BBC series “Hold the Front Page” lifts lid on legendary journalism scoops

A new BBC One Northern Ireland documentary series is set to reveal the gripping inside stories behind some of the most dramatic journalistic scoops in UK and Irish media history.

Titled Hold the Front Page, the three-part series produced by Rare TV for BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer brings together some of the most respected names in investigative journalism to reflect on the stories that defined their careers—and shaped the news agendas of a nation.

Launching on Monday 19 May at 10.40pm, the series begins with one of the most explosive sporting sagas ever to rock Irish football: Roy Keane’s abrupt departure from Ireland’s 2002 World Cup squad. In Episode One, journalists Stephen Watson of BBC Northern Ireland and Tony O’Donoghue and Gabriel Egan of RTÉ recount the chaos that unfolded in Saipan.

At the centre of the drama was a heated confrontation between Keane and Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, stemming from deep disagreements about training standards and facilities. The dispute ultimately led to Keane being sent home in a move that stunned fans and dominated headlines.

Watson and his fellow reporters, initially in Saipan to follow Ireland’s World Cup campaign, found themselves covering a breaking news story of seismic proportions. Through a mix of determined journalism, pivotal interviews, and a timely tip-off from a hotel porter, they were able to piece together the truth behind the fallout.

The second episode, Canoe Man Disappeared, revisits the bizarre and unforgettable case of John Darwin, the British man who faked his own death at sea in 2002, only to reappear five years later claiming amnesia. With only his canoe washing up on shore and no body ever recovered, Darwin was declared dead.

Journalists from the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail waged a fierce race to uncover the truth, trailing Anne Darwin, the so-called “Canoe Widow”, across the globe. Their relentless pursuit helped reveal the extraordinary deception orchestrated by the Darwins—captivating a nation and earning its place as one of the most shocking fraud stories in modern UK history.

In the concluding episode, Investigating Iris Robinson, the series delves into the political and personal scandal that rocked Northern Ireland’s highest office.

BBC Spotlight journalists Darragh MacIntyre, Mary McKeagney, and Imelda Lynch recount how a tip-off about financial irregularities linked to an extramarital affair involving Iris Robinson, wife of then-First Minister Peter Robinson, led to a major political storm.

The investigation exposed claims that Mrs Robinson had solicited £50,000 from property developers to fund her lover’s café business. The revelations, unearthed through careful and courageous reporting, sent shockwaves through Stormont and made headlines across the UK.

Speaking ahead of the series launch, Rare TV said:

“Hold the Front Page tells the inside story of how some of the UK and Ireland’s leading journalists uncovered their most famous scoop, defining their careers and shaping the national news agenda.”

Hold the Front Page offers a rare glimpse into the real work of reporters at the coalface of breaking news—unpacking not just the stories themselves, but the tense moments, ethical dilemmas and instinctive decisions that drive world-class journalism.

The series promises to be essential viewing for anyone interested in the power of the press and the behind-the-scenes work that brings extraordinary stories into the public eye.

Hold the Front Page airs Monday 19 May at 10.40pm on BBC One Northern Ireland and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.