Death of a Codebreaker

Death of a Codebreaker

Dr Sian Williams investigates the story of the Welsh codebreaker whose naked body was found inside a bag in his bath. Mystery still surrounds how and why Gareth Williams died.

Episodes

October 31, 2023 • 2 mins

Dr Sian Williams leads a team charting the story of the Welsh codebreaker whose naked and decomposing body was found inside a bag in his bath at his flat in Central London in August 2010.

Mystery still surrounds how and why Gareth Williams, from Anglesey, died - not least how he ended up inside the North Face sports bag in the first place. There were no fingerprints on the bag, on the padlock or in the bath.

Gareth’s death continues ...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Young Welshman Gareth Williams was a child prodigy who became a talented mathematician and codebreaker working for GCHQ, MI6 and the intelligence services but in the summer of 2010 he was found dead in a bag in the bath at his apartment in London. In this first episode Sian Williams looks at what we know about Gareth and reminds listeners of the bizarre nature and circumstances of his death.

Death of a Codebreaker is presented by Dr...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 7, 2023 • 28 mins

From the outset, one big question has haunted detectives looking into the death of young Welshman Gareth Williams. How could his body have ended up locked inside a relatively small bag in the bath at his apartment in Central London?! In this episode Dr Sian Williams hears from two people who have attempted to lock themselves inside a similar size holdall but with altogether different outcomes

Death of a Codebreaker is presented by D...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 14, 2023 • 28 mins

The inquest into codebreaker Gareth Williams' death threw up many still-unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding how he died. Here, Dr Sian Williams examines more closely some of the evidence that came to light during the eight-day hearing and, given the nature of the young Welshman's work for the security services, asks if we will ever know some of the most crucial detail! Journalist and executive producer Ashley B...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 21, 2023 • 28 mins

With so many unanswered questions, different theories about what exactly happened to young Welshman Gareth Williams in summer 2010 remain rife. One suggestion is that he was assassinated by a rogue state. A former KGB intelligence officer, an ex-Government Minister and the wife of murdered dissident Alexander Litvinenko all suspect Russian involvement. But would the Kremlin really go to such lengths?

Death of a Codebreaker is presen...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
November 28, 2023 • 28 mins

Young Welshman Gareth Williams was found naked inside a relatively small bag in his bath in 2010. And another theory is that he was the victim of a bizarre sex game gone wrong. There are suggestions he may have had an interest in Claustrophilia - pleasure derived from being in a confined space. But how much evidence is there? Here Dr Sian Williams looks at what we know and don't know about Gareth's private life.

Death of a Codebreak...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 5, 2023 • 28 mins

In the sixth and final episode of Death of a Codebreaker, Dr Sian Williams asks what justice for Gareth Williams would look like. She hears from Jim Frazer, the forensic scientist who carried out a review into the case 11 years ago as well Angela Gallop who has reviewed dozens of cold cases over the years. She asks if advances in DNA and scientific techniques could help detectives finally solve the mystery of how Gareth Williams di...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices