Episode 5: Sisters

New revelations in the extraordinary story of a teenage girl and her celebrity backed charity.Jamie Bartlett’s back to shed new light on to some of the questions he and producer Ruth Mayer were left with at the end of the series.After the final episode was released, people who knew the family got in touch offering to share missing pieces of the puzzle. So Ruth carried on the investigation, joined by a documentary team. For the past three years she’s been working on a new BBC2 TV series about Megan, her mother Jean and their charity “Believe in Magic.”Now she and Jamie can answer some of their lingering questions. What did Megan’s best friends see? What did Megan herself think about her illness? And, what is Jean doing now? But, above all, they wanted to know what really happened between Megan, Jean and the doctors. Insights come from a close family member who has been granted access to Megan’s medical records.The Mother of All Cons is out now on BBC two and iPlayer now in the UK. In the US you can find it on BBC Select and BBC.com as Believe in Magic: The Mother of All Cons.Believe in Magic is a BBC Studios production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan’s mother disappears, Jamie tries to track her down. Evidence published reveals a shocking conclusion. Finally, Jamie can give everyone involved some answers. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why did Megan and her mother set up Believe in Magic? Jamie investigates their link to pop megastars One Direction. He discovers crucial evidence is about to be published. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Revelations about Megan’s childhood provide vital clues. An expert tells Jamie about a little - understood yet disturbing medical phenomenon. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news creates shock waves. Could the sleuths have got it wrong? Jamie gains rare access to doctors’ reports, which could reveal what happened to Megan. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sleuths reveal their findings. Believe in Magic’s supporters defend Megan. Some terrible news breaks, that forces the sleuths to reconsider everything they’ve discovered. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan fundraises for treatment abroad. Her condition deteriorates while in hospital in America. When anonymous sleuths discover she’s not where she claims, who will believe them? This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teenage girl with a brain tumour starts a charity for sick children. It captures the support of pop megastars, One Direction. But questions arise - is Megan really ill? This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charity, celebrity, illness and control. The extraordinary story of a teenage girl and her charity Believe in Magic, which ends up challenging the very nature of sickness itself. This podcast is produced by BBC Studios, a commercial company that is wholly owned by the BBC.  No money from the licence fee was used to create this podcast. The money BBC Studios makes is re-invested to help fund the BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.