Panorama Season 73, Episode 29: The Truth About Asylum Hotels

1

E-Bikes: The Battle for Our Streets

Adrian Chiles investigates the extraordinary rise of electric bikes on our streets and what that means for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. He asks whether, despite their green credentials, they are a solution to our congested towns and cities or a new menace in need of tighter regulation. He discovers that some more powerful and faster e-bikes, while openly sold as commuter bikes, are illegal to ride on the road. Sales of e-bikes have boomed but, as they are crammed into the same space as pedestrians and other road users, councils and the police are struggling to cope with the e-bike revolution.

29 min

2

Weight Loss Jabs and the NHS

The new generation of weight loss drugs is now available on the NHS and Panorama has exclusive access to one of the UK’s top hospitals as it rolls out Wegovy, also known as Ozempic. The BBC’s medical editor Fergus Walsh follows the progress of patients and talks to medical experts about what impact the jabs could have on Britain’s obesity crisis, and whether the NHS can afford to give the drugs to all those who are eligible.

29 min

3

Should We Still Be Working from Home?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the way we work has been transformed, with many more of us working from home. But is that good for us, and is it good for the economy? Many bosses are now asking their staff to get back to the office, but many workers are reluctant to return. Some are even threatening strike action. Zoe Conway talks to those on both sides of the divide, investigates how the world of work is changing, and asks what it means for our towns and cities.

28 min

4

Rewiring Britain: The Race to Go Green

Huge clean energy projects are stirring anger across Britain. The government says new pylons, solar plants, wind turbines and electricity substations are essential to meet its bold plan to decarbonise the country’s electricity by 2030. It says it will 'streamline' the planning process to get these projects through quickly and help get the economy growing. But many protestors say that’s just a way to guarantee their objections are ignored. Should national targets trump local opposition, and who will ultimately win? For Panorama, Justin Rowlatt meets protestors, energy secretary Ed Miliband and Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes, who are all taking sides in the battle over rewiring Britain.

29 min

5

Britain’s Mouldy Homes

Panorama investigates the condition of rented properties in the UK. The government says that in England alone the health of two million people is under threat from mould. After two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from prolonged exposure to mould in 2020, a new law was proposed to protect tenants. Despite being passed by the previous government in 2023, the law will not come into force until the autumn. Reporter Rahil Sheikh speaks to families living with black mould in both social housing and private rented properties, and reveals how the home of one elderly couple, who say that damp and mould is impacting their health, is owned by one of Britain’s wealthiest landlords.

29 min

6

The Southport Attack

It was a crime that horrified the nation. Three young girls murdered and another eight seriously injured at a Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop. Reporter Judith Moritz meets survivors of the attack and the people who put themselves in harm’s way to try to protect the children. She also investigates how the authorities missed so many warning signs about the teenage attacker.

58 min

7

Trump, Ukraine and Europe on the Edge

The war in Ukraine is reaching a decisive point. After three years of fighting, Donald Trump is trying to break the deadlock by speaking directly to Vladimir Putin and setting up talks. But Ukraine and Europe appear to be on the sidelines. With the US refusing to commit ground troops, the pressure will be on Europe to keep the peace, if there is a deal. Allan Little speaks to the UK prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and other leading politicians at this historic moment for the future security of Europe.

29 min

8

The Day Los Angeles Burned

On 7 January, a series of catastrophic wildfires engulfed parts of Los Angeles, changing America’s second-largest city forever. More than 16,000 homes and businesses were destroyed, and 29 people died. This film examines how climate change and claims of underfunding for public services collided, producing a perfect storm that turned the City of Angels into an inferno. Drawing on never-before-seen footage, survivor testimonies and expert analysis, Panorama unravels how Los Angeles burned, who fought to save it and what happens next.

29 min

9

Lockdown Kids: Five Years On

Five years ago, schools across the UK were given just a few days’ notice as the country locked down in response to the pandemic. For most children, it was the start of nearly two years of interrupted schooling and lost learning. For many of the youngest, it often meant missing out on activities which are vital for early development. Babies born in lockdown are now in their first year at primary school. So, five years on, how are things looking for them and the rest of the Covid generation? For some children, there has been a significant impact on their speech, language and other communication skills, and on their social development. Branwen Jeffreys spends time with families and teachers to discover how they are meeting the challenge of bridging the gaps and helping their children to catch up.

29 min

10

Fixing The NHS: What Will It Take?

The NHS in England is to undergo major change. The government wants to harness technology, move more services into the community and work harder to prevent long-term illness. For Panorama, Alison Holt speaks to the doctors, researchers and frontline staff transforming their parts of the NHS to deliver better care. But big fixes are also needed to help manage budgets, cut waiting lists and improve social care. The NHS has been through several reforms in the past. Can this one make a real difference?

29 min

11

My Online Stalker

Around 600,000 people a year report online stalking and harassment to the police in England and Wales. So, what does it feel like to be one of the victims? Panorama investigates one extraordinary case – a businesswoman who ruined lives by posting thousands of abusive messages. For more than a decade, she targeted other business people and falsely accused them of crimes ranging from slashing her tyres to killing her cat. Reporter Darragh MacIntyre meets the victims who have been publicly vilified. They don’t know why they were targeted, and they haven’t been able to get the messages taken down.

29 min

12

Did Lloyds Bank Fail My Business?

For 15 years, reporter Steve Brodie has been following the cases of dozens of entrepreneurs who say Lloyds Bank failed their businesses and ruined their lives. Some Lloyds customers have made criminal complaints to the police about their former bank, but none have resulted in a full investigation. Lloyds says it has always worked to support business customers who got into difficulties following the financial crash. Now Panorama reveals new documents from inside the bank as well as whistleblower evidence which raises serious questions about the way the bank treated some of its customers.

29 min

13

The Truth about Baby Food Pouches

Baby food in plastic pouches has revolutionised the way many parents feed their children. Quick, convenient and in a wide range of flavours, they are marketed as healthy alternatives to homemade food. But as reporter Catrin Nye discovers, some are worryingly low in essential vitamins and minerals, while others contain more sugar than the NHS recommends an infant consumes in an entire day. Six years ago, a report from Public Health England called for a tightening-up of baby food regulation as well as clearer labelling, but successive governments have failed to act. While the companies behind baby food pouches insist they put the well-being of children first, Panorama hears from dieticians, dentists and public health experts who all warn that parents should know the risks of regularly using pouches in place of homemade meals.

29 min

14

Special Forces: I Saw War Crimes

The SAS has been accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan. For the first time, special forces troops have broken their code of silence to tell Panorama what happened during night raid operations. The eyewitnesses say they saw injured people shot at point-blank range, unarmed people murdered in their sleep and the execution of handcuffed detainees, including children. Reporter Richard Bilton investigates one of the darkest episodes in British military history and examines evidence that the military and the Ministry of Defence tried to cover it up.

59 min

15

The Dark Side of Swimming Clubs

More than 100,000 children train at swimming clubs across England, many hoping one day to compete at the Olympics. But do those dreams of gold medals come at too high a price? Panorama speaks to swimmers who developed eating disorders after being bullied about their weight by coaches and investigates the role of the sport’s regulator, who knew about allegations against senior coaches but did nothing. Swim England has apologised and promised to learn from past mistakes. Reporter Rebecca Woods also investigates the case of convicted rapist Antony James, a former Olympic swimmer who groomed young girls in plain sight at the club where he was a coach.

29 min

16

Is Britain Broke?

There has been plenty of political drama in the last few years. But what if, behind all those headlines, there was a much bigger story? A story few politicians want to talk about, but which explains why many feel money is so tight. Ahead of the government’s spending review, BBC analysis editor Ros Atkins sets out to discover the truth about how our money is spent. He reveals how the UK is changing in ways which look set to cost us all billions and finds out why politicians keep running into trouble when they try to cut spending.

29 min

17

Funfairs: How Safe Are They?

Millions of us enjoy the thrill of the funfair. But how safe are the rides we’re getting on? Reporter Rahil Sheikh investigates, talking to industry insiders and those who’ve been injured in accidents. Is the current safety regulation system working? And can we trust the funfairs which are a feature of the British summer?

29 min

18

Cancer Conspiracy Theories: Why Did Our Sister Die?

Paloma Shemirani was just 23 when she died from cancer in 2024. She had rejected chemotherapy in favour of alternative treatments. Her brothers say that decision was influenced by their mother Kate Shemirani, a vocal British conspiracy theorist who shares misinformation about cancer. She disputes their account. So what really happened? Through testimony from family, friends and experts, Marianna Spring investigates Paloma's case and the rise of health conspiracy theories on social media following the pandemic. Are social media companies’ algorithms pushing potentially harmful content at vulnerable patients – and are anti-medicine ideas going mainstream?

29 min

19

Trump, Israel and the War on Iran

As America joins Israel to prevent Iran from making a nuclear weapon, the conflict in the Middle East risks further escalation. With Iran promising everlasting consequences, following the US use of bunker-busting bombs against what it insists is its peaceful nuclear programme, reporter Nawal Al-Maghafi examines what might happen next. The programme hears from those living under fire, in both Iran and Israel, and examines America’s claim to have obliterated Iran’s nuclear programme.

29 min

20

Undercover Estate Agent

Panorama goes undercover at one of the UK’s biggest estate agencies to investigate claims it’s not acting in the best interests of customers. Reporter Lucy Vallance uncovers evidence the company favours buyers taking out mortgages brokered by the company itself, over the interests of other potential buyers. She also speaks to a whistleblower who worked at another big estate agency, where staff were under pressure to sell add-on services and were incentivised by a commission scheme to get sellers to drop their house prices. Both companies say they treat customers fairly.

59 min

21

Fighting Cyber Criminals

Cyberattacks are on the rise. Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Harrods have all been targeted. Public bodies, hospitals and schools have also come under attack from hackers who take over computer systems and demand a ransom to unlock them. Many victims simply pay up. With payouts in the millions, the hackers are getting away with huge sums. Panorama has been given exclusive access to the spies on the front line in the battle against the cybercriminals. Reporter Richard Bilton investigates the online crimewave and meets the secret agents trying to stop the hackers.

29 min

22

Britain’s Ketamine Crisis

Ketamine is increasingly popular as a recreational drug. So why are so many people taking it? And what can prolonged use do to your body? Reporter Hazel Martin travels to the north west of England to talk to users, those being treated in detox and rehab, and doctors who say they’re now being inundated by young patients in need of help. The government is considering reclassifying it as a class A drug, so is that part of the answer? And if not, how else can the ketamine crisis be fixed?

29 min

23

Why I Joined a Riot

A year on from the riots that swept across England and Northern Ireland following the Southport attack of July 2024, Panorama asks why so many took part. More than 1,000 people were charged with offences including violent disorder, arson and racially aggravated criminal damage. Darragh MacIntyre, who reported on the riots, talks to three people who took part about how they account for their actions. Two express feelings of remorse. Darragh also visits Ibrahim Hussein, Imam of the Southport mosque that was attacked by a mob, to hear how he has both increased security and forgiven rioters who have written to him to apologise.

29 min

24

Lucy Letby: Who to Believe?

Lucy Letby was found guilty of unimaginable crimes – murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more. But her conviction has become one of the most divisive in British history. A panel of international experts says there’s no evidence any crimes were committed, while the police push for more charges against Letby and a public inquiry takes her guilt as a matter of fact. Both sides depend on complex medical evidence to explain how the babies died. Reporter Judith Moritz investigates the evidence and finds flaws in the theories presented by both prosecution and defence experts.

59 min

25

The £170 Million Diamond Scam

Charismatic businessman Vashi Dominguez sold a vision of opulence and success to investors. They invested £170 million in his high-end jewellery stores and were told their cash was secured against a large stock of diamonds. But when the business went bust, there were hardly any diamonds in the safe. Now, both the cash and the conman have gone. Reporter Richard Bilton investigates a world where nothing was quite what it seemed, where staff pretended to be customers to make the shops look busy and sales figures were massively inflated.

29 min

26

Fighting the Cocaine Cartels

Cocaine deaths in the UK have soared over the last ten years. Consumption per person is now said to be the highest in Europe. So how do the cartels get their drugs into the country? Reporter Darragh MacIntyre investigates how some traffickers are using Ireland as a backdoor smuggling route. The vast Irish coastline provides countless places to land drugs and is vulnerable to the cartels. One extraordinary cocaine bust reveals the high-stakes battle with the traffickers at sea.

29 min

27

Trump and Starmer: The Special Relationship?

On the eve of President Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to Britain, Panorama looks at the state of the historic special relationship between the US and the UK. Jane Corbin visits Scotland, home to the president’s golf courses and birthplace of his mother, speaks to David Lammy, the foreign secretary, about the risks and rewards of dealing with Donald Trump, and assesses how the prime minister is handling his powerful and unpredictable guest.

29 min

28

Gaza: Dying for Food

As the UK and others prepare to officially recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations, Panorama and BBC Eye investigate the desperate shortages of food in Gaza and the allegations of war crimes. With Israel on the verge of expanding its military campaign in the Gaza Strip and blaming Hamas for the shortages of food there, Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s international editor, asks what all this means for the million or so Palestinians who now face being displaced from their homes in Gaza City and the prospect of having to flee again.

29 min

29

The Truth About Asylum Hotels

Asylum hotels have dominated the news this summer, sparking protests, dividing communities, and forcing the government to promise quicker action. But what’s the truth about them, and the increasing strain on the UK's asylum system? Reporter Rahil Sheikh travels to the north west of England to meet residents, community leaders and asylum seekers and refugees. The last few weeks have heightened tensions on the ground, so how can the crisis be fixed - and where will asylum seekers be housed if the hotels are closed?

29 min

30

Undercover in the Police

Secret filming by Panorama reveals evidence of racism, misogyny and officers revelling in the use of force at one of London’s busiest police stations, Charing Cross.

59 min

31

Kellie Bright - Autism, School and Families on the Edge

EastEnders actor Kellie Bright meets parents who say they’re exhausted by the fight to get the right education for their autistic children. She follows three families who are applying to their councils for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), a crucial document which says where a child goes to school and what extra support they should get. Kellie learns that a crisis in funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities is contributing to financial trouble for many local authorities and that the government is promising reform. Drawing on her own experience as a mother to an autistic son, Kellie helps the children explain in their own words why they find school so hard and finds out what they and their parents think would help them to cope better and thrive.

58 min

32

The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes

The UK’s housing crisis is deepening. Rents have rocketed, and for many, house prices are out of reach and the dream of owning a home is slipping away. Now the government’s made a very big promise: to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029. Can it be done? Anita Rani and Justin Rowlatt travel from South Tyneside to the Isle of Wight to find out. Along the way, they discover the secret to making bricks, explore the mind-boggling complexity of the planning system and meet the new housing secretary, who is promising to build, baby, build. Will the government hit its target - and will it make housing more affordable if it does?

57 min

33

The King of Jordan and the Children of Gaza

After two devastating years of war, there is now a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. But will it lead to a lasting peace? Panorama has had exclusive access to King Abdullah of Jordan – a key player in the Middle East - as war has raged and as the ceasefire deal has taken shape. Jordan, which borders Israel and the occupied West Bank and has a large Palestinian population, has seen the crisis close up. Reporter Fergal Keane follows the king as he leads the evacuation of dozens of sick children from Gaza to hospitals in Jordan, and goes behind the scenes with him at the United Nations in New York as the outlines of a potential peace deal emerge. He also talks to the king’s wife and closest confidante, Queen Rania. What does the future hold for Gaza and its children, and what hope is there now of a wider peace in the region?

29 min

34

Trump and the Tech Titans

Silicon Valley’s original disruptors didn’t just change technology - they rewired politics. Panorama investigates the 'PayPal Mafia' - Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and David Sacks - and their influence on Donald Trump’s rise to the White House. From Starbase in Texas, Elon Musk’s futuristic city, to the corridors of Washington, Panorama reveals how ideology, algorithms and vast fortunes are rewriting the rules of power. And as artificial intelligence accelerates seemingly beyond regulation, will the tech titans become the ultimate power brokers, not just in politics but in shaping the future of humanity itself?

59 min

35

The Fall of Prince Andrew

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been stripped of his royal titles and is being evicted from the rent-free mansion he calls home. His disgrace follows a scandal that’s been 25 years in the making. It started with a photograph of the former prince with his arm around a teenage girl. Virginia Giuffre died earlier this year, but her posthumous memoir accelerated his downfall. Panorama shows previously unseen footage from her 2019 interview and investigates how her allegations helped to destroy the reputation of the King’s brother and undermined the monarchy.

29 min

36

Britain and China: Following the Money

Britain faces a huge challenge in its relationship with China: can it do business with a rising superpower while keeping the UK safe? Reporter Celia Hatton has been following Chinese state money that flowed into UK business over the last two decades. With exclusive access to new research, and interviews with those at the heart of key deals, she reveals how the Chinese state was far more active than may have been realised at the time. Was the UK outsmarted by Beijing’s long-term planning? And what does it tell us about how Britain reckons with China’s power today?

29 min

37

The Truth About Forever Chemicals

Panorama investigates the hidden dangers of PFAS, the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ found in everyday items like waterproof coats and non-stick pans. They are also in our food and water. With exclusive testing, personal stories and expert interviews, reporter Catrin Nye reveals how these toxic substances can affect our health and contaminate the environment, and she asks if the UK government is doing enough to keep us safe.

29 min

38

The Pothole Problem

The UK is plagued by potholes. They can cost drivers dear, injure and even kill. So why are there so many, and why are many councils struggling to stay on top of the problem? Reporter Richard Bilton sets out to meet the frustrated residents who are campaigning to get their roads fixed and insiders who tell Panorama what they think is going wrong. He speaks to people who have been hurt by potholes, those who have lost loved ones and those who run and maintain the road network. Can the pothole problem ever get fixed?

29 min

39

Evri: Where’s My Parcel?

Our love of online shopping means at Christmas we’re more reliant than ever on parcel delivery companies to make sure our presents get delivered on time. Evri is one of the big players in the parcel market but also one of the most complained about delivery services. Panorama goes undercover to investigate the pressures of working in one delivery unit, speaking to unhappy customers as well as couriers who say they struggle to make a living. Evri disputes these claims and says it provides a fast, reliable and cost-effective delivery service. It also says its couriers earn more than the national minimum wage.

29 min