This podcast is inconsistent with other reporting on these events from multiple newspapers. It does seem as though the reporter is trying to get a particular outcome that vindicates people who he personally supports.

The rabbit hole of the Trojan house affairs reveals many truths and leaves one with many questions. What works in this series is the refreshingly human take on injustice that does labor the point but rather illustrates it in real time. Good podcast to listen to while you’re busy.

I was put off from listening to this podcast after reading the piece in the Guardian and some reviews claiming this podcast is biased and doesn’t provide objectivity. After finishing the series, I personally found it to be objective and well-researched. If you’re looking for something that’s going to say, “this is the bad guy, this is the good guy, here’s who wrote the letter,” you’re not going to find it. Instead, you’ll find a thoughtful dive into the way local school governments and private disputes within them were used by influential people to enact policy that negatively affects certain communities to this day. It’s definitely worth the time to listen to every episode.

I normally find Brian's stories objective, fact -based. I'm not familiar with Hamza's work. Yet. I am confused as to why Sue and Steve's reporting of events is so heavily doubted by both of you. Is it possible their facts are correct and the other staff members are afraid to corroborate? Truly, I just don't see the reason for discounting their words. Am I missing something?

Hi, I love love the Serial series! Season 1 introduced me to this type of investigative and important storytelling years ago. This season just feels like it has lost itself. H understandably feels close to this type of story but his bias is so apparent throughout the series I can’t believe it was published. The way he speaks to people he is interviewing, when they don’t align to the story he believes is awful. He mistakes people getting upset and struggling to find words for guilt- when in actual fact they feel uncomfortable with his obvious accusatory tone. No wonder people don’t want to be involved!! Part of what I love about Serial is the way Brian and Sarah go into every conversation without judgement or emotion. They ask the questions, understanding that yes people make poor decisions- they don’t mock or interrogate. They simply listen and ask thoughtful and important questions. I finished this series (I wanted to see if his style would improve) dismayed and disappointed with it. It didn’t really answer questions and seems to have only further isolated more people involved. I think the outcome could have been so different had he not been involved. -Charlotte, Ireland

Thank you for dedicating so much of your time to uncover truth and shift narratives. I hope this opens people’s eyes at a minimum, and I am gravely sorry it has not led to more accountability in the UK regarding the extreme impact this has caused. I wish there were a way to convert the millions of downloads to action to support a campaign for the opening of an official inquiry into this issue, and I feel that even if the impact is not immediate or what you all may have expected, it is significant and long lasting.

Thank you for taking the time and care to bring these realities to the forefront, this and many other stories need to be told to the public. Great job with your investigative journalism!

In the early days of Crime Junkie the crime was laid out and the perpetrator was identified, tried and convicted. Satisfying. fast forward in the episodes are now more like a version of America’s Most Wanted. You hear the story about the crime, suspects may or may not be identified, but there is no conviction or conclusion. Instead, there’s just a plea that if you know any information that might lead to an arrest to call such and such tip line. These are sometimes interesting, but never satisfying. And that is what The Trojan Horse Affair was like for me. It was truly interesting and the reporting and level of journalism was stellar, as always. But even from the first episode, you so badly are longing for someone to be burned at the stake, and each episode just adds more fuel to the fire. But in the end you have no witch, the fuel is consumed, and all that is left are two journalists and a dentist urinating on a small, smoldering pile of ash in one of the most remote cities on earth. This is a critical review – I just had to vent a little. But I still give it four stars and it’s definitely worth the listen.

Incredible work.

Great plot twist!

Well done. It’s like a spy thriller, though not scary, in a small town way. Real issues. And real secrets. I enjoyed it completely

Great reporting!

Fantastic examination of an important part of recent history. Includes not only the story of what happened but also the story of the journalists as they investigated what happened. That rare thing - a well told story that tells both the story and the process of telling the story.

There was such a lot to unpick with this topic….but the reporting (from Both the student and the professional reporter) missed so much information out of the podcast that it comes across as disingenuous and bias. I would have understood if they took the time to actually acknowledge some of the problems that were going on but state why they thought they weren’t important….but they didn’t. The first 3 episodes really looked like they were going somewhere, but as soon as the student interviewed the guy from the Humanist society it almost lost all credibility. This was an important topic and there were so many great messages lost in the poor quality of reporting. Shame.

The real magic of this podcast is decision to interrogate the entire journalistic process - one that, by seeking to be impartial, often upholds the worst stories.

Great journalism done over an important issue that absolutely needed to be aired. I especially loved the interviews and how those were presented. The way this was handled was truly a folly of the century and I’m glad that Brian and Hamza made it a mission to shed light on the issue that was so destructive to a community and individuals. S Town was legendary and this was a great addition to the Brian Reed portfolio. Only reason I give it four stars instead of five is that I did not like the angsty and sometimes childish remarks that Hamza made. I’m sure the insults were meant as playful towards Brian and in good fun but by Episode 4 it became a recurring distraction from the content. Somewhere I think this podcast got lost between compelling and relatable narrative journalism and cheeky comments unless the story is actually about a cub reporter growing up.

If you like investigations that speak truth to power, and attempt to right past wrongs, this is the podcast for you. It was extremely compelling, a story well-researched and well-told, and offered a spotlight to the rampant Islamophobia present in British society. Everyone should listen.

Intriguing, thought provoking, great podcast

An own goal.

Good show but, this show is not about solving the mystery of who wrote the letter ( they come to their conclusion in episode 2), but rather it is about figuring out why what happened after it appeared happened. Also the ending is a bit unsatisfying so dont be prepared for an exciting climax. This show has swear words. Also basically the only negative criticism for this stems from people saying its biased. It’s up for you to decide if it is but what is true is that they do have political views and they do have opinions and they vocalize it. MUSIC IS A BANGER

I will listen to anything Brian Reed puts out. I hope Hamza kept with the career. He was very engaging.

I am becoming a big fan of Brian Reeds podcasts. I listened to The Trojan Horse Affair mainly because of his excellent S Town podcast. Like S Town, Trojan Horse will pull you in and keep you listening till the end. Maybe not so much on the edge of your seat, but it’s some very interesting intrigue. There are some flaws however, and I hope Brian learns from them. But I still give it 5 stars. My biggest issue with this story is that Brian Reed decides, for some strange reason, to partner up with journalism student Hamza Syed. This was a mistake IMHO. While Hamza is very bright and lends a lot to the story, he is no Brian Reed. He should have been a character in the story rather than a co-journalist. To understand this criticism better, you will have to listen to the podcast. I also think they were way too surprised to learn about the ingrained islamophobia in England when, only a few years from 9/11 and the London Underground attack, there was a natural suspicion about all Muslims. Why? Because radical Muslims were so effective at blending in with non-radical Muslims. That’s just a fact. And that side of the story was completely absent from Brian and Hamza’s reporting. Instead, they commiserated about how unfair the bias and paranoia was. I don’t fault them at all, however, for (spoiler alert) failing to uncover the author of the Trojan Horse letter. That’s just part of investigative journalism – you have no idea where it will lead. But they clearly gave it their best and its well its worth a listen, especially for me as an American. I learned a lot about English society

I’m honestly quite confused about why this is on so many respected peoples’ top ten lists for best podcasts of 2022. I kept waiting for something to happen, or for there to be some big reveal, and it just never came. Is the premise interesting, this letter and the events surrounding it? Sure. But the podcast is just sort of boring.

Coming from a Yank across the pond well over a decade from when the incident went down... I found this really interesting, well-made and engaging. (Now we need Achmed the Dentist to get his very own podcast - because that would be riveting and interesting as well.)

Multiple claims that this is a one sided account, it appears they ignored some evidence that didn’t fit the narrative. It’s a good story, too bad it didn’t really follow modern journalistic guidelines…or maybe this is what passes for that these days.

I was late to discovering this podcast, but I’m so glad I did. Through careful and dogged returning, Hamza and Brian unravel a shocking and bizarre mystery and the wrongful treatment of innocent and hardworking educators, due largely to British Islamophobia. A must-listen.

I couldn’t stop listening to this, shocking, addictive and very true. Just more proof the Tories waste money on fake news to whip up division.

The perfect example of how something hyper local actually has world wide implications and connections. Don’t miss it, specially if you are a journalist or are thinking to become one

This podcast is as intriguing as it is a disturbing microcosm of the world. Hatred and discrimination abound, and in this instance, cost people their careers. Equally if not more important, this podcast sheds critical light on the depths of Islamophobia. That people don’t care enough to either correct the wrongs caused by The Trojan Horse letter, or the distorted myths it continues to perpetuate about Muslims is frustrating, yet unsurprising. This a compelling case that highlights the inner workings of systems of power and privilege, and the manner in which they can contribute to social injustice.

The way a forged document can be leveraged by politicians to re-frame public perception resonates across history, and says a lot about the vulnerabilities of our social brains. This superb series works on several levels, stripping bare the unjust and entrenched racism of British (and by extension, American) public policy, and taking us on a journey of painstakingly uncovered facts and how they lead to unexpected places. One of the deepest, most affecting podcasts I’ve heard.

You may have not have gotten a sure answer but you brought the case to light before this I didn’t even know this existed

Great journalistic reporting. We may never know who wrote the letter but thank you for exposing the lies. It saddens me the lives that was ruined.

This is a very thoughtful podcast that is just as much about the people telling the story as well as the suspenseful story being investigated. If you have empathy, and I hope you do, you can understand the frustration felt by Hamza Syed and the friendship that develops with his co-host Brian Reed. It’s very hard to be neutral if you feel you’re being unfairly attacked and there is extreme prejudice against you. On the other hand, a journalist (not a Fox News commentator) tries to discover the truth and remain neutral. Easier said than done. A fantastic story!

I couldn’t stop listening to this! Every breakthrough was exciting and amazing and as a Muslim I thank you all for seeking Justice and Truth 🙌🏾🫶🏾

I can’t say enough about this podcast. Fascinating story , thought provoking & honestly incredibly moving. Love this duo , hope they do something else together!

You all are rockstars! I love that you are real people telling this story but also still able to tell it from both sides! This is amazing! Props to both of you and your whole team!

Based on who was attached to this project, I was hoping to hear a calm unbiased report but this felt like a “hit job.” It was very one-sided and didn’t seem like they wanted facts but to go about bullying people. It makes me think that those people, that the hosts are bullying, might actually have a point.

This podcast is one of those podcasts that stays with you. It’s interesting, multilayered, and makes you think. It’s a total gem.

One of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to—the story is gripping and consequential but also very human, mundane and frustrating. It really changed my mind about the nature of reporting as a profession and, even better, made me feel like I was in the room as Brian and Hamza worked on the story.

Throughly enjoyed this podcast and am so impressed by the amount of effort, time, distance traveled and persistence shown by these two journalists. I must say, listening to Hamza talk in episode 6 about his ability to be both 1. A human who has feelings and opinions and can see/feel the impact of the Trojan Horse letter & 2. A journalist who has a hunch but is open to the idea that if facts proving the reality of events are different from his hunch, he can remain open minded to that information. I could t agree more.

No spoilers - but this podcast did a great job of telling a complicated story and keeping it compelling.

This is a beautiful story within a story. The investigation is the focus, but it is also very clearly about two journalists dealing with internal conflict about what it means to be a journalist and if they should continue on as they once thought they should. Should a journalist have an opinion about a story or is it their job simply to allow the story to tell itself? Are the lengths they go to worth it for what they are able to reveal? The only thing biased about it in my opinion is that they DO expect the listener to reconsider their beliefs - about Muslims, our governing bodies, and journalism. Come to whatever conclusions you want about the “affair,” but to me, their efforts and honesty are most definitely “worth it.”

Brain reed is amazing so whoever disagrees should have their podcast reviewing privileges revoked—

Maybe they’ll notice that it’s not just a few people who have noticed their total abandonment of objectivity. Mistreatment of people is bad but there is no doubt they are starting with conclusions and working backwards to justify any conclusions they want.

Man there are a LOT of people who don’t know what bias is. Pro tip: all humans have emotions, even journalists. Bias is when you obscure or shape information to fit your agenda. The journalists in this podcast gave their interviewees nothing but opportunity to clear themselves. Whether those interviewees failed to clear their names is on them. Not only one of the most well-made and absorbing podcasts I’ve ever heard, but also a perfect illustration of what systemic racism looks like and how people in power use negligence and indifference to oppress.

...I wish I hadn't. I'll save you the time, the "investigation" goes nowhere. The main reveal is that at one point the doctor who is going to journalism school is SO biased and SO bad at journalism that they spend a whole episode tracing all his missteps and having his partner hear him out on how frustrating it is to be a Muslim. It's all human and understandable, but it's not journalism. At the core of this story is a lot of assumptions about prejudice and discrimination, and the whole of the podcast is a search to validate those feelings. Even among the interviews they aired, they are sometimes blind to the testimony that doesn't support their assumptions and raises valid concerns. The doctor dismisses it just like he claims HE is being dismissed. He is just as guilty as they people he is calling out, and supporting this and calling it "journalism" is no less sensational than the provocative entertainment that airs on much TV news.

You can’t be serious….I don’t even know where to begin. I listened for longer than I was inclined to just in case it would eventually come around and reveal the joke and I would chuckle to myself and think “how clever”. But this was NOT clever.

This was an extremely well told story that illustrated yet again the oppression that people of color face and the willingness of those in power to not only ignore it but to willfully participate in it. I enjoyed the podcast immensely, evidenced by the fact that I NEVER write reviews but felt compelled to write this one.

Wow.

This is the most powerful and piercing story I’ve ever listened to. The Trojan horse letter caused a devastating injustice to Muslims in the UK, and their coverage is relentless, insightful, and deeply deeply human. I wept listening to Hamza grapple with the dehumanization of being a journalist covering this story of overt, opportunistic, systemic racism leveled against him and his religion while being held to absurd expectations of so-called impartiality. Thank you to Hamza, Brian, and the team for your work. It is piercing, crucial, and incredibly challenging. I am devastated and grateful for what you’ve done. I hope that it has the profound impact that it demands.