
32:30 Alice Levine? Yes, fantastic. I hate it when this happens. I've done this so many times at work where you're just like, oh. Women of a certain age, barrette on top and a jean.
32:41 Matt Forde? He's always loved Asil's style, but he hadn't realised until now how much he'd been copying it. Peter quickly throws off his jacket and grabs another.
32:52 Matt Forde? Then leads Asil outside to his silver Honda. He watches him slump in the backseat and cover himself with the dog blanket. Peter checks his watch again. They're forty minutes behind schedule. He puts on his aviators, revs the engine and screeches away.
33:10 Matt Forde? Asil jumps up from the blanket. Slow down, you'll get us bloody killed. Peter grins. Don't worry, Asil. I used to be a racing driver. I'll get you there in one piece. An hour later, he checks his map, looks for a shortcut. He needs to make up time. He feels a tap on the shoulder. I need a cigarette. He passes his packet to Asil, then does a double take. Asil's already smoking. What the hell are you doing? Asil ignores him, smokes a cigarette from each hand.
33:46 Alice Levine? This is so silly.
33:49 Matt Forde? Peter winds down the window for some air and then jolts at the sight of blue flashing lights. His body turns ice cold. A police car's right behind them. Don't turn around, Asil. But Asil jumps up, reaches into his blazer. Peter sees a glint of metal. His eyes widen in horror as he realises. Asil's waving a gun.
34:14 Alice Levine? What the hell? No, absolutely not. Sorry, no, no, no need for that.
34:19 Matt Forde? Bloody hell, Asil. What are you doing with a gun? But Asil spits back. They won't take me alive. They want to fight with Asil Nadir, they've got one. Peter freezes, sees a fleeting image of Hopi and his kids. Half wonders if Asil will shoot him as well.
34:39 Matt Forde? His heart pounds as he watches Asil twist in his seat. He's pointing the gun out of the back window.
34:45 Alice Levine? Oh my god!
34:46 Matt Forde? He blinks around for somewhere to stop, but there isn't anywhere. He can't let Asil do this. It's insane. He has to stop him. And right now, there's only one way he can.
35:04 Matt Forde? A few seconds later, on the road to Compton Abbas Airfield. Peter shoves his foot on the accelerator, watches the needle rise to eighty. He has to outrun the police. He glances in the mirror, sees Asil fall back in his seat. Fucking hell, Peter!
35:24 Alice Levine? You don't have a leg to stand on, mate.
35:27 Matt Forde? He looks back at the chasing police car. He pushes on the pedal. It's falling behind. He starts to smile.
35:35 Matt Forde? But then he sees it: a police motorbike, and it's heading straight for him. He swallows hard, eases off, and slows down. He pleads with Asil. "Asil, put the gun away, please. Just don't fucking shoot anyone." Peter watches Asil slowly put the gun under the blanket. Glances nervously at the bike as it pulls level. Tries to steady his breathing, but his heart rates through the roof and he's close to tears. If he's arrested, he's finished. He can't even afford a lawyer.
36:09 Alice Levine? It's fine, Asil's got sixty-six.
36:12 Matt Forde? His mind fills with every terrible prison story he's ever heard. He looks miserably at the officer, who stares right back at him.
36:22 Matt Forde? Then, speeds off. His jaw drops as the police turn down a country lane. Tears of relief prick his eyes. He slumps back, sees his terrified sweaty face in the mirror before Asil's face suddenly jumps into view. I need the toilet.
36:42 Matt Forde? He waits in the car as Asil disappears behind some bushes. Eventually, he emerges, looking pale and sick.
36:50 Matt Forde? Sorry about the smell, Peter. Nervous bowels.
36:54 Alice Levine? There's something actually very intimate about this, isn't there?
36:59 Matt Forde? Peter checks his watch as Asil jumps in the car. He's got 20 minutes to get to the airfield. He grips the steering wheel, puts his foot down, and races as fast as he can through the winding, hilly roads.
37:11 Alice Levine? That's not going to help if you're teetering on the edge, is it? If you're in a delicate state, you just want somebody to drive carefully.
37:21 Matt Forde? That was my dog's favourite blanket.
37:26 Matt Forde? 19 minutes later, he pulls up at the airfield, jumps out of the car, and drags Asil to the door of the waiting Piper Seneca.
37:34 Alice Levine? They're not big planes, are they? They're not, say, planes with a bathroom.
37:37 Matt Forde? They're the aviation equivalent of a minibus and a chemical toilet. No solids, please.
37:44 Matt Forde? Peter holds out his hand. Best of luck, Asil. Let me know when you get there. But Asil frowns. You can't leave me now. I need you with me. In Cyprus. Peter's eyes widen. This wasn't the plan. He doesn't have his passport. Or even a toothbrush. Asil is pleading with him. I want to reward your loyalty, Peter. I want to make you chief executive of my new airline, Nadir Air.
38:15 Alice Levine? I want to reward your loyalty by making you come on the run with me. Thank you?
38:20 Matt Forde? Also, if your name's Nadir and you name your airline Nadir Air, fine. But to everyone else, Nadir means lowest point. I want you to be chief executive of my new airline, Rock Bottom Air.
38:34 Matt Forde? Peter gasps. This is your chance, Peter. Take it? Or leave it? He looks at the waiting plane. Then at his battered old silver Honda. This whole journey with Asil has been a nightmare. He doesn't know this man at all, but the past few weeks have also been the biggest rush of his life, and he'll never get another chance like this. This job could set Hoppy and the kids up for life.
39:03 Alice Levine? This job is the flight of fancy, both literally and metaphorically, of a madman.
39:08 Matt Forde? He runs to the plane, hops in, and grins at Asil. He's taking the biggest gamble of his entire life. But if it pays off, he'll finally have the success he's always wanted. He'll be Asil Nadir's right-hand man. And he can't imagine anything better than that.
39:32 Matt Forde? At this point, most things sound better than being right-hand man to a known fugitive.
39:38 Alice Levine? But when you weigh it up, when you say, "This process has been a nightmare, but what a rush it's been", don't you have to go, "But one of those words I used was nightmare"?
39:48 Matt Forde? Yeah, falling off that building and breaking every bone in my body was painful, but whoa, whoa, whoa. I've got to do this more often.
39:56 Alice Levine? You can't deny the rush.
39:59 Matt Forde? A short while later, airspace over Beauvais Airport, France. Asil grabs his carrier back. He needs to fix on his disguise before they land in France. He takes out a wig and a beard and a pair of glasses. Tries to fix on the beard with glue, but it keeps peeling off. And he's brought the wrong wig. Fuck! He presses the beard on his chin, feels sick. If he's caught now skipping bail, the Brits will be merciless.
40:32 Matt Forde? As soon as the plane lands, he hurries out across the tarmac, keeps his head low, tries to ignore Peter's constant chattering. "What a beauty of a jet, what do you think, Asil?" he hisses. "Keep your ruddy voice down and stop using my real name." He thought bringing Peter would be a good idea. A decoy. Someone to watch his back. Right now, though, he's just irritating. He hurries past an official reading a paper, catches sight of his own face on the front page. His heart thuds. He puts his head down, praise his disguise holds up. He holds his breath as he climbs into the waiting Cessna jet, squeezes his eyes closed
41:17 Matt Forde? as the engines roar into action. His whole body tenses, but when he feels the plane lift into the air, his muscles relax. He lifts the champagne from the ice bucket, pops it open, looks out of the window and grins as the field shrink beneath him. He jolts upright, smokes pouring from one of the engines. He lets out a yelp of terror as the plane lurches and drops. He bends into the brace position, squeezes his eyes shut, sees his whole life flash before him, then feels Peter's hand on his back. "Don't worry, Asil, it's just a small problem with the alternator.
42:02 Matt Forde? Some of the oil's burning off, that's all." He sits up, watches Peter gesture to the cockpit. "He's a good pilot, he'll deal with it." What's quite nice on any flight is if the person next to you is more scared than you, because then it makes you feel more comfortable. I mean, obviously, this is a very extreme version.
42:21 Alice Levine? You mean because Assil is a bag of nerves?
42:23 Matt Forde? And the plane's on fire.
42:24 Alice Levine? Yeah. I mean, I'm imagining a big part of Peter's role here on in is essentially making sure that Assil doesn't fly off the handle.
42:33 Matt Forde? And poor old Peter, as the plane nose dives towards the sea. "It's fine, this always happens, don't worry about it."
42:40 Alice Levine? "Wanna play I spy, Assil?"
42:42 Matt Forde? Something beginning with a.
42:46 Matt Forde? Motion. Yeah, you got it.
42:49 Matt Forde? Assil takes a deep breath and finally lets himself relax. A few hours later, Peter nudges him awake. We did it, Assil. Look, we bloody did it. He looks down at the coastline of Cyprus, lets out a relieved laugh, then grabs his handset, calls his sister, and gives the code word. Valkyrie. Repeat. Valkyrie. Is that you, Assil? I can't understand what you're saying.
43:19 Alice Levine? Can everybody get with the programme? I sent you a PDF with all the codes on it.
43:23 Matt Forde? He yells. Big Bird has flown! It's not a very good line. He rolls his eyes. Big Bird is coming into land. Speak up, I can't make out what you're saying. Just come to the bloody airport with a car.
43:45 Matt Forde? Twenty minutes later, he walks out to a small cheering crowd, holds up his fist in victory, and grins. He's made it. He's home. He's finally free from the reach of the SFO, from the whole rotten British legal system. And now, he's going to start his fight back in earnest and blast the bigoted Brits to smithereens.
44:16 Speaker 07 Hi, I'm Kenya Barris.
44:17 Speaker 08 And I'm Malcolm Gladwell. We're back for season two of our Audible original podcast, The Unusual Suspects.
44:23 Speaker 07 We'll sit down with extraordinary guests from the worlds of art, film, literature, comedy, and wellness to hear from their unexpected stories of success.
44:31 Speaker 08 And who do we have this season? Well, we'll talk with Grammy-winning artist Anderson Paak, athlete Richard Roll, portrait artist Amy Sherald, Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, legendary writer David Sedaris, and many more. These conversations are more intimate than last season, wouldn't you say?
44:47 Speaker 07 I would. Listen to season one of The Unusual Suspects wherever you get your podcasts and sign up for a free trial Audible to listen to season two in the Audible app or by subscribing to Apple Podcasts.
45:04 Speaker 05 Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia spent her life exposing powerful people. Then, in 2017, she was killed in a car bombing. I'm Stephen Gray, and for the past nine years, I've been trying to find out who wanted her dead. That search took me to Malta through secret companies, organised crime, and eventually to one of the island's richest and most powerful men. Now, after years of waiting, his trial has finally happened. But when the verdict came in, the case took a turn that almost no one had expected. In a brand-new update to the multi-award-winning podcast Who Killed Daphne?, I'm returning to Malta to find out how we got there and where the search for the truth goes next. Listen to the new episode of Who Killed Daphne? wherever you get your podcasts,
45:50 Speaker 05 and you can hear the full six-part investigation from the beginning, ad-free, with Audible. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app and by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.
46:09 Speaker 05 Thirty-six hours later, Jasmine Court Hotel, Northern Cyprus.
46:16 Speaker 05 Asil strides through the garden of his hotel, nods at some of his passing staff, takes in the smells of jasmine, rosemary and fresh lemons, and heads towards a group of British journalists at the gate. He looks at his mobile, kills the call. His lawyers have been ringing him since he left London, leaving frantic messages. But they can wait. There's no extradition treaty between Northern Cyprus and Britain. And that means he's free to do whatever he wants.
46:50 Speaker 05 He strides over to the jostling reporters, unfolds a sheet of paper, clears his throat.
46:56 Alice Levine? This is very Tory MP in their country garden apologising for cheating on their wife, isn't it? The Cyprus edition.
47:03 Matt Forde? The entire British legal system was biased against me. That is why I've been forced to flee. I fully intend now to clear my name and prove my innocence once and for all. Thank you.
47:17 Matt Forde? The journalists surge forward, fire questions at him. "Are you a crook, Mr Nadia? What about the investors you swindled? Who helped you escape?" He pastes on a smile, picks up a jug of freshly squeezed lemons. "Help yourself to lemonade, and tell your readers to come to Northern Cyprus for their holidays." He gestures with his hands at his hotel. "We have every luxury a British holiday maker could want." He ignores their yelling questions, heads back to the hotel.
47:51 Alice Levine? "By the way, that's not lemonade, that's lemon juice you're serving them."
47:53 Matt Forde? "You know what they say, guys, when life gives you lemons, fleet to Northern Cyprus." A few seconds later, Peter's at his heels. "Well done, Asil. When things have died down, maybe we can talk about the airline."
48:07 Alice Levine? "Oh, Peter, my darling, have a little pint of lemon juice and be on your way."
48:12 Matt Forde? Asil keeps walking, snaps out. "Later."
48:17 Matt Forde? He jumps into his chauffeur-driven Jag, then heads a few miles up the coast to Loch Manor, his stately home.
48:26 Matt Forde? He smiles as his butler bows at the door. "Welcome back, sir." A few minutes later, he stands at the open window of his vast dining room, as his butler opens a bottle of Vervicely Co champagne. He gazes out at the rambling garden and fishing pond. He used to love this house. But when he looks now, all he sees is a poor copy of an English stately home. He suddenly misses the two sprawling mansions he owned in England.
48:55 Alice Levine? "Relatable content."
48:57 Matt Forde? He watches now as a stray dog wanders into the garden, lifts its leg, and pees on his statue of Venus. He lets out a heavy sigh. This tiny island just isn't enough for him. There's nothing here. He'll go crazy if he stays. He turns back into the vast, empty room, and decides. He'll work night and day to build a new empire, one that'll make Polly Peck look like a corner shop.
49:27 Matt Forde? In the meantime, he'll push his case with the British press, start his legal fight back, and keep fighting until the Brits finally back down.
49:42 Matt Forde? Three weeks later, Jasmine Court Hotel, Northern Cyprus. Peter heads up the metal steps towards Asil's office. He glances at the bodyguards at the door, waits until they nod him in, then takes a deep breath and tries to push down his growing nerves. He's been waiting to start his exec job on Asil's airline, but Asil keeps avoiding him. He walks into the small bunker-like office, blinks around the dark room, catches sight of Asil, lit by his desk lamp. Peter, how are you? Is the hotel okay? Everyone looking after you?
50:23 Matt Forde? Peter grins, looks down at the paperwork on Asil's desk, feels his stomach relax. Of course Asil hasn't been avoiding him, he's just been busy with his legal case. He startles as two burly men step out from the shadows. Here's Asil whisper: "Don't mind them, they're here to make sure the Brits don't kidnap me. The SAS won't get me, Peter, not with these boys."
50:51 Alice Levine? Everything is so fine and so normal and you should definitely pursue a business relationship with this man.
50:59 Matt Forde? Peter nods, he's not sure what to say to that.
51:02 Alice Levine? Fair.
51:04 Matt Forde? So he clears his throat. "The airline exec job, I was wondering..." He feels Asil's firm hand on his shoulder. "Soon, Peter, it's all in hand. In the meantime, I have the perfect job for you, you'll love it. Meet me in the restaurant, nine o'clock." That night, Peter stands in front of the mirror, gives his hair a quick spray to keep it in place, and tugs down his blue pinstripe shirt. He picks up the phone, calls Hopi to tell her he's starting his new job. But when she answers, she's in tears.
51:40 Speaker 05 "The police have just been... You're gonna be arrested for helping Asil skip bail."
51:45 Matt Forde? He sinks onto the bed, feels winded.
51:50 Matt Forde? They can't. Wh-what proof have they got? He hears Hoppy yell.
51:55 Speaker 05 They found your bloody Honda at the airfield. What the hell are we gonna do?
51:59 Matt Forde? He licks his dry lips, tells her he'll sort it. He grabs his cigarettes, dashes out to the restaurant.
52:09 Matt Forde? Runs up to Asil. I need a lawyer. He watches Asil dab his lips, push away his plate. Come with me. Peter follows him, confused. Heads into the huge ballroom.
52:22 Alice Levine? Whenever I feel stressed, Peter, I dance the night away.
52:26 Matt Forde? Don't worry, you just put your feet on top of mine and I'll lead.
52:30 Matt Forde? Asil, this is serious. I need help. Asil nods. I'll sort it tomorrow. Tonight, you start work. Asil points at the DJ booth.
52:43 Alice Levine? Right.
52:45 Matt Forde? There you are, Peter. Wager's at the end of the month. Peter looks around at the empty dance floor, takes in the glitter ball and a few coloured lights. He blinks back at Asil. This... this isn't what you promised. Asil frowns. Lighten up, Peter. Stop taking everything so seriously. Peter watches him stride over to a hen party of women in glittery mini dresses, swigging cocktails. Before he knows what's happening, one of Asil's bodyguards looms over him, slaps a pile of records in his hands. Mister Nadir likes Cliff Richard, Bony M and the Bee Gees.
53:24 Alice Levine? Yes, what a fantastic playlist.
53:28 Matt Forde? He feels sick. His legs shake as he steps into the booth. He glances at the scowling bodyguard, tips a record from its sleeve. Plays the first few beats of The Rivers of Babylon.
53:40 Alice Levine? This is so crazy.
53:42 Matt Forde? And watches Asil bounce around the dance floor with the drunken women.
53:47 Matt Forde? His jaw tenses with rage and shock as it hits him. There is no airline job. Trusting Asil Nadir was the biggest mistake of his life. He's stuck in this bloody hotel, miles from home, a wanted man. And he has no idea how he's going to get his life back.
54:15 Speaker 04 In January 1995, 18-year-old Krista Pike and two friends lured a classmate, 19-year-old Colleen Schlemmer, to an abandoned steam plant and killed her. At just 20 years old, Pike was sentenced to death. 30 years later, on September 30, 2026, the state of Tennessee tried to execute her and failed. I'm Candace DeLong, former FBI profiler and host of the podcast Killer Psyche, where we go inside the minds behind the most shocking crimes. In our latest episode, we take you inside the case of Krista Pike. The brutal crime, the childhood of abuse, three decades of appeals, and the night
54:59 Speaker 04 an execution went terribly wrong. Follow Killer Psyche wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche one week early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.
55:16 Speaker 09 Hey, I'm Cassie DePeckle, the host of Against the Odds from Audible Originals. In each episode, we share thrilling true stories of survival, putting you in the shoes of the people who lived to tell the tale. In our latest series, we track the story of Hugh Glass, the real-life revenant that inspired the 2015 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1823, Glass was brutally mauled by a grizzly bear in present-day South Dakota and left for dead. His survival depended on trekking through 350 miles of wilderness alone with grave injuries. But he was driven by his thirst for revenge. Follow Against the Odds wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of Against the Odds early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.
56:03 Matt Forde? From Wondery and Samistat Audio, this is the second episode in our series, Thatcher's Favourite Fraudster.
56:09 Alice Levine? 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.
56:17 Matt Forde? If you'd like to know more about this story, you can read 'Assal Nadir: And the Rise and Fall of Polly Peck' by David Barchard, 'Who Killed Polly Peck?' by Elizabeth Forsyth, 'The Turquoise Conspiracy' by Bill Gay Nevzat, and 'Assal Nadir: Fugitive from Injustice' by Tim Hindle.
56:33 Alice Levine? And remember, if you want to get in touch with us with comments, suggestions, complaints, ideas, whatever it may be, then you can email us at [email protected] .
56:42 Matt Forde? British Scandal is hosted by me, Matt Ford.
56:44 Alice Levine? And me, Alice Levine.
56:45 Matt Forde? Written by Karen Laws. Additional writing by Alice Levine and Matt Ford. Our story editor is James Maniak. Our sound design is by Rich Evans. Our engineer is Jai Williams. For Samistat, our producer is Redsey Bernard. Our assistant producer is Louise Mason. Our senior producer is Joe Sykes. For Wondery, our series producer is Theodora La Ludis, and our managing producer is Rachel Sibley. Executive producers for Wondery are Estelle Doyle, Chris Bourne, Morgan Jones, and Marshall Louis.
57:26 Speaker 10 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. Audible subscribers
58:10 Speaker 10 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.
58:26 Speaker 02 Imagine you're reading Pride and Prejudice, except you're not reading it. Harris Dickinson and Marissa Abella are reading it to you on Audible. Her barbs sting you. His coldness sends a shiver up your spine. Your heart aches. Your ears burn. You yearn for Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy to profess their undying love for one another. You can't bear it any longer. Well, maybe a chapter longer. Performance is so good, you'll give love a second chance. Audible. Stories that speak to you.
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