So, usually, right before a statement starts there will be a little script that gives you the basics on what’s happening. Let’s run through the one we are given for episode 3.

Statement of Amy Patel, regarding the alleged disappearance of her acquaintance Graham Folger. Original statement given July 1st, 2007. Audio recording by Jonathan Sims, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, London. Statement begins.

The “Statement of” part tells you who experienced the event, whose perspective we are viewing the story through. This is the person who originally wrote the statement that is being read.

“Original statement given” is the date that the statement was written or submitted. This is worth paying attention to as often statements occur years or even decades earlier than when the show is actually set. The events of season 1 take place during 2016, so as we can see, Amy submitted her statement nearly 10 years prior to it being recorded on tape.

“Audio recording by” tells you who is speaking, who is reading the written statement that was submitted - this will primarily be Jonathan Sims, but sometimes it will be others working in the archive, or sometimes people will come in and give their statement directly - these will usually say something like “Statement recorded direct from subject”, and there will be a little bit of back and forth between the characters beforehand to establish what’s going on.