Podcast Episodes

The Dark Side of Ancient Rome

Episode 168

As a lot of new listeners have joined us, and it's a bank holiday in the UK, we thought we'd re-run one of our earliest, goriest episodes. Trust us, this episode is a bloody delight: from flesh-eatin…

Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago

Spring-Heeled Jack: Terror of Victorian London

Episode 167

The grimy streets of Victorian London were stalked by a shadowy menace: Spring-Heeled Jack! He had glowing eyes and blue flames came out his mouth. He had claws, wings. He had a tail. He had smart bo…

Published on 7 months, 4 weeks ago

England's Darkest Folklore

Episode 166

A spectral Black Dog with hellish eyes; a homicidal water spirit who drowns children; a mermaid who takes revenge on a vile cad. Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney on a tour through the dark side of…

Published on 8 months ago

Final Days of 'Mad' George III

Episode 165

How did George III die? Was it raving in a straightjacket? Who stayed with him at the end of his long illness? Today we uncover the truth about George III, the man unfairly remembered as the mad King…

Published on 8 months ago

Hammersmith Ghost: How to Murder a Poltergeist

Episode 164

Can it be murder if you think you're killing a ghost? In 1804 the London suburb of Hammersmith was being terrorised by a ghost. One man set out to hunt down whoever, or whatever, this was. He almost …

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

Wales' Darkest Folklore

Episode 163

Wales is set apart from a lot of countries, with one of its folk tales - the Red Dragon - featuring in its flag. 

What are the mythical origins of Wales, and other dark folk tales and traditions, such…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

Ireland's Darkest Folklore

Episode 162

*TW: This episode contains discussions and themes of infertility.*

Fairies have long been part of Irish folkloric history, with its landscape dotted with thousands of 'fairy forts'. But there's a dark…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Tudor England's Dumbest Murder

Episode 161

Alice Arden wanted her husband Thomas dead. So did the rest of the village of Faversham. What followed was a twisted dance of passion, poison, insane plots and dastardly assassins. A tale so macabre …

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Scotland's Darkest Folklore

Episode 160

From misty mountains to deep-sea caves, we explore the dark side of Scottish folklore. Tales of Selkies - seal folk caught between sea and shore - Kelpies - murderous water-horses -and the ancient fi…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago

Easter Rising: First World War In Dublin

Episode 159

(Part 2/2) On Easter Monday in 1916, Irish rebels read a proclamation of independence that sparked a week-long battle with the British army.

Over the next six days, this new bloody frontier of the Fir…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago