Sherlock & Co. - A Scandal in Bohemia - Part One

Episode Date: May 13, 2025

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT - Our previous case had led us to an Opera singer by the name of Irene Adler. There seemed to be this double life at play. An esteemed stage performer with a warm social presence, versus that cool knife-wielder in Milverton's bedroom. It was time to see who was the real Irene Adler. Part 1 of 5PREVIOUS ADVENTURE INFO: Charles Augustus Milverton was a master in blackmail and had, in his property, a drive containing a trove of scandalous data that he used to build his empire. I unfortunately punched him in the face while having a fairly fraught first meeting with him. While breaking into his home for a client we hid in a closet and witnessed a woman who he referred to as 'Adler' stab him, take the drive and flee. He was then finished off with a gunshot to the head by some unknown man. This episode contains swearing. Listener discretion is advised. For merchandise and transcripts go to: www.sherlockandco.co.uk For ad-free, early access to adventures in full go to www.patreon.com/sherlockandco To get in touch via email: [e-mail] Follow me @DocJWatsonMD on twitter and BlueSky, or sherlockandcopod on TikTok, instagram and YouTube.  This podcast is property of Goalhanger Podcasts. Copyright 2025. SHERLOCK AND CO.Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan DoylePaul Waggott as Dr. John Watson Harry Attwell as Sherlock Holmes Marta da Silva as Mariana Ametxazurra Kevin Exley as DavidMyles Le Blanque as Langdale Pike Lauren Hall as Daisy Norton Al Murray as Mark Merrilow Jasmine Kerr as Eugenia Ronder Ant McGinley as DI Tom Gregson Additional voices Adam Jarrell Joel Emery Romy Emery Written by Joel Emery Directed by Adam Jarrell Editing and Sound Design by Holy Smokes Audio Produced by Neil Fearn and Jon Gill Executive Producer Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For just £6 a month, binge ad-free adventures in full and have access to so much more over at Patreon.com forward slash Sherlock and co. First off, this never happens, but if you were planning on listening to this self-contained, you will need some detail from the Charles Augustus Milverton case. I will put that in the episode description rather than saying it here, because hey, you could also go and listen to Charles Augustus Milverton first and then you're all set, aren't you? Erm...

Right. Yes, now, I have to be careful what I can and can't say because, yeah, police and all that, so, yeah, welcome to a scandal in Bohemia. This adventure is a whopping, well, semi-whopping five parts, all available at Patreon. Yeah, it has swearing, it has sexual references, it's... yeah, it's something. It's something. Strap in, everybody. Enjoy. Hopefully that is vague enough for British law enforcement and enticing enough for our audience. Let's see. Good luck, everyone. You'll never survive me, Anna! You'll never survive me, Anna! What do you want? No! Please, Jack!

What do you want? Sherlock. Sherlock! Hmm? What do you want? Want, Watson. Yes, want. What do you want? What do I want? There is a mighty weight in the tiny question, Dr Watson.

Drops of Jupiter? What? It's a song by Train, drops of... yeah. No, I like that. A drop of Jupiter. So small, but so... massive. Okay, what do you want? I want...

...that...other me. That me that could have been... ...that me that deviated from this form I now am. He is out there, Watson. In an office. Or working in a shop, perhaps on the stage or in a lab. The other me. So...

I want. I want peace. I want to curtail the unceasing tick of notions and the tock of scrutiny that grinds at a constant rhythm through every vessel, pore and gland in my body that presses my bones and gnaws into my marrow. I want rescue and relief from the descending troop of incessant computation that encircle and close in on that last quiet place inside me, Watson. A sheltered nook within that harbours this valiant dissident of tranquillity, of peace, of rest. And I want a tea, I think.

Yes, tea. Not coffee? No, I think not Watson. Okay, tea, fine. But... Mm-hmm? Then there is that impending storm of doubt, John. I feel the dankness of its approach,

that sultry, heavy herald of a tempest, that suffocates my certainty. Mm-hmm. The wind vane of decision twitches ever so subtly, whining as the worn iron pivots and reorients me. In a billow of conviction, my mind emigrates across the sodden marsh of equivocation to a new land. A sunlit world of revelation. So coffee then? Yep. Right.

My name is Dr John Watson. Once of the British Army Northumberland Fusilier Regiment, now a true crime podcaster based in central London. I don't have much experience in criminology, so this is mostly a record of how I met possibly the most brilliant and bizarre person I have ever and will ever know. Join me as I document the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Just a question. Why are you dressed as a Sainsbury's employee? Can I see some ID please, boss? Oh, you know how old I am. If you don't present some identification, can I ask that you put those beers to one side?

Sherlock, can you please just... One side? Sherlock, can you please just... One moment. Sherlock... oh god save me. Approval needed. Is the... excuse me, hi, hi, can you... or just look away, I suppose, that's fine. Hello? Can you help? My colleague will be right over.

Approval needed. Yeah, he doesn't work here, he doesn't... he's useless, absolutely useless. Can I help? Just stop. Everything alright, my guy? Don't, just... Can you tell a real employee to authorise me, please? I.D.

Fine, fine. Ah... There. Is this you in the picture? Ha ha ha. Ha. Funny. Cool, let me just authorise that.

This feels illegal. Where did you get that? Did you take that from an actual Sainsbury's employee? Have a great day, boss. Uhhh... God! Hey, it's the Merrillos. Merrillos! Oh, Johnny Boy. Yeah, good mate, good. Oh, I know you.

Hiya, Eugenia. Hello, John. You're looking well. Oh, not nearly as well as you. How's life? It's perfect. Oh yeah? Well, Mark nearly as well as you. How's life? It's perfect. Oh yeah? Mark doesn't look so sure.

She keeps stealing all the bloody biscuits. That's why. We've got to run, mate. Yeah, of course. Of course. Well, I'll see you soon, you lot. Bye bye, Mr. Duff Duff. Hey John, it's Gregson again. Just wanna have that chat when you get a chance. Know you're busy. Alright, cheers pal. Hey Arch, Archduke, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. No, that's not a nice name for you is it Archie boy. Hey, I think I might have to get some breakfast on my chum chummer. And yes, there will be bacon.

There will be bacon! I don't know if Daniel Day-Lewis actually shouts there will be blood, but that little fluffy mate was an impression of Daniel Day-Lewis. Did you replenish the coffee? Jesus Christ! Everything alright, Watson? How did you get back here before me? Get back here?

I don't follow. I've been in my room all morning. Oh, do me a favour. Anything for my dear Watson? What's the favour? Stop messing around, okay? How did you get back here before me? I don't know what you're talking about.

I know that was you in Sainsbury's. Perhaps I have a doppelganger. Another me. Another life I deviated from. Perhaps you have brain damage. That is rather cruel. The disguises. Come on, what's the point to all this? Do you need help with the shopping? Is that the problem?

Have I read the situation incorrectly? I apologise. Must be the autism. Must be the... You are... Everything all right... Stop! Stop it! the... Haha, you are... Everything will work. Stop, stop it. Just... what are you doing? You can't shout at me. I'm neurodiverse. I will summon the mob of the awoken. It's the woke mob.

What's the difference? Please, I am asking nicely now. Include me in the... whatever it is. Why... why are you incessantly changing disguises over and over and over again? Can I have further examples to that accusation? The estate agent, right? You showed a couple around this flat on Tuesday. Did I? Yes! Daniel and Lizzie.

Weren't they delightful? Aha! See? It was you. Bugger! You idiot. You are the stupidest genius I have ever met. Stupid? I think you'll find they made me an offer. But the flat is not for sale! Not with that attitude it isn't. I'm just... you... Right, you're an estate agent,

then you're checking my ticket on the tube, then you're trying to get me to sign up to a charity, then you're pouring me a pint, and then you're offering me a new life insurance policy. It was income protection insurance. You weren't paying attention. Ah, please explain. Let me into the tent. What tent?

It's an expression. To be inside the tent pissing out, rather than outside the tent pissing in. Ugh, that's hideous. Yeah, well, what would you prefer? I would like you to be in the figurative tent and to urinate outwards. Thank you. So, explain. I have a hunch. What is the hunch?

That disguises will be required for our upcoming case. What do you mean by upcoming? Is a client paid a retainer? No. Then what? What do you mean? The woman. Oh, not this. No. You wish to piss? Do you not, Watson?

Sherlock. Hey. Watson, come into the tent. Open your trousers and we shall urinate together. Um... It's an expression. Sure. Sherlock's doing it again. I don't want to know.

No, not... he's doing disguises. Sherlock? I'm neurodiverse. Stand back or I'll deplatform you. Prepare to be cancelled. I wish I bloody was deplatformed. I wouldn't have to share it with you. God's sake. Why are you doing these disguises?

He thinks it's for a client. What client? You told me to hold off on the Atkinson brothers. The woman. I'm going to speak with her. Sherlock, listen to me, okay? You cannot have your cake and eat it too. I'm not hungry.

Actually, what kind of cake is it? Expression. Oh. You either come forward as a witness to the murder, right? And work with the police on that. We know Lestrade wants cooperation, don't we, John? Yep. Or if it is what you think, it's too dangerous, okay?

It's too risky to come out and put the company on this case. So we leave it to the police. We move on. We get other cases. Dutch royalty remembers. Still an option, right, Mary? Yep. Still an option. I do not make my decisions based on fear or any other emotion for that matter. I am not saying you're scared. I have a precise and balanced mind. I am the

most perfect reasoning and observing machine the world has ever seen. I do not allow such inclusions into my own delicate and finely adjusted temperament and if I was to introduce a distracting factor it might throw doubt upon all my mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument or a crack in a high-powered lens would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a sensitive instrument or a crack in a high-powered lens would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as mine. Graham got stuck behind the toilet yesterday and you nearly had a panic attack. That's different. Is it? Felt pretty emotional to me. That's my personal

life. This is work. The woman has not paid us a penny. The woman would put us in an extremely awkward position with the Met. Okay? I mean, I already have to speak to Tom about punching a man who was later murdered. You know, I have zero interest in tiptoeing around this woman because you think she's something special. She is not special. Well, there we have it. But her treasure is Watson. You know that. I know that.

Sherlock, we don't know anything about her. Her name is Irene Adler. She's an opera singer, currently featuring in the Royal Opera House's Bohemia, a performance that the Telegraph referred to as beguiling beyond comprehension. Yeah, well, I've seen it. With you. And I didn't comprehend a bloody thing, so I think they're right about that. It is a reimagined homage to Pacini's masterpiece, Labo N. I don't care if it's a reimagined homage to England 5, Germany 1. I'm not going again.

Why? Because... Sherlock, this is just... John Scott Eccles. Yeah, Eccles. If he knew how mad this whole thing sent you, he'd be rolling in his grave, to be honest. Rolling? He was cremated. It's an expression! Oh shit! The kitchen... Oh my god, oh my god, the kitchen's on fire! What?!

John, don't go in there! John! I just have to... Wet a towel! John, get out of the kitchen! I've got to get to the sink. John! Ready?

Go wet a towel in the bathroom. Out of the flat! Now! Graham! Graham, come on you fool! Oh, I got you! Come on! Come on!

John! Alright, alright, I just have to go. I'm going to the bathroom. I'm going to the bathroom. I'm going to the bathroom. I'm going to the bathroom. I'm going in the bathroom. Out of the flat, now! Graham, come on you fool! Oh, oh, I got you! Come on, come on! John! Alright, alright, I'm just, um, I'm just grabbing something. No time for valuables! Just a second!

I'm very sorry, sorry. Okay, coming! Let's go! So the assessment is done, you can re-enter the property. Structurally the kitchen is all sand, but it's not a very nice place to be right now as you can imagine. So, have a chat with your landlord. Oh no, no, yeah, that's done. Sorted. Old fab, insurance is all good? Mm-hmm, all good.

Great stuff. So, the fire came from the op. Yeah, that's me. Completely my fault, really, sorry. Looks like it ignited this here. I just see... ashes. So, yeah, so if you look closely on some of the pieces of it, what's left of it? Salubritas et Industria. Is that Latin? Yes. Health and industry.

What the hell? Is this some kind of message? So it would seem. Who would speak to us through such flame? What does the flicker of its blaze reveal? Fire reveals many things. Many things. Salubritas et Industria. Do you think this is about a case? It's the, erm...

It's the motto of Swindon Town Football Club. Your tea towel. Yep. Oh, the smell isn't as bad as I thought. Oh wow. What, is it bad? Oh, it's not great. Oh man. Our kitchen. Oh man...

Our kitchen... A distraction is needed I feel. Mariana, time for a case. Okay, come look downstairs. I was just reviewing a few of them. Go on Watson. Yeah, yeah, I just gotta put something back. I'm sorry. We can do the Dutch work. Oh God almighty please stop doing that. I owe you many favors John. It's time I started reimbursing them.

Oh yeah thank you. Dutch Royal Family. Mariana will arrange. Great stuff. Cool. Looking forward to it. Hi, this is Cathy Kay from The Rest Is Politics US. And this is Anthony Scaramucci. I've spent over two decades reporting from Washington. Presidents, while they come and go. The chaos, that never changes. And I've been inside the eye of the storm,

11 wild days in Trump's White House. I have seen how the sausage gets made and who's holding the knife. Yeah, that's not a nice image. But on the rest is politics, U.S. We break down the stories that are behind the headlines and we actually look at what they mean to America and the rest of the world as well. We're not just talking politics.

We're talking about power. We've got both of us, access, experience, and just enough cynicism to know when something smells a little off and how to trace it back to the source. No spin, no filter reporting the stories you won't hear anywhere else. If you want smart analysis, global context, and a front row seat to the world's loudest democracy, this is the show. It's from two people that have ringside seats, occasionally center stage, in a country where

court cases and campaign rallies share the same parking lot. The rest is politics, US. New episodes every week. Hello everyone. Currently in a black cab on our way to the Savoy. Looking pretty sharp aren't we gang? We try. Can't smell smoke in my hair anymore, so that's good. And yeah, this is, well definitely for me anyway, this is a first. Working for royalty, if we get the case. If they want us, of course, no pressure everyone. You have worked for royalty before?

I... have I? Our first case. Oh, yeah. Yeah, but I mean, I didn't get to meet them. They just threatened me down the phone in a creepy voice. So the plan here, I think, is we're meeting with a British envoy to the family who will tell us about their situation, their problem, I guess. Then once we have ideas and we brainstorm, I will make a kind of presentation.

And that will be sent to the family. Oh. So we're not actually meeting them today? No. Just the special envoy. Oh, what? I got all dressed up for a special envoy. You're still going to the Savoy? Yeah, but... I was excited then. And he's covering our drinks, if that makes you feel better. Well... yeah. Yeah, it does, actually.

Bit of Dutch courage, eh? Sure. Okay, here we are. Woo, swanky stuff. Mmm, yes, very nice. Lighting is particularly pleasing. John May, really need that chat. Everything OK? Yeah, yeah, just...

Gregson wants a chat. I just keep forgetting to call him back. Maybe I'll run and do that now. No, no, wait. I think I see him. Yeah, yeah, lead on, madam. David? Ah, Marianna. Hi, this is Sherlock and John. Hi.

Hello, mate. Fantastic. Great to meet you. Let's, tell you what, let's grab a table. Excuse me, could we... The relationship was a complex one, as I'm sure many are, but with the families involved it became heated. A lot of status, a lot of social standing at risk of toppling. And that put further strain on this young couple. So eventually, after the next big break up, things

start to trickle out. What sort of things? Well, I've been briefed in detail, but I'm only permitted to share key information that can aid our... well, your cause. Absolutely. Something has been stolen. By the boyfriend? Not quite.

By a disgruntled family member? We don't think so. It could be the work of some activists or perhaps a harmful media organisation. Foreign adversary, something like that. What did they take? The princess had her phone taken, albeit rather briefly. And she was messaged an intimate video she had made with her, with the boyfriend. We've spoken to the sender. He says it's the only file. He has the metadata, I believe it's called.

It's a play for leverage. There's no question about that. Blackmail. It could be something that gets a little more heated when Dutch elections take place. So, you see the problem? Well, goodness, I can't quite believe this, can you, Watson? I think it's safe to say we very much look forward to investigating this case would you like the metadata they sent yeah that

That won't be necessary no yeah, yeah, we're familiar with this recent spike in this particular area of crime Sherlock can I have a word you You wish to begin the investigation immediately? I understand. I suggest we track the missing hard data. You knew this case was tied to her and that fucking drive! Please don't swear, Watson. This is a high-class establishment.

God's sake! Let's embark for the Royal Opera House. I have the tickets here. Of course you do. We may be a tad on the early side, but I think surveying the location will have its benefits. Sherlock, no. Come. No!

I will have to hear good reason why, Watson. Because we are witnesses to a murder. The murder of a man who I punched in the face, hence why I've got a senior Met Inspector leaving me voice notes. Who? Gregson. He's not senior. Just, please, Sherlock.

Mate, come on, okay? This is a shit sandwich. On one side we've got the police, the other side we've got an unknown gunman. We are just stuck in the middle. The woman is the resolution to your predicament. It is a surname. Gargled out of a dying man's mouth.

It could be dozens of other women, Sherlock. Do you not think it wise that during this exceptional and extraordinary event where the most treasured and incriminating personal data, a trove of insidious blackmail has been seized that we, men of good faith and good intentions, take it back, secure it? No. I thought that would be enough for you to say yes. Oh, it was very nice. Yeah, but the last person who owned that drive got shot in the face, so I, funnily enough, I don't actually want it. And with access to it we could discover the identity of that cold-blooded killer Watson. There's a reason all these

stories aren't splashed all over the news right now Sherlock, and that's because that drive is probably encrypted or a fake. Then we must meet Adler to find out. Ah, man. If I'm right, and this poor opera singer has nothing to do with this apart from a surname, will you drop it? I shall. Then, let's go to the opera. Amor, amor. Not a word, did not get a single word of that. I thought it was beautiful. Yeah, because you understood it.

What happened at the end? Why did they go behind that door? It's symbolic of sex. Of what? Of sex. Of making love. Yeah, I know what sex is. You got that from them going through a door.

Shh! We could save the discussion and critique for after the performance. She's asking questions. I mean, if I had answers to these questions, maybe I'd enjoy it more. Did you ever think of that? Shh! Shh!

It's her. Oh wow. Okay, okay this. This is good. But... Quite something. So you get it, right? He killed her. What? Rudolph. Rodolfo.

No, Rodolfo did not kill her. It is about the slow death of love. It is a story about the energy and power of those early moments that pay bang of love whose energy eventually begins to simmer and settle to a background hum before cooling and dying slowly and noticed in the dark and only when it goes is it mourn for. So who killed her? John come on she just she's poor and can't afford to feed herself. Oh ah they're here. Who? Langdale. Oh Langdale yay. Sorry who is Langdale? Sherlock you've dragged me to the opera, how dare you? Oh, Three Gables!

You er, I wasn't, I was in the wrong headspace. Erm, hi, I'm John. Langdale Pike. Great to meet you. And you. Oh, and Mary Arner, look at you! Look at you, for goodness sake, the heat! I should have worn SPF 50.

Stop it! And my lovely detective, I hope you're not investigating a fashion crime because a rumour has it that someone has been frolicking around in some hideous deer stalker and I'd hate to see you behind bars. I was...what was I doing again? It was part of a brand building exercise. Was it? Indeed. Do you have a plan for me? To meet her? The Adler girl? Yes. I may have

a cobbled something together, yes. Tell me. We must get to her before she departs for the night. She's rather boring, Sherlock. What do you mean? Ever since you tickled my fancy on this little Jersey Shore pre-Madonna, Wiggins and I have been perusing her movements. A couple of peeping Thomases, he and I, craning over the garden fences of a London. And what have you discovered? That she does nothing of note. Ever.

Okay, now you've heard it from Langdale. Do you want to believe it or not? We saw her with Milverton. He spoke of her stage presence, he referred to her as Adler. By all means, track her yourself and watch her play Wurdel in her local Starbucks before hanging up her laundry and watching daytime television. I'm sure you'll be captivated. So no shady meetups, no other break-ins? Oh, if only! Don't look at me like that Watson, I know what I'm doing. How do I get to her dressing room? Wait you

want to go to her dressing room? We must speak with her. No one will notice you down there but to be safe two passes here. If spoken to you're from the Royal Opera House Board of Trustees. Your visit backstage is in advance of a committee meeting taking place on Monday. But don't worry, no one will stop you. We're with the Royal Opera House Board of Trustees and our visit backstage is in advance of the committee meeting taking place on Monday. Right, oh, okay. You're going to take a look at the soundproofing, yeah? Absolutely. Our top priority.

You know we've got a vocal warm-up room that bleeds audio into the wings? You do know that, don't you? It's unacceptable, isn't it? Yeah, it's a disgrace. Yeah mate, makes me sick. I think the committee would function best if we heard from the talent too. The talent? Oh, um. Here she is. One moment. Hello there, Irene. Oh, clothes. Goodness, it's rare I get fooled like that. You've got the Mozzetta costume? Half of it. Yeah. I'm Daisy Norton. First cover Mozzetta. Ah, right. Rather striking resemblance.

And singing voice. But Irene's got a little more razzle-dazzle. Right. And what room is she? Where would I find her? We're from the Board of Trustees. The one with Irene Adler, Mazzetta on it? Of course. Yes, of course.

And that's? Just down there. Thank you, thank you very much. Rudolpho. Mimi. Marcelo... Masetta... Right... Time to meet Miss Irene Adler.

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