Martin Lewis has revealed he had a row with a fellow train passenger who refused to use headphones while playing a serial killer documentary out loud. The financial journalist, 54, was travelling with his daughter when he asked the woman to turn the volume down, only to receive a less-than-civil response.
What happened on the train
Lewis, who is married to Lara Lewington and has a 13-year-old daughter named Sapphire, was on a packed train with his family. A couple across the aisle were both alternatively playing social media videos on speakers at full volume. Initially, Lewis stayed quiet but decided to speak up when the woman began playing a documentary about serial killers.
He wrote on Instagram: "On a packed train with my family. Couple across the aisle both alternatively playing social media videos on speakers at full volume. Managed not to say anything until the woman started playing a documentary about serial killers. I'm here with my daughter."
The exchange and reaction
Lewis said he politely asked the woman to turn it down, explaining it was not appropriate. She replied, "I'm sure she's heard worse at school." Lewis responded that it was not her call to make and asked her to reduce the volume. The woman then said, "Its a public train for heavens sake." Lewis noted that he believed this was exactly why it was anti-social and what headphones were invented for. He added that the woman did thankfully reduce the volume and they left it there.
Lewis's followers showed support in the comments, with many sharing similar experiences. One said: "Thank you for drawing more attention to this matter. This infuriating display of ignorance needs action. I can’t help wonder where courtesy, manners and respect for others has gone. We really need to address this more widely." Another wrote: "Bad manners, rude & selfish. People are just not mindful at all when travelling." A third commented: "It’s the height of ignorance. Sadly becoming more common as the is no consequence."
Broader impact
A fourth follower wrote: "I heard a story that this happened to someone on a train and the other person refused to turn it down. So they just started reading out loud from their book." The incident has sparked wider discussion about etiquette on public transport.
