A mysterious letter detailing a supposed Islamist plot to take over schools shocked Britain in 2014. But who wrote it? From Serial Productions and The New York Times, “The Trojan Horse Affair,” an investigation that became bigger than we ever imagined. All eight parts are available now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Hello, nice white parents listeners, this is Chana here.
I'm dropping in to tell you about a new serial show I think you will very much enjoy.
It's called the Trojan Horse Affair.
It's a story told by my colleague from this American life, Brian Reid, and doctor turned journalist Hamza Syed.
The Trojan Horse Affair is the story of a single strange letter that explodes into a national scandal.
Brian and Hamza set out to determine who wrote that letter and why.
There are so many things I really enjoyed about the Trojan Horse Affair.
It's a mystery.
It pulls you along, it's revealing and emotional.
There's also a part about schools and racism which, if you're subscribed to this feed, I assume is up your alley.
So all of that is very compelling.
But for me, one of my favorite parts of this show is just getting to hear Brian and Hamza unravel this mystery together and hear how these two very specific people react very differently to interviews that they're doing and revelations they come to along the way.
It gets tense and messy and they don't shy away from it.
Anyway, it's great and you should go listen to it.
Here's Brian and Hamza with the trailer.
I happened to be in Birmingham, England, one night when this journalism student came up to me at an event.
He was talking fast, like I might walk away any second.
It was a tsunami that hit Birmingham.
Birmingham does not get national attention.
It was a circus, mate.