A Very British Cult
By BBC Radio 4
The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
In early 2019 Jeffrey Leigh-Jones from Portsmouth got a life coach. Someone to mentor him in life and help him realise his business ambitions.
Two years later, Jeff had sold his house, his relationship was in pieces, and he had handed over tens of thousands of pounds. And he wasn't the only one. In this eighteen-month investigation for the BBC, journalist Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a mysterious life coaching company taking over people's lives and ripping families apart.
As the investigation hots up, the group fights back, and there's a surreal final showdown.
Latest episode
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Welcome to... A Very British Cult
The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life, Catrin Nye investigates. -
1. Lighthouse
It all starts with a call from Dawn, who says her boyfriend is in a cult. -
2. The Daily Call
Jeff is on the phone all day, every day, listening to his leader. -
3. The Life Coach
Can a life coach unlock Catrin’s potential? -
4. Getting Out
It’s when people start asking difficult questions, that the real trouble begins. -
5. Paulie
Who exactly is the adored leader of Lighthouse, Paul Waugh? -
6. Control
Catrin meets Simon, a former recruiter for Lighthouse who fled the group. -
7. Us and Them
There are still people inside Lighthouse – and we meet a father left behind. -
8. The Showdown
Catrin finally confronts Lighthouse's leader Paul Waugh as the group end up in court.