
Martina Lees
Senior property reporter at The Sunday Times who conducted a multi-year investigation into flame retardants in UK sofas and their health and environmental impacts.
Top 3 podcasts with Martina Lees
Ranked by the Snipd community

Apr 10, 2026 • 31min
INVESTIGATION: Is your sofa toxic?
Martina Lees, senior property reporter who led a multi-year probe into flame retardants in UK sofas. She outlines the history behind Britain’s strict fire tests. She describes how chemicals are used, how they migrate into dust, and who is campaigning for change. She explains industry responses, disposal rules, IKEA’s UK-specific sofas and the evolving government plans.

May 6, 2025 • 31min
A high-rise fire killed Catherine. The cladding firm kept selling
Martina Lees, Senior Property Writer for The Sunday Times, shares insights from her investigation into the cladding scandal that follows tragic fires, including the Grenfell tragedy. She recounts the heartbreaking story of Catherine Hickman, who lost her life due to inadequate cladding. The discussion uncovers the discrepancies in fire safety regulations and the alarming practices by companies like Trespa. With compelling stories, it emphasizes the pressing need for accountability and reform in building safety standards across the UK.

Aug 31, 2024 • 45min
From the archive: The Grenfell fire (Pt 2): The cladding scandal
Martina Lees, a Senior Property Writer at The Sunday Times, brings her expertise to discuss the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire. She reflects on the impact of hazardous cladding, revealing systemic safety failures that exacerbated the tragedy. The conversation delves into personal stories from affected families and highlights the lack of accountability among corporations like Kingspan. Additionally, she emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory reform to prevent future tragedies and the ongoing fight for justice by survivors.


