RTÉ ONE’s “Bad Nanny” continues this Monday, presenting the second act in the twisted saga of Samantha Cookes, a con artist who preyed on vulnerable families across Ireland and the UK for over a decade. If the first episode laid out the groundwork, “The Net Closes In” shows how the walls closed in on Cookes, thanks in part to some unlikely online detectives.
This episode shifts focus to the families left emotionally shattered by Cookes’ web of aliases and lies. Their firsthand accounts give a human dimension to the crimes, a reminder that these weren’t just abstract acts of deception but deeply personal betrayals. But “Bad Nanny” also examines a fascinating 21st-century twist: the role of TikTok users in unraveling Cookes’ carefully constructed facade. A community of amateur sleuths took to the platform, piecing together clues and sharing information, effectively turning up the heat on a con artist who may have otherwise slipped through the cracks.
Using previously unseen archive footage and drawing from the original RTÉ podcast series “The Real Carrie Jade,” “Bad Nanny” provides a detailed examination of psychological manipulation and the human cost of such elaborate schemes. “The Net Closes In” culminates in Cookes’ 2025 downfall and conviction.
“Bad Nanny: The Net Closes In” airs Monday, May 19th at 9:35 PM on RTÉ ONE.
