Summary
Kieran Quinlan is 17, living in Birmingham and an aspiring boxer when he is confronted by a man with a knife who tells him to empty his pockets. Kieran is given a countdown, 3…2…1… and then it happens, he is stabbed — the knife reaching his heart. In surgery, he hears himself flatline. He survives but the wound leaves scars that penetrate deep into his life. It’s in the years that follow that the fight for survival really begins. Twelve years on, he tells his story to Dr Sian Williams.
Please be warned there are some graphic images described in this episode and reference to suicide.
If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard you can find support here: Mental health: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health-self-harm Suicide/Emotional distress: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4WLs5NlwrySXJR2n8Snszdg/information-and-support-suicide-emotional-distress
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello, I'm Greg Jenner. I'm the host of Your Dead to Me, where the best names in comedy and history |
| 0:05.5 | join me to learn about and laugh at the past. You are a traitor. And in the new series, we'll meet |
| 0:11.2 | Aristotle. I think he might have been a time traveller. Someone who's like almost a glitch. |
| 0:15.3 | We'll dive into the causes of the British Civil Wars in the 1600s. In England at this period, |
| 0:19.8 | there's people can't get on the housing ladder. This sounds familiar. And we'll discover the arts and crafts movement. |
| 0:25.3 | I love the clothes. I love the vibe. Yes, we're a comedy show that takes history seriously |
| 0:29.3 | and then laughs at it. You're dead to me. Listen first on BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds, music, radio, |
| 0:36.9 | podcasts. Hello and welcome. I'm Dr. Sean Williams and this BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:38.1 | Hello and welcome. I'm Dr. Sean Williams, and this program is all about people who've experienced something that's turned everything on its head. |
| 0:47.5 | And today, we're meeting someone who encountered a moment both shocking and brutal, simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. |
| 0:56.7 | Happily, it became a more inspiring story. The man at the heart of it is Kieran Quinlan. Now 29. |
| 1:04.3 | 12 years ago, he was a young lad of 17, heading for a night out with his mates after a long day at work. |
| 1:11.1 | And Kieran's here. Hi. |
| 1:13.0 | How you doing? |
| 1:13.6 | Yeah, good. Good to see you. |
| 1:15.2 | You too. |
| 1:16.4 | Very different picture, though, 12 years ago. |
| 1:18.5 | So take us back first to that day, September the 25th, 2010. |
| 1:23.9 | How did it start for you? |
| 1:26.4 | So, I know it sounds cliche, but the day started like any other day. So |
| 1:31.2 | I went to work. I was working at Topman in town, so clothing shop for people who don't know. And yeah, |
| 1:37.6 | I was working. Come to 9 o'clock on the evening, finish my shift. And I got a text from one of my |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.