In 2003, 14-year-old Charlene Downes mysteriously vanished from her hometown of Blackpool. Chilling stories started to spread. And when two men are arrested for murdering Charlene, they are accused of cutting up her body – and using her remains as kebab meat.
The story of what happened to this young girl has haunted Blackpool for more than twenty years. It has twisted and turned, taking in police, paedophiles, and far-right protests. But not all is as it seems – and so much of this story remains hidden in the shadows.
Broadcaster Nicola Thorp is the same age as Charlene. She grew up in Blackpool too. Now, Nicola is revisiting this case – to uncover the truth, and the lies, about what really happened to Charlene.
After all, Somebody knows Something.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Charlene Downes, you can contact us at charlene@thecrimedesk.com.
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In 2003, 14-year-old Charlene Downes mysteriously vanished from her hometown of Blackpool. Chilling stories started to spread. And when two men are arrested for murdering Charlene, they are accused of cutting up her body – and using her remains as kebab meat.
The story of what happened to this young girl has haunted Blackpool for more than twenty years. It has twisted and turned, taking in police, paedophiles, and far-right protests. But not all is as it seems – and so much of this story remains hidden in the shadows.
Broadcaster Nicola Thorp is the same age as Charlene. She grew up in Blackpool too. Now, Nicola is revisiting this case – to uncover the truth, and the lies, about what really happened to Charlene.
After all, Somebody knows Something.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Charlene Downes, you can contact us at charlene@thecrimedesk.com.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday 1st of November 2003, fourteen-year-old Charlene Downes disappeared from her hometown of Blackpool. The story of what happened to her has haunted the town ever since – but is it true?
Twenty years later, another Blackpool girl, broadcaster Nicola Thorp, looks into this case that she remembers from her childhood. But she quickly finds out that it goes deeper than she could have imagined.
Nicola revisits the immediate aftermath of Charlene’s disappearance. When the police respond, they discover that dark secrets are being kept in Blackpool.
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If you have any information about the disappearance of Charlene Downes, you can contact us at charlene@thecrimedesk.com.
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