Gisèle Pelicot: Why I made my trial public, read by Emma Thompson - The Saturday Story

Gisèle Pelicot: Why I made my trial public, read by Emma Thompson - The Saturday Story

Author: The Times February 21, 2026 Duration: 18:51

After her horrific rape ordeal, Gisèle Pelicot did not want a public trial. But, in an exclusive extract from her new book, she reveals why she changed her mind.


This episode is from the audiobook A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot, read by Emma Thompson.


Read by: Emma Thompson.

Producer: Dave Creasey.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com

Read more: ‘I saw him rape me. My body tortured, cast unconscious into the pit of men’

Photo: Getty Images.

Further information: Published in hardback by Bodley Head on Feb 17 at £22.

To order a copy of A Hymn to Life go to timesbookshop.co.uk.

Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25.

Special discount available for Times+ members World Europe.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
AI Very British Revolution! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:15
As a bonus episode, we’re bringing listeners of The Story an episode from the Tech Podcast from The Times.The Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, joins the pod to discuss the British Government's 'AI Opportunities Action P…
A shaky ceasefire in Gaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:16
There was widespread jubilation at the announcement that a deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire in Gaza. Netanyahu's government is still to formally approve the deal that would bring to an end 15…
What’s behind the rise in knife crime on our streets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:58
Analysis of a decade’s worth of sentencing data across England and Wales between 2013 and 2023 has revealed a worrying uptick in knife crime nationwide. For the first time, the contents of more than 4.7 million lines of…
The Government’s anti-corruption minister resigns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
Tulip Siddiq, Labour’s anti-corruption minister, has resigned after reporting by the Sunday Times revealed that she resided in a series of properties bought by associates of her aunt, the now deposed leader of Bangladesh…
'We’re praying for mercy here': Escaping the LA inferno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:20
As LA continues to battle its worst fires in history, the political blame game has started, with Donald Trump accusing California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, of caring more about fish than people. We’ll explain.This podcas…
Blake Lively v Justin Baldoni [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
Having made a multi-million dollar film together, Hollywood stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are now trading muti-million dollar lawsuits over what did (or didn’t) happen on set and during the promotional tour for I…
Donald Trump’s imperial ambitions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
The US president-elect has sparked a series of diplomatic rows after saying he was willing to use military or economic force to take control of Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada. How seriously should we take Donald…
The journalist who exposed Britain’s grooming gangs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:35
Elon Musk has unleashed a huge political row in the UK over whether there should be a national inquiry into the gangs that groomed young girls for rape in a number of Britain's northern towns. But whilst the world's rich…