https://simplecast.com A strange letter appears on a city councillor’s desk in Birmingham, England, laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the city’s schools. The plot has a code name: Operation Trojan Horse. The story soon explodes in the news and kicks off a national panic. By the time it all dies down, the government has launched multiple investigations, beefed up the country’s counterterrorism policy, revamped schools and banned people from education for the rest of their lives. To Hamza Syed, who is watching the scandal unfold in his city, the whole thing seemed … off. Because through all the official inquiries and heated speeches in Parliament, no one has ever bothered to answer a basic question: Who wrote the letter? And why? The night before Hamza is to start journalism school, he has a chance meeting in Birmingham with the reporter Brian Reed, the host of the hit podcast S-Town. Together they team up to investigate: Who wrote the Trojan Horse letter? They quickly discover that it’s a question people in power do not want them asking. From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes The Trojan Horse Affair: a mystery in eight parts. To get full access to this show, and to other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.   To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter.    Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com en Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:44:56 +0000 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:31:17 +0000 https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/4105a47a-42e5-4ccc-887a-832af7989986/994e07c0-bda9-48e1-bc7f-729c161e685b/3000x3000/nyt-s-thorse-albumartwork-3000.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com serial A strange letter appears on a city councillor’s desk in Birmingham, England, laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the city’s schools. The plot has a code name: Operation Trojan Horse. The story soon explodes in the news and kicks off a national panic. By the time it all dies down, the government has launched multiple investigations, beefed up the country’s counterterrorism policy, revamped schools and banned people from education for the rest of their lives. To Hamza Syed, who is watching the scandal unfold in his city, the whole thing seemed … off. Because through all the official inquiries and heated speeches in Parliament, no one has ever bothered to answer a basic question: Who wrote the letter? And why? The night before Hamza is to start journalism school, he has a chance meeting in Birmingham with the reporter Brian Reed, the host of the hit podcast S-Town. Together they team up to investigate: Who wrote the Trojan Horse letter? They quickly discover that it’s a question people in power do not want them asking. From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes The Trojan Horse Affair: a mystery in eight parts. To get full access to this show, and to other Serial Productions and New York Times podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, subscribe at nytimes.com/podcasts.   To find out about new shows from Serial Productions, and get a look behind the scenes, sign up for our newsletter at nytimes.com/serialnewsletter.    Have a story pitch, a tip, or feedback on our shows? Email us at serialshows@nytimes.com Serial Productions & The New York Times true https://feeds.simplecast.com/B9KgArY4 Serial Productions & The New York Times serialshows@nytimes.com bdb876b9-b571-4a2c-8e2b-38a90718ef60 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:44:56 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/trailer-question-everything-hp0RbVdV Trailer - Question Everything Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:02:34 A new podcast from Brian Reed. Subscribe here: https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/question-everything A new podcast from Brian Reed. Subscribe here: https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/question-everything true bonus 1 6458304d-1194-4302-935e-24df1d1f8462 Thu, 3 Feb 2022 11:45:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/an-appointment-in-perth-BrSju_dE Part 8: An Appointment in Perth Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:47:30 A man banned from working in education in the aftermath of the Trojan Horse letter inspires Brian and Hamza to track down one last witness with him – in Australia. And all three travelers find their faith tested. A man banned from working in education in the aftermath of the Trojan Horse letter inspires Brian and Hamza to track down one last witness with him – in Australia. And all three travelers find their faith tested. true full 8 1 8cf44173-f028-40e8-a9fd-6c3a896cd05e Thu, 3 Feb 2022 11:30:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/the-detail-of-the-deputies-YO7rnSiP Part 7: The Detail of the Deputies Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:50:26 Birmingham authorities struggle to explain why they disavowed their own findings about the Trojan Horse plot. But when Brian and Hamza make a discovery deep inside some court documents, everything suddenly makes sense. Birmingham authorities struggle to explain why they disavowed their own findings about the Trojan Horse plot. But when Brian and Hamza make a discovery deep inside some court documents, everything suddenly makes sense. true full 7 1 73eeaae1-0667-4571-90d7-c38929ee7eec Thu, 3 Feb 2022 11:15:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/cucumbers-and-cooker-bombs-ExhswWG0 Part 6: Cucumbers and Cooker Bombs Serial Productions & The New York Times 01:04:55 Hamza takes a long, hard look at what the government found when it investigated more than 20 majority-Muslim schools in Birmingham. And our two reporters have a confrontation – with each other. Hamza takes a long, hard look at what the government found when it investigated more than 20 majority-Muslim schools in Birmingham. And our two reporters have a confrontation – with each other. true full 6 1 645742a7-8178-46d5-844f-4feeaebb933b Thu, 3 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/a-study-in-scarlett-0_t7c2P_ Part 5: A Study in Scarlett Serial Productions & The New York Times 01:00:08 Hamza and Brian learn that the Trojan Horse letter wasn’t the only unsigned letter alleging an extremist operation was afoot in Birmingham. An interview with a couple who lodged complaints against their school starts out cordially, but six hours later, the atmosphere is so tense that not even an offer of tea can smooth things over. And Hamza stops pretending he’s not angry about what he’s hearing. Hamza and Brian learn that the Trojan Horse letter wasn’t the only unsigned letter alleging an extremist operation was afoot in Birmingham. An interview with a couple who lodged complaints against their school starts out cordially, but six hours later, the atmosphere is so tense that not even an offer of tea can smooth things over. And Hamza stops pretending he’s not angry about what he’s hearing. true full 5 1 31f1c48a-9cd0-458f-a835-1bef2ee0c790 Thu, 3 Feb 2022 10:45:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/the-meeting-and-the-mole-y8hYKsye Part 4: The Meeting and the Mole Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:45:25 A series of frustrating interviews with Birmingham politicians leaves Brian and Hamza wondering if crucial information about the Trojan Horse letter was kept from officials in London. Then one rainy Friday afternoon, Brian hears back from a government source who wants to meet right away. A series of frustrating interviews with Birmingham politicians leaves Brian and Hamza wondering if crucial information about the Trojan Horse letter was kept from officials in London. Then one rainy Friday afternoon, Brian hears back from a government source who wants to meet right away. true full 4 1 66b0b21b-e92c-4cd1-9d90-599da6f06c6b Thu, 3 Feb 2022 10:30:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/sir-albert-and-the-missing-h-ysxPmv4f Part 3: Sir Albert and the Missing “H” Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:38:06 In a state of surprise, Hamza and Brian leave a meeting with the man the Trojan Horse letter was first sent to. And they learn about an internal investigation report that local officials have kept hidden, but which they think could contain a bombshell. In a state of surprise, Hamza and Brian leave a meeting with the man the Trojan Horse letter was first sent to. And they learn about an internal investigation report that local officials have kept hidden, but which they think could contain a bombshell. true full 3 1 d850cc7e-e63c-48d9-acd3-22e1714ab2dc Thu, 3 Feb 2022 10:15:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/the-case-of-the-four-resignations-j95sEFt8 Part 2: The Case of the Four Resignations Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:53:19 Hamza and Brian think the source of the Trojan Horse letter might be hiding in plain sight. After learning about the petty personnel dispute that probably gave rise to the letter, they’re even more bewildered about how it ever could have been taken seriously. Hamza and Brian think the source of the Trojan Horse letter might be hiding in plain sight. After learning about the petty personnel dispute that probably gave rise to the letter, they’re even more bewildered about how it ever could have been taken seriously. true full 2 1 b8797498-32a0-4081-82c6-94c30c05cd8f Thu, 3 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/the-letter-in-the-brown-paper-envelope-U7e3h_nU Part 1: The Letter in the Brown Paper Envelope Serial Productions & The New York Times 01:01:01 A strange letter appears outlining a plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate Birmingham schools. Hamza and Brian visit the supposed mastermind of the plot, and he tells them he did take over a bunch of schools – just not for the reasons in the letter. A strange letter appears outlining a plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate Birmingham schools. Hamza and Brian visit the supposed mastermind of the plot, and he tells them he did take over a bunch of schools – just not for the reasons in the letter. true full 1 1 32ec088f-8471-4d4d-a695-9c46d49138ea Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +0000 serialshows@nytimes.com (Serial Productions & The New York Times) https://trojan-horse.simplecast.com/episodes/trailer-8fy1rZ9j Trailer Serial Productions & The New York Times 00:03:07 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 coming next Thursday, February 3rd. 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 coming next Thursday, February 3rd. true trailer 1