Foundling | Tortoise Investigates
The Observer
On 6th October 1987, a newborn baby is found on the verge of a remote country lane in Suffolk. Police comb the area for clues and appeal for witnesses, but the mother is never found. The baby, Jess, is adopted. Journalist Lucy Greenwell has never forgotten the day when Jess was discovered. She was a child and lived nearby. For decades Lucy has wondered; what happened to Jess, and what could have driven a mother to leave her child in such an isolated place? When Lucy tracks Jess down, she finds a woman already deep in her own search for the truth, and a story far more tangled than either of them expected. What unfolds is a tale of long-held secrets and unintended consequences that spirals out of Jess’s control.Foundling is a six-part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The ObserverTo binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 for 50% off an annual digital subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listening A daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for access to this series and ad-free listening to Observer podcasts.Reporter - Lucy GreenwellProducer - Katie GunningOriginal theme music - Tom KinsellaSound design and additional music - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Blythe Walker SibthorpNarrative editor - Gary Marshall Editor - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 24, 2026 • 39min
On the verge | Foundling Ep 1
Journalist Lucy Greenwell goes in search of Jess following rumours and unanswered questions about where she was born and who gave birth to her. Foundling is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The ObserverTo binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningPremium newslettersPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordExclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescapeTickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.Reporter - Lucy GreenwellProducer - Katie GunningOriginal theme music - Tom KinsellaSound design and additional music - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Blythe Walker SibthorpNarrative editor - Gary Marshall Editor - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 17, 2026 • 4min
Introducing... Foundling
On 6th October 1987, a newborn baby is found on the verge of a remote country lane in Suffolk. Police comb the area for clues and appeal for witnesses, but the mother is never found. The baby, Jess, is adopted. Journalist Lucy Greenwell has never forgotten the day when Jess was discovered. She was a child and lived nearby. For decades Lucy has wondered; what happened to Jess, and what could have driven a mother to leave her child in such an isolated place? When Lucy tracks Jess down, she finds a woman already deep in her own search for the truth, and a story far more tangled than either of them expected. What unfolds is a tale of long-held secrets and unintended consequences that spirals out of Jess’s control.Foundling is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningPremium newslettersPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordExclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescapeTickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads. Reporter - Lucy GreenwellProducer - Katie GunningOriginal theme music - Tom KinsellaSound design and additional music - Rowan BishopPodcast artwork - Blythe Walker SibthorpNarrative editor - Gary Marshall Editor - Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
9 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 42min
The Missing Book | The Walkers Ep7
Clover Stroud, journalist and memoir writer who speaks on memoir ethics, and Raynor Winn, bestselling memoirist behind The Salt Path, feature in a probing investigation. They discuss truth in memoirs, publishing due diligence, medical claims, a mysterious earlier novel linking fiction and real life, and the consequences of alleged fabrications on readers and trust.
18 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 48min
The Letters | The Walkers Ep6
Anne, Raynor Winn's niece, speaks from family memory and firsthand recollection. She recounts discovering missing funds, a confession email, and the legal fallout. She describes family support, tensions over living arrangements, and her surprise at being portrayed in the memoir. Short, revealing personal testimony about money, loyalty, and family rifts.
8 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 27min
The French Quarter | The Walkers Ep5
Cecile (pseudonym), Tim Walker’s relative who shares firsthand family memories. She recounts the Walkers’ life in France, a ruined pigeon-tower property, allegations of large thefts and an arrest, family divisions over Tim’s illness, and the decision to speak out and write a counter-narrative.
9 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 39min
The Miracle | The Walkers Ep4
Dr James Gratwick, neurologist and CBD specialist, provides clinical context on corticobasal degeneration and prognosis. He debates the plausibility of a scan reversal and warns against false cure claims. The conversation probes diagnostic ambiguity, responses from clinicians, and the wider impact of hopeful but potentially harmful medical narratives.
10 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 43min
Cider at Haye | The Walkers Ep3
Ruth Saberton, an author and neighbor of Hay Farm, shares her firsthand experiences with the Walkers, revealing their friendly interactions and intriguing community dynamics. Bill Cole, Hay Farm's owner, discusses hosting the Walkers and the emotional turmoil of their abrupt departure. He reflects on the contrast between their public success and private struggles, and the tension that developed over cider-making. Together, they question the narrative built around the Walkers, exploring the implications of portraying walking as a miracle cure for serious illness.
8 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 36min
On the path | The Walkers Ep2
Questions arise around the authenticity of 'The Salt Path' as Chloe Hadjimatheou investigates. Online sleuths dissect the memoir, revealing intriguing discrepancies. An amateur detective uses photos to challenge timelines. Eyewitnesses dispute key anecdotes, while a cafe staff recounts a dramatic scene that never happened. Contradictory social media posts suggest the timelines were altered, raising doubts about the narrative's consistency. Chloe also reviews the author's defense, wrapping up a compelling inquiry into truth and storytelling.
10 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 41min
The Missing Money | The Walkers Ep1
Ros Hemmings, a local resident with deep ties to the Walkers, shares her firsthand accounts from the scandal that gripped their small Welsh village. She reveals how Sally Walker's quiet demeanor masked alarming secrets, including the stunning disappearance of £64,000 from accounts. Local witnesses, Janice and Debbie, discuss the community's betrayal and emotional confusion as the true story behind Raynor Winn's bestselling memoir unfolds, altering their perception of the Walkers and challenging the narrative of sympathy that emerged.
Jan 7, 2026 • 3min
Introducing... The Walkers: The real Salt Path
Explore the intriguing story of Raynor Winn's memoir and its massive impact on readers globally. Dive into the surprising allegations questioning the truth behind her claims of hardship and healing through nature. Listen as the reporter uncovers a tip-off about the author's identity, the emotional responses of fans, and the controversies surrounding the memoir's authenticity. With a film adaptation on the horizon, the tension between reality and storytelling only grows. What happens when a narrative's truth is put under the microscope?
