In this week’s newsletter: Hear the gripping, tragic yet funny story of Alan Cooper and his dolphin friend in Hooked on Freddie. Plus: five of the best podcasts rewriting history
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Hooked on Freddie
Widely available, episodes weekly
“An indecent act, a sexual act: man … and dolphin.” So runs this podcast’s summary of the wild 1990 scandal it follows. Freddie the dolphin delighted locals in a Northumberland town and developed a special bond with an animal activist, who spent all his time swimming with him – until he was accused of “masturbating” the dolphin, arrested, put on trial and dragged across the tabloid front pages. It’s funny, tragic and gripping all at once. Alexi Duggins
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