Comedians including Katherine Ryan and London Hughes are being lined up to appear in a new true crime podcast – with a Drunk History style twist.

Drunk Women Solving Crime aims to live up to its title, with each weekly episode exploring a crime the guest has experienced; unravelling an historical crime in a quiz-style round; and solving a crime a listener has submitted – all after consuming enough alcohol to take the edge off.

Producer Amanda Redman, who has a 20-year career in radio, said:  We wanted to add a fun twist to the true crime craze, and tapping into the wealth of female talent in the UK plus adding some generously- poured cocktails brings a fresh take to the genre.’

The weekly comedy series has been created by comedians and writers Catie Wilkins, Hannah George and Taylor Glenn, who will take turns to host.

Wilkins, pictured, said the idea started from a pub discussion.  Over drinks we started sharing our own experiences of being victims of crime - and as women, there was plenty to talk about,’ she said.  ‘Then in turns we looked up historical crime cases and started quizzing each other on whether we thought the perpetrator was male or female, where the crime had taken place, what century it had occurred– that sort of thing. It was so much fun trying to "solve" the crimes, and it got funnier the more tipsy we became.’

Glenn, who is originally from the US and a former psychotherapist, added: ‘I’d stumbled upon some articles looking at how women are the biggest consumers of true crime, and that scientists were theorising that engaging with real crime stories paradoxically makes us feel more in control. There’s definitely something powerful about being allowed to find the humour in our own vulnerability.'

George added: ’We knew from the first episode with Katherine Ryan that we were really on to something. Each guest brings something different to the table and there’s always surprises, be it someone’s outrageous personal story or their secret drunk sleuthing skills." 

The personal crime stories range from the time Ryan was catfished by an ‘inflatophiliac’ while working at Hooters; when Hannah Warman fell asleep in an Uber and was driven around London unconscious and made to pay £70 for the privilege; or indie singer Nerina Pallot's childhood home being stormed by armed police to arrest a lodger suspected of drug trafficking.  

Drunk Women Solving Crime will launch on Acast and iTunes on September 5