Fairy Meadow

BBC Radio 4

In 1970, three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer was taken from an Australian beach. No-one knows what happened. Fifty years on - can the mystery be solved?

11 Episodes

10. Case Closed?
9/29/2025
32:04
Jon Kay returns with an update on his investigation into the disappearance of Cheryl Grimmer from a beach in New South Wales, Australia in January 1970.In this episode, Jon follows up some of the many emails from listeners who got in touch after the podcast came out - including potential witnesses who think they might have important information.In this episode, Jon hears their stories and find out what response they’ve had from the police.And he catches up with Cheryl’s family, as they step up their campaign for justice.Presented by Jon Kay, original music composed by Elizabeth Purnell, and produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Chris Ledgard
9. A New Lead
11/20/2023
34:49
Jon Kay updates his investigation into the disappearance of 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer from an Australian beach in 1970. Cheryl's family are determined to get her case back into court.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard
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8. The Girl With Blonde Hair And Blue Eyes
2/2/2022
26:21
It's the 50th anniversary of Cheryl's disappearance and the police have an announcement to make.Fairy Meadow is presented by BBC News correspondent Jon Kay Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music by Elizabeth Purnell Studio engineer, Jacques Sweeney Editor, James Cook
7. Mercury's Story
1/26/2022
25:49
Jon tries to approach Mercury to hear his side of the story.Producer: Chris Ledgard Music: Elizabeth Purnell Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney Editor: James Cook
6. The Walk Through
1/26/2022
26:32
Frank has left the police but can't let go of Cheryl's story. Jon Kay continues to investigate what happened to 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer, who vanished from a beach New South Wales, Australia more than 50 years ago.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music: Elizabeth Purnell Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney Editor: James Cook
5. A Judgement
1/26/2022
24:57
Two years after he's arrested and charged with abducting Cheryl Grimmer, Mercury appears in court in Sydney. BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay continues his investigation into Cheryl's story.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music is by Elizabeth Purnell Jacques Sweeney is the studio engineer and the editor is James Cook
4. I Was Never There
1/19/2022
33:35
Nearly half a century after 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer goes missing from an Australian beach, the police make an arrest. Meanwhile, Ricki heads to the other side of the world. BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay meets him in Bristol, where he visits his old family home and catches up with his British relatives as the trial looms.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music: Elizabeth Purnell Studio Engineer: Jacques Sweeney Editor: James Cook
3. Somebody of Interest
1/19/2022
20:17
The Grimmer family have always hung on to the idea that somehow Cheryl might still be alive. Then, out of the blue, Ricki gets a call from the police which seems to put an end to their hopes. BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay continues his investigation into the disappearance of 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer from an Australian beach in 1970. He meets one of the two detectives involved in a cold case review. There's someone the police want to talk to.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music: Elizabeth Purnell Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney Editor: James Cook
2. A Ransom Note
1/11/2022
29:03
The Grimmer family are thousands of miles from home, and the Fairy Meadow migrant hostel is a lonely place in the days after Cheryl's disappearance. Then a note arrives from someone claiming to be the kidnapper. There's a rendezvous and a demand for cash... BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay continues his investigation into the abduction of 3 year old Cheryl Grimmer from a beach in New South Wales, Australia in 1970. Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music: Elizabeth Purnell Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney Editor: James Cook
1. When the Wind Changed
1/11/2022
27:57
The Grimmer family moved from the UK to Australia in 1969. They were "ten pound poms" - part of a huge wave of migration down under. Months later, Three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in New South Wales. She was never seen again. In the moments before she vanished, she was being looked after by her oldest brother, Ricki. He was just seven. This is the story of that day, and of its impact in the months, years and decades that followed. It's Ricki's story - his desperate search for answers, and his battle with guilt. And it's the story of an extraordinary police enquiry that was dramatically re-started almost 50 years after Cheryl was taken.BBC News Correspondent Jon Kay has been investigating the case in Australia and in the UK since 2016. With exclusive access to the family and the investigating officers, he begins an eight-part exploration of this moving, gripping tale.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Chris Ledgard Music: Elizabeth Purnell Studio engineer: Jacques Sweeney Editor: James Cook

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Fairy Meadow

BBC Radio 4

11 Episodes

10. Case Closed?

9. A New Lead

8. The Girl With Blonde Hair And Blue Eyes

7. Mercury's Story

6. The Walk Through

5. A Judgement

4. I Was Never There

3. Somebody of Interest

2. A Ransom Note

1. When the Wind Changed