BBC Panorama has sparked intrigue after adding a one-hour special episode to the TV schedule next week covering an unknown topic.

The long-running current affairs program has been on air since 1953 and has lifted the lid on huge exposes including Scientology, sex crimes within the Vatican, and uncovering abuse within the care system. Earlier this week it was announced that a new instalment of Panorama will air on Monday, October 2 at 9pm - but the subject matter hasn't yet been revealed.

The official BBC page dedicated to Panorama simply states that the next episode will be a "special" edition of the investigative documentary. At the time of writing, the subject of the documentary is unknown causing speculation online to run rife with theories.

The only details on the BBC regarding the special include a very brief overview stating Panorama is an: “In-depth current affairs report covering a story behind the headlines.”

This comes after the explosive Channel 4 Dispatches investigative documentary Russell Brand: In Plain Sight aired following a three year joint investigation with The Sunday Times and The Times. Brand, 48, was accused of sexual assault by a number of women and he vehemently denies all accusations.

Brand said at the time: "These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies. And as I've written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous. Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual. I was always transparent about that.

"Then almost too transparent, and I'm being transparent about it now as well. And to see that transparency metastasized into something criminal that I absolutely deny makes me question, is there another agenda at play? “

In the wake of the investigations, more women have stepped forward to make accusations about the comedian. The Metropolitan police have confirmed they are investigating some of the claims.

A Met Statement read: "Following an investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Sunday Times, the Met has received a number of allegations of sexual offences in London. We have also received a number of allegations of sexual offences committed elsewhere in the country and will investigate these."

No arrests have been made.

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