Hazel Martin: Scottish Journalist Behind Major BBC Investigations

Introduction

Hazel Martin is a Scottish journalist, television presenter and documentary maker working with BBC Scotland News. She is known for investigating difficult real-life stories, including unexplained deaths, criminal cases, alcohol-related illness and the misuse of rented homes.

Her best-known programmes include Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie?, Panorama: Binge Drinking & Me, The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder and Panorama: There’s a Gangster in My Flat.

Martin began her career in local radio before joining the BBC in 2018. She has since developed into a recognised investigative reporter whose work combines careful research, human stories and clear explanations.

Hazel Martin Quick Facts

Field	Verified Information
Full Name	Hazel Martin
Nationality	Scottish
Profession	Journalist, reporter, presenter and documentary maker
Current Organisation	BBC Scotland News
Career Start	Local radio in 2014
Joined the BBC	2018
Known For	Investigative reports and presenter-led documentaries
Major Programmes	Body on the Beach, Binge Drinking & Me and The Man in the Mask
Specialist Interests	Investigations, documentaries and original journalism
Professional Base	Scottish television and news media

Who Is Hazel Martin?

Hazel Martin is a Scottish journalist who reports on news, crime, public health and social issues.

She currently works at BBC Scotland News as a reporter, production journalist and television presenter. Her work often involves speaking to families, witnesses, medical professionals, investigators and people directly affected by major events.

Unlike presenters who only introduce a finished report, Martin often takes part in the investigation herself. She examines records, asks difficult questions and helps viewers understand complicated cases.

Readers interested in similar public-interest reporting can also explore the career of another British investigative journalist known for documentaries and serious BBC investigations.

How Did Hazel Martin Start Her Journalism Career?

Martin began working in journalism through local radio in 2014.

Local radio gave her experience in finding stories, interviewing members of the public and reporting events in a clear and timely way.

In 2016, she became a multimedia news and sports reporter for Tay FM. The position allowed her to work across different types of coverage rather than remaining focused on only one subject.

This early experience helped her develop the practical skills needed for television news, including research, writing, interviewing and working under strict deadlines.

When Did Hazel Martin Join the BBC?

Hazel Martin joined the BBC in 2018.

She first worked with The Nine, which was the flagship evening news programme created for the BBC Scotland television channel.

Her responsibilities later expanded across production and reporting. She continued working with BBC Scotland while developing a strong interest in documentaries, investigations and original stories.

As of July 2026, her official professional profile identifies her as a reporter, production journalist and television presenter at BBC Scotland News.

Hazel Martin’s Documentary Debut

Martin’s official profile states that she made her documentary debut through a BBC Disclosure production released in 2021.

BBC Disclosure is known for examining important Scottish public-interest subjects. Working in this area allowed Martin to move beyond short news reports and take part in longer investigations.

Documentaries require more detailed research than daily news. Reporters may spend weeks or months reviewing information, finding contributors and checking competing claims.

This type of work became an important part of Martin’s career.

Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie?

One of Hazel Martin’s most recognised projects is Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie?

The four-part documentary examined the unexplained death of Annie Börjesson, a Swedish woman whose body was discovered on Prestwick Beach in Scotland in December 2005.

Authorities initially treated Annie’s death as suicide or an accident. However, her family and friends continued to question the circumstances surrounding the case.

Martin investigated Annie’s final movements and spoke with people connected to her life and death. The programme examined her planned journey from Prestwick Airport, forensic questions and different claims that had developed around the case.

The series did not simply repeat theories. It tried to compare them with available evidence while showing the lasting effect of Annie’s death on the people who knew her.

Recognition for Body on the Beach

Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie? received recognition from the Royal Television Society in Scotland.

The programme was nominated in the Documentary and Specialist Factual category at the 2024 RTS Scotland Awards.

The nominated team included Hazel Martin, Liam McArdle, Lesley Shields, Mark Hedgecoe and Noor Abdel Razik.

Although the programme did not win the category, the nomination recognised the quality of its research, production and storytelling.

Panorama: Binge Drinking & Me

In 2024, Martin reported and presented the BBC Panorama programme Binge Drinking & Me.

The documentary examined why deaths caused by alcohol-related liver disease had risen among women under 40.

Martin approached the subject through her own publicly shared experience. She explained that she had experienced alcohol-related liver damage even though she had not considered herself dependent on alcohol.

The programme followed her conversations with doctors, patients and drinks-industry experts. It examined how social drinking, advertising and British binge-drinking culture can make harmful alcohol use appear normal.

Rogan Scotland produced the documentary for BBC Panorama, and BBC One broadcast it on November 25, 2024.

Why Binge Drinking & Me Was Important

The documentary helped explain that alcohol-related harm does not affect only people who see themselves as dependent drinkers.

Some people may drink heavily during weekends, celebrations or social events without understanding the possible long-term effects on their bodies.

By sharing her experience, Martin made the subject easier for viewers to understand. She used her own story as the beginning of a wider public-health investigation rather than making the programme entirely about herself.

Her reporting encouraged viewers to think more carefully about drinking habits, alcohol marketing and the signs of liver damage.

Britain’s Ketamine Crisis

Martin continued reporting on drug-related health issues through the BBC Panorama programme Britain’s Ketamine Crisis.

The investigation examined the growing recreational use of ketamine and the serious physical harm connected with frequent use.

The programme included the experiences of users and people receiving medical support. It also explored why the drug had become increasingly common among some young adults.

This project continued Martin’s pattern of combining personal accounts with expert information and wider social questions.

The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder

In 2025, Hazel Martin investigated another major Scottish criminal case in The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder.

The three-part BBC Scotland and BBC Two series examined the murder of Bangladeshi waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood, who was shot inside an Orkney restaurant in 1994.

Michael Ross was 15 at the time of the killing and was later convicted of the murder.

The documentary reviewed witness evidence, Ross’s background, his alibi and questions raised about the case. Martin also examined alternative claims and tested whether they were supported by reliable information.

All three episodes became available on BBC iPlayer on November 25, 2025, with television broadcasts following on BBC Scotland and BBC Two.

There’s a Gangster in My Flat

Martin’s official profile lists Panorama: There’s a Gangster in My Flat among her recent work in 2026.

The investigation examined cases in which criminals allegedly used false identities, references or documents to take control of rented properties.

Martin spoke with property owners and looked at possible weaknesses in the checks used during the rental process.

The subject showed that organised crime can affect ordinary homeowners and landlords without them immediately understanding what is happening.

The programme also expanded Martin’s reporting beyond crime cases and public health into housing, fraud and property security.

Hazel Martin’s Journalism Style

Hazel Martin’s reporting style is direct, calm and evidence-focused.

She often begins with a human story before exploring the wider issue. This helps viewers understand how a large public problem can affect an individual person or family.

Her documentaries commonly include:

• Interviews with affected people
• Evidence from specialists
• Reviews of official information
• Visits to important locations
• Explanations of competing claims
• Questions about how authorities handled a case

Her approach is similar to other modern BBC reporters who make difficult subjects understandable. A different example can be found in Spark Daily’s profile of a BBC cyber correspondent who investigates hackers and digital crime.

Awards and Professional Recognition

Martin has received several nominations connected with her journalism.

In 2022, she was nominated for the RTS Scotland Young Journalist Award, presented in memory of George Sinclair.

In 2024, Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie? was nominated in the Documentary and Specialist Factual category.

She was again listed as a nominee for the RTS Scotland Young Journalist Award in 2026, representing BBC Scotland. Gráinne Ní Ghréacháin of STV News North won the category.

These nominations show continued industry recognition of Martin’s reporting across different stages of her career.

Hazel Martin’s Current Role

As of July 2026, Hazel Martin works with BBC Scotland News.

Her work includes reporting, producing stories and presenting television programmes.

Her official professional profile states that documentaries, investigations and original journalism remain her main areas of interest.

Her career has developed from local radio reporting into national documentary work shown across BBC Scotland, BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Panorama.

Social Media and Public Presence

Martin uses the professional username @hazelreporting on social media.

Her public content mainly focuses on journalism, documentary production, current affairs and reports connected with her television work.

She does not appear to use her public platform mainly for celebrity-style lifestyle content. Her online presence remains closely connected with her work as a journalist and presenter.

Why Hazel Martin’s Work Matters

Hazel Martin reports on stories that are often complicated, sensitive or difficult to investigate.

Cases involving unexplained deaths, addiction, illness and criminal convictions can easily become surrounded by rumours. Responsible journalists must separate confirmed information from unsupported claims.

Martin’s documentaries aim to make serious issues understandable without removing their complexity.

Her work also gives affected people an opportunity to explain their experiences. Families, patients, homeowners and witnesses are not treated as background details. Their experiences often form the centre of the investigation.

Career Growth and Future Direction

Martin’s career shows a clear movement from local reporting into national investigative television.

She started in radio, moved into multimedia news and sports coverage, joined BBC Scotland and then developed presenter-led documentaries.

Her subjects have also become more varied. They include true crime, public health, drug use, property fraud and disputed criminal cases.

This range suggests that she is building a broad career in long-form investigative journalism rather than becoming linked with only one type of programme.

Conclusion

Hazel Martin is a Scottish journalist and documentary maker known for serious investigations on BBC television.

She began her career in local radio in 2014, worked for Tay FM and joined the BBC in 2018. Her television work later included Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie?, Binge Drinking & Me, Britain’s Ketamine Crisis, The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder and There’s a Gangster in My Flat.

Her reporting combines personal stories, expert evidence and careful questioning. Through this approach, she helps viewers understand difficult subjects while keeping attention on the real people affected by them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hazel Martin?

Hazel Martin is a Scottish journalist, BBC Scotland reporter, television presenter and documentary maker.

What is Hazel Martin famous for?

She is best known for presenting and investigating programmes such as Body on the Beach: What Happened to Annie? and Panorama: Binge Drinking & Me.

Does Hazel Martin work for the BBC?

Yes. As of July 2026, her official profile identifies her as a reporter, production journalist and television presenter at BBC Scotland News.

When did Hazel Martin join the BBC?

She joined the BBC in 2018 and initially worked with the BBC Scotland news programme The Nine.

What was Hazel Martin’s first documentary?

Her official profile states that her documentary debut was a BBC Disclosure production released in 2021.

What was Binge Drinking & Me about?

The BBC Panorama programme examined the rise in alcohol-related liver disease among women under 40. Martin also publicly shared her own experience of alcohol-related liver damage.

What happened in Body on the Beach?

The series investigated questions surrounding the 2005 death of Swedish woman Annie Börjesson, whose body was found on a beach near Prestwick in Scotland.

Has Hazel Martin received any awards?

She has received several Royal Television Society Scotland nominations, including Young Journalist nominations in 2022 and 2026. Body on the Beach was also nominated in a documentary category in 2024.