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World of Secrets

World of Secrets

Searching for Soldier Dad: 3. Ghosts

May 4, 2026 · 37 min · 23 segments

Cathy and Peter confront their demons. Their searches for their fathers take them to dark and desperate places. And back in London, it’s time to reveal the results of the DNA analysis, with…

Cathy and Peter confront their demons. Their searches for their fathers take them to dark and desperate places. And back in London, it’s time to reveal the results of the DNA analysis, with life-changing consequences. This episode contains references to suicide and self-harm, which some listeners may find upsetting. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org Searching for Soldier Dad is a BBC Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service. Please note, the image being used is for illustrative purposes only and the child depicted is a model. Presenter: Ivana Davidovic Series producer: Josephine Casserly Sound design: Tom Brignell Executive producer: Matt Willis Commissioning senior producers: Katy Davis and Anne Dixey Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

Cathy and Peter confront their demons. Their searches for their fathers take them to dark and desperate places. And back in London, it’s time to reveal the results of the DNA analysis, with…

Top entities: British people×21 Kenya×16 Mother×4 Nanyuki×13 London×9

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Ivana DavidovicHostPeterGuestCathyGuestJames NetoGuestMaggieGuestDenise Silrescum-CourtGuestKelvinGuest

Show signals: SuitabilitySensitiveBiasNot politicalPopularityVery Populartop 5%Audience≈451k followers

Birthday night and the shadow of a missing father2:04 – 4:05

M

2:04

I'll be the one to buy her the first drink.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:07

Yeah.

M

2:07

And it was at a-

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:08

The dance floor is bathed in red light.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:11

Green lasers cut through the dark.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:13

At the front, the DJ plays the latest Kenyan hits mixed with Nigerian Afrobeats.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:19

Everyone is dancing.

M

2:21

And she had cocktail.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:23

Oh.

M

2:23

Very big cocktail.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:25

Very big.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:26

Waitresses balancing trays of shots thread their way through the crowd.

M

2:30

And she was well-behaved.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:31

I'm a nice girl.

M

2:33

You're a nice girl.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:34

Yeah.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:35

Then, at a table right at the back, Maggie spots a group of British soldiers.

M

2:40

And I just hold my daughter hand, and I stop one of them and I say, "Hey-

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:44

She marches up to them with Cathy in tow.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:47

Yes, she pushed me like this.

M

2:48

She pushed you.

M

2:48

[laughs] Oh my God.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:49

With a mischievous grin, Maggie points at Cathy and tells them, "I've got something that belongs to you."

A

AdvertiserAd

2:55

I'm like, "Mom." Then she's like, "What? It's true." I'm like...

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:59

At first, the soldiers look confused.

British peopleEntityPeople
98%21 mentions
KenyaCountryCountry in East Africa
95%16 mentions
MotherEntity
92%4 mentions
NanyukiCityTown in Kenya
89%13 mentions
LondonCityCapital of England
86%9 mentions
LinkedInSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
83%11 mentions
BBCCompanyBroadcasting company
80%6 mentions
School bullyingEntity
77%3 mentions
FacebookSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
73%4 mentions
Erin AndrewsPersonAmerican sports commentator and TV personality
70%4 mentions
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
67%9 mentions
BBC World ServiceCompanyRadio network
64%4 mentions
ChildEntity
61%3 mentions
Befrienders WorldwideCompany
58%1 mention
CARFAXCompanyIT company
55%5 mentions
OptimismEntity
52%1 mention
FatherEntity
48%5 mentions
YorkshirePlaceArea in England
45%2 mentions
World Wide WebEntity
42%1 mention
NarrationEntityLiterary genre
39%1 mention
EuropeContinentContinent
36%1 mention
GhostsTV SeriesSitcom
33%1 mention
GodEntitySupreme being
30%2 mentions
British ArmyOrganizationMilitary
27%2 mentions
EnglandCountryUK constituent country
23%2 mentions
Microsoft PowerPointSoftware ApplicationSoftware
20%2 mentions
EnglishEntitySpoken language
17%1 mention
St. Paul's CathedralPlace of WorshipCathedral in London, England
14%1 mention
Matt WillisPersonSinger and songwriter
11%1 mention
Northwestern EuropePlaceRegion
6%1 mention
ScotlandCountryUK constituent country
6%1 mention
WhatsAppSoftware ApplicationWeb site
2%1 mention

FamilySociety
ParentingSociety > Family
FatherhoodSociety > Family > Parenting
Mixed-Race IdentityCulture > Identity
Mental HealthHealth
Society
MediaEntertainment
DepressionHealth > Mental Health
StorytellingEntertainment > Media > Documentary
Personal NarrativesEntertainment > Media > Documentary > Storytelling
Military FamiliesMilitary
Absentee FathersSociety > Family > Parenting > Fatherhood
Self-HarmHealth > Mental Health > Depression
DocumentaryEntertainment > Media
Suicidal IdeationHealth > Mental Health > Depression > Self-Harm
Societal PerceptionsCulture > Identity > Mixed-Race Identity
Racial DiscriminationCulture > Identity > Mixed-Race Identity > Societal Perceptions
British SoldiersMilitary > Military Families
Colonial LegacyMilitary > Military Families > British Soldiers
Cultural ImpactMilitary > Military Families > British Soldiers > Colonial Legacy
IdentityCulture
Health
Entertainment
Military
Culture

Birthday night and the shadow of a missing father2:04 – 4:05

M

2:04

I'll be the one to buy her the first drink.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:07

Yeah.

M

2:07

And it was at a-

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:08

The dance floor is bathed in red light.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:11

Green lasers cut through the dark.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:13

At the front, the DJ plays the latest Kenyan hits mixed with Nigerian Afrobeats.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:19

Everyone is dancing.

M

2:21

And she had cocktail.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:23

Oh.

M

2:23

Very big cocktail.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:25

Very big.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:26

Waitresses balancing trays of shots thread their way through the crowd.

M

2:30

And she was well-behaved.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:31

I'm a nice girl.

M

2:33

You're a nice girl.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:34

Yeah.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:35

Then, at a table right at the back, Maggie spots a group of British soldiers.

M

2:40

And I just hold my daughter hand, and I stop one of them and I say, "Hey-

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:44

She marches up to them with Cathy in tow.

A

AdvertiserAd

2:47

Yes, she pushed me like this.

M

2:48

She pushed you.

M

2:48

[laughs] Oh my God.

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:49

With a mischievous grin, Maggie points at Cathy and tells them, "I've got something that belongs to you."

A

AdvertiserAd

2:55

I'm like, "Mom." Then she's like, "What? It's true." I'm like...

I

Ivana DavidovicHost

2:59

At first, the soldiers look confused.

What Radar found in this episode

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Clips

3 of 8

EMOTIONAL0:49
Pleading With A Ghost
A mother begs the absent father
SHOCKING0:37
We Found Your Dad
After months waiting, the call lands
EMOTIONAL0:30
Peter Says "Dad" At Last
A first conversation bridges decades

+5 more clips · 5 min 40 sec of audio in all

Topics

7 of 25

Family
Parenting
Fatherhood
Mixed-Race Identity
Mental Health
Society
Media
+18 more

Related episodes

Searching for Soldier Dad: Ep 1. Love storyThe Documentary Podcast
Searching for Soldier DadFile on 4 Investigates

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