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Believe in Magic

BBC Studios·Hosted by Jamie Bartlett·8 episodes

SocietyCultureDocumentaryTrue CrimeBBC investigationSerialized documentaryTrue-crime adjacentMedical mysteryStart from episode 125-45 min/ep

Jamie Bartlett, host of the hit podcast The Missing Crypto queen, is back with another gripping, investigative serial. In his new series, Jamie tells the story of Megan Bhari, an inspirational 16 year old girl who in 2012 launches a charity to grant wishes to seriously ill children. The charity is called Believe in Magic and it attracts the support of the biggest boy band in the world: One Direction. Believe in Magic soon becomes a household name in the child cancer community, putting on parties, sending thoughtful gifts and organizing trips to Disney. Megan is adored by all those she helps...

Why listen

Believe in Magic is a tightly produced BBC investigative serial hosted by Jamie Bartlett, following the rise of Megan Bhari's wish-granting charity and the questions that later surrounded her illness, family, and celebrity support. It unfolds like a mystery, using interviews, records, and careful narration to move from a feel-good story into something much more unsettling. Listeners who like sensitive true-crime-adjacent investigations, medical deception stories, and polished British documentary audio will get the most from it.

Series(1)

Episodes

34 min
May 31, 2026Episode 8bonus
The Mother of All Cons

New revelations in the extraordinary story of a teenage girl and her celebrity backed charity.Jamie Bartlett s back to shed new light on to some of the questions he and producer Ruth Mayer were left with at the end of the series.After the final episode was released, people who knew the family got in touch offering to share missing pieces of the puzzle. So Ruth carried on the investigation, joined by a documentary team. For the past three years she s been working on a new BBC2 TV series about Megan, her mother Jean and their charity Believe in Magic. Now she and Jamie can answer some of their lingering questions. What did Megan s best friends see? What did Megan herself think about her illness? And, what is Jean doing now? But, above all, they wanted to know what really happened between Megan, Jean and the doctors. Insights come from a close family member who has been granted access to Megan s medical records.The Mother of All Cons is out now on BBC two and iPlayer now in the UK. In the US you can find it on BBC Select and BBC.com as Believe in Magic: The Mother of All Cons.Believe in Magic is a BBC Studios production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 min
Aug 12, 2024Episode 10
Introducing World of Secrets S3

The Apartheid Killer – a new investigation. All the victims were black and the youngest was just 12 years old. Some relatives are still searching for the graves. They were killed during a three-year bloodbath in the 1980s, in the South African city of East London – by one person. He killed so many, he lost count. It has been 30 years since the white supremacist apartheid regime crumbled. The unresolved trauma of this time has cast a long shadow across a nation. In piecing together this story, the new season of World of Secrets exposes the disturbed past and racial injustices of South Africa itself. To hear more, search for World of Secrets, wherever you get your podcasts. World of Secrets is the BBC podcast about the stories they don’t want told. Delve into a World of Secrets – major BBC global investigations and gripping storytelling. Holding the powerful to account and exposing scandals around the world.

1 min
Oct 5, 2023
Introducing…. World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys

An aspiring male model hopes a meeting with Abercrombie and Fitch’s former CEO could be a career break. But it's far from a dream opportunity - revealing fashion’s dark side. Listen to World of Secrets Season 1 – The Abercrombie Guys.

43 min
May 29, 2023Episode 7
Jean

Megan’s mother disappears, Jamie tries to track her down. Evidence published reveals a shocking conclusion. Finally, Jamie can give everyone involved some answers. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 min
May 25, 2023Episode 6
One Direction

Why did Megan and her mother set up Believe in Magic? Jamie investigates their link to pop megastars One Direction. He discovers crucial evidence is about to be published. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 min
May 22, 2023Episode 5
Sisters

Revelations about Megan’s childhood provide vital clues. An expert tells Jamie about a little - understood yet disturbing medical phenomenon. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 min
May 18, 2023Episode 4
Doctors

The news creates shock waves. Could the sleuths have got it wrong? Jamie gains rare access to doctors’ reports, which could reveal what happened to Megan. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 min
May 15, 2023Episode 3
Proof

The sleuths reveal their findings. Believe in Magic’s supporters defend Megan. Some terrible news breaks, that forces the sleuths to reconsider everything they’ve discovered. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 min
May 11, 2023Episode 2
Sleuths

Megan fundraises for treatment abroad. Her condition deteriorates while in hospital in America. When anonymous sleuths discover she’s not where she claims, who will believe them? This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 min
May 8, 2023Episode 1
Megan

A teenage girl with a brain tumour starts a charity for sick children. It captures the support of pop megastars, One Direction. But questions arise - is Megan really ill? This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 min
May 2, 2023
Introducing Believe In Magic

Charity, celebrity, illness and control. The extraordinary story of a teenage girl and her charity Believe in Magic, which ends up challenging the very nature of sickness itself. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.