ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Use ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.com or the new ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ App to listen to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Episode details

Radio Manchester,30 Sep 2025,34 mins,

Series Sanctuary: An Act of Defiance

2. Inside the Sanctuary

In Detail...
Contains strong language.

Available for over a year

Viraj imprisons himself in the Manchester Church and doesn’t step a foot outside. He lives in the vestry and forms a bond with Father John and his family. No one knows how long he will stay there. A team of supporters form the Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign and watch over him 24 hours a day, every day. The media descends to cover the story starting a culture war that will directly challenge Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s authority. Presenter: Father Azariah France-Williams. Producer: Jen Dale. Sound design: Kasel Kundola. Online producer: Rachael Smith. Executive producer: Ciaran Tracey. Additional sound recording by Seb Rabas, Graham Kirk and Jan Seebeck. Original material recorded and licensed by Big City Nights. Executive editor: Andrew Bowman. Commissioning editor: Alistair Miskin. Photograph of Viraj Mendis: Paul Mattsson. Audio from VMDC campaign video: Revolutionary Communist Group.

Programme Website
More episodes