A Very British Cult

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

1. Lighthouse

20230405

20230711 (R4)
20230712 (R4)

In November 2021 investigative journalist Catrin Nye got a call from Dawn. She said her boyfriend Jeff was trying to leave a cult. But this cult was also a life coaching company.

Dawn said Jeff had handed over more than £100,000 to them and wasted years of his life. And what Dawn is really worried about is that the group are still active; they're recruiting new members and she needs to raise the alarm. Jeff had simply signed up for a life coach, so how did it all go so wrong for him?

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main and Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound engineer: James Bradshaw

Original music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Archive clips from: Stephen Covey Video on Choosing Success (Success Television)

It all starts with a call from Dawn, who says her boyfriend is in a cult.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

2. The Daily Call

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20230412 (R4)
20230718 (R4)
20230719 (R4)

Jeff is being drawn deeper and deeper into a life coaching group called Lighthouse. He loves having a mentor and feels great about life. Now it's time to take the next step, to go full time. But what exactly awaits Jeff, and what is it going to cost him?

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Jeff is on the phone all day, every day, listening to his leader.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

3. The Life Coach

20230405

20230419 (R4)
20230725 (R4)
20230726 (R4)

Catrin is quite cynical about the concept of life coaching. She's now spent months speaking with people who signed up to it and ended up in a cult. So, she has a session with one of Ireland's most in-demand coaches to see if he can change her mind.

Then Catrin meets Anthony, who found Lighthouse during a very dark time in his life. She's shocked by what she hears about his mentor's approach to Anthony's mental health issues.

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Can a life coach unlock Catrin's potential?

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

4. Getting Out

20230405

20230426 (R4)
20230801 (R4)
20230804 (R4)

The investigation is finding out more and more strange things about Lighthouse. We hear what happens when people start to question what is happening. Catrin speaks with Erin who raised concerns about Lighthouse and was accused of being 'a cynical little old witch'.

Meanwhile Lighthouse is getting increasingly obsessed with its critics and former members.

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Archive clips from Stanley Milgram, Solomon Asch Conformity experiment re-enactment, 1974: copyright Alexandra Milgram and Alexander Street.

It's when people start asking difficult questions, that the real trouble begins.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

5. Paulie

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20230503 (R4)
20230808 (R4)
20230809 (R4)

To understand Lighthouse, Catrin needs to try and understand Paul Waugh. She delves into his past to investigate his claims of incredible wealth, high profile business connections, and a difficult childhood.

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Archive clips: Unleashing the Power Within - An Owner's Manual for the Brain (Robbins Research Institute); Zig Ziglar - Changing the Picture (Zig Ziglar Corporation); Harvey Mackay: Best-Selling Author & Entrepreneur (Eagles Talent); The Oprah Winfrey Show 1993 (Harpo Productions); The Oprah Winfrey Show 1988 (Harpo Productions); The Oprah Winfrey Show 1996 (Harpo Productions).

Who exactly is the adored leader of Lighthouse, Paul Waugh?

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

6. Control

20230405

20230510 (R4)
20230815 (R4)
20230816 (R4)

We meet Simon, who ended up deep in Lighthouse, recruiting for them, monitoring their critics and living with his mentor. But one day Simon says he realised he was actually in a cult, and he had no choice but to pack his bags and run.

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Catrin meets Simon, a former recruiter for Lighthouse who fled the group.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

7. Us And Them

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20230517 (R4)
20230822 (R4)
20230823 (R4)

The people inside cults aren't the only ones whose lives are transformed. There's also the family members and friends, who are left behind.

When Jeff left Lighthouse, he quickly found there was a whole community with loved ones still part of the organisation. Catrin meets a father who says it feels like his daughter is dead. Meanwhile there is an unexpected twist. There's been another investigation, in secret, and parallel to ours.

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

There are still people inside Lighthouse - and we meet a father left behind.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

8. The Showdown

20230405

20230524 (R4)
20230829 (R4)
20230830 (R4)

It's the final showdown. The BBC team finds out there's been another investigation going on in parallel to their one. It's by the Government, who want Lighthouse shut down.

Lighthouse International Group end up in court, and more than 20 team members crowd into the hearing room, squashed alongside the BBC as well as Jeff and Dawn. Catrin finally gets to put her questions to Lighthouse and their leader Paul Waugh, and a massive crowd piles down a central London street as she tries to get answers.

What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company.

Reporter: Catrin Nye

Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye

Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt

Researcher: Aisha Doherty

Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat

Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw

Original Music by: Phil Channell

Commissioner: Rhian Roberts

Catrin finally confronts Lighthouse's leader as the organisation ends up in court.

The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
1. Lighthouse	20230405	20230711 (R4) 20230712 (R4)	In November 2021 investigative journalist Catrin Nye got a call from Dawn. She said her boyfriend Jeff was trying to leave a cult. But this cult was also a life coaching company. Dawn said Jeff had handed over more than £100,000 to them and wasted years of his life. And what Dawn is really worried about is that the group are still active; they're recruiting new members and she needs to raise the alarm. Jeff had simply signed up for a life coach, so how did it all go so wrong for him? What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main and Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound engineer: James Bradshaw Original music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Archive clips from: Stephen Covey Video on Choosing Success (Success Television) It all starts with a call from Dawn, who says her boyfriend is in a cult. The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
2. The Daily Call	20230405	20230412 (R4) 20230718 (R4) 20230719 (R4)	Jeff is being drawn deeper and deeper into a life coaching group called Lighthouse. He loves having a mentor and feels great about life. Now it's time to take the next step, to go full time. But what exactly awaits Jeff, and what is it going to cost him? What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Jeff is on the phone all day, every day, listening to his leader. The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
3. The Life Coach	20230405	20230419 (R4) 20230725 (R4) 20230726 (R4)	Catrin is quite cynical about the concept of life coaching. She's now spent months speaking with people who signed up to it and ended up in a cult. So, she has a session with one of Ireland's most in-demand coaches to see if he can change her mind. Then Catrin meets Anthony, who found Lighthouse during a very dark time in his life. She's shocked by what she hears about his mentor's approach to Anthony's mental health issues. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Can a life coach unlock Catrin's potential? The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
4. Getting Out	20230405	20230426 (R4) 20230801 (R4) 20230804 (R4)	The investigation is finding out more and more strange things about Lighthouse. We hear what happens when people start to question what is happening. Catrin speaks with Erin who raised concerns about Lighthouse and was accused of being 'a cynical little old witch'. Meanwhile Lighthouse is getting increasingly obsessed with its critics and former members. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Archive clips from Stanley Milgram, Solomon Asch Conformity experiment re-enactment, 1974: copyright Alexandra Milgram and Alexander Street. It's when people start asking difficult questions, that the real trouble begins. The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
5. Paulie	20230405	20230503 (R4) 20230808 (R4) 20230809 (R4)	To understand Lighthouse, Catrin needs to try and understand Paul Waugh. She delves into his past to investigate his claims of incredible wealth, high profile business connections, and a difficult childhood. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Archive clips: Unleashing the Power Within - An Owner's Manual for the Brain (Robbins Research Institute); Zig Ziglar - Changing the Picture (Zig Ziglar Corporation); Harvey Mackay: Best-Selling Author & Entrepreneur (Eagles Talent); The Oprah Winfrey Show 1993 (Harpo Productions); The Oprah Winfrey Show 1988 (Harpo Productions); The Oprah Winfrey Show 1996 (Harpo Productions). Who exactly is the adored leader of Lighthouse, Paul Waugh? The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
6. Control	20230405	20230510 (R4) 20230815 (R4) 20230816 (R4)	We meet Simon, who ended up deep in Lighthouse, recruiting for them, monitoring their critics and living with his mentor. But one day Simon says he realised he was actually in a cult, and he had no choice but to pack his bags and run. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Catrin meets Simon, a former recruiter for Lighthouse who fled the group. The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
7. Us And Them	20230405	20230517 (R4) 20230822 (R4) 20230823 (R4)	The people inside cults aren't the only ones whose lives are transformed. There's also the family members and friends, who are left behind. When Jeff left Lighthouse, he quickly found there was a whole community with loved ones still part of the organisation. Catrin meets a father who says it feels like his daughter is dead. Meanwhile there is an unexpected twist. There's been another investigation, in secret, and parallel to ours. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts There are still people inside Lighthouse - and we meet a father left behind. The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.
8. The Showdown	20230405	20230524 (R4) 20230829 (R4) 20230830 (R4)	It's the final showdown. The BBC team finds out there's been another investigation going on in parallel to their one. It's by the Government, who want Lighthouse shut down. Lighthouse International Group end up in court, and more than 20 team members crowd into the hearing room, squashed alongside the BBC as well as Jeff and Dawn. Catrin finally gets to put her questions to Lighthouse and their leader Paul Waugh, and a massive crowd piles down a central London street as she tries to get answers. What happens when a life coach takes over your life? Catrin Nye and her team expose control, intimidation and fear at a sinister life coaching company. Reporter: Catrin Nye Written by: Jamie Bartlett and Catrin Nye Producers: Osman Iqbal, Natalie Truswell, Ed Main & Jo Adnitt Researcher: Aisha Doherty Executive Producer: Ravin Sampat Sound Mixing: James Bradshaw Original Music by: Phil Channell Commissioner: Rhian Roberts Catrin finally confronts Lighthouse's leader as the organisation ends up in court. The sinister life coaching company that takes over your life. Catrin Nye investigates.