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Hello, it's Matt. Now, just a quick note before we begin. You may have seen that Russia is in the news a lot at the moment.

There are concerns that Putin is about to invade Ukraine, and that's adding to a general level of anxiety that is always around the Russian President.

So, we think it's a great time to revisit the first series we did on British scandal.

It's about Alexander Litvinyenko, the former Russian spy poisoned in broad daylight in the center of London.

It follows his wife's mission to bring justice for a murdered husband and her attempts to take down Putin and his cronies.

Now, this was the first series of British scandal we recorded, so enjoy listening back to Alice and I figuring out how the hell to tell a story about a tragedy that does contain some fascicle elements.

Anyway, here it is. Hope you enjoy.

Okay, Matt, do I have a story for you? Alice, I'm all ears.

Okay, it's got everything. Conspiracy, corruption, murder, fast.

That's quite a lot of things. Yeah, I know. It's quite a rollercoaster. One of the reasons I also love the story is it's in London in the mid-2000s.

This was my era. We're talking Nokia phones, my space, my humps by Black Eyed Peas.

Absolutely, tune. Boot cut jeans. I think I still wear them.

You shouldn't with your cards. You should be showing those off.

But what I didn't know was that on the very same streets, the most unbelievable Russian spy story was unfolding.

I can't wait to hear this. We'll buckle up. You are in for a ride.

Let's go.

It's 2.30 in the morning on an autumn night in 2006. Inside a townhouse in London's Muzzwell Hill, Marina Lippe Nchenko wakes with a start.

She's 44 years old with clear blue eyes and neatly cut blonde hair. Usually she has an air of calm about her.

But not tonight. She can hear her husband Sasha throwing up again.

I feel a deep sense of dread. It's for boating, isn't it? Marina sits up. She can't remember him ever being ill.

He's 43 years old and at peak fitness. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke.

...