Channel 4's John Smyth documentary: Distressing, horrendous, moving

Rebecca Chapman  |  Features
Date posted:  11 Dec 2025
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Channel 4's John Smyth documentary: Distressing, horrendous, moving

Anne Smyth. Source Passion Pictures

The following content relates to disturbing and horrific crimes of abuse and could be both upsetting and triggering.

It has been just over a year since the Makin Review was published.

The review into the Church of England's response to allegations of abuse by the late John Smyth had been a long time coming, and it was expected to be challenging reading. And it was. Devastating and horrific. Having read the full report and annexes for en when it was initially published, along with every Cathy Newman interview on the subject to date, I had thought that we were reaching the "no stone left unturned" stage.  

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