Teacher’s Pet podcast downloaded 17 million times

The Australian’s podcast series The Teacher’s Pet has passed 17 million downloads.

The Teacher's Pet podcast has passed 17 million downloads.

The Australian’s podcast series The Teacher’s Pet has passed 17 million downloads since its release in May, putting it in the same company as some of the world’s most popular true-crime podcasts.

The podcast, by national chief correspondent Hedley Thomas, traces the story of missing Sydney mother Lynette Dawson, who disappeared from her home on Sydney’s northern beaches 36 years ago.

The podcast has raised questions about the investigation of the case and inspired witnesses who did not go to police at the first opportunity to divulge new facts.

In 2001, and again in 2003, coroners found Dawson was murdered by a “known person”, her husband, Chris. But Mr Dawson has never been charged and maintains his ­innocence.

The podcast, which comprises 14 episodes to date, has remained at the top of the Australian iTunes chart since May 18, and has also reached No 1 in the US, Canada, Britain and New Zealand.