After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

The story goes that in 1895 Bridget Cleary was burned to death by her husband who believed she was a 'changeling' fairy. In today's episode, Anthony and Maddy interrogate the stories we've been told about this murder in rural Ireland and if an interesting story of supernatural belief has gotten in the way of the brutal truth. Was there a genuine belief in fairies by Bridget Cleary&...

With Halloween just around the corner, it's the perfect time to really get to know the familiar figure of Dracula. What vampires came before him? What fears were the Victorians projecting onto him? And perhaps most importantly, who played the best version of him? Joining Anthony and Maddy today is Dr Kaja Franck of the University of Hertfordshire, who is a master of all things Gothic. This epi...

You've heard of the witch trials, but have you heard of the werewolf trials?! This fascinating history takes us to back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when panic spread through villages in mainland Europe leading to a number of people being tried and executed as werewolves. What evidence did they have? How did they believe you turned into a werewolf? And why did one man in 1691 claim to be a...

When the studious, unassuming brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm left home for university, little did they know their fairy-tale collections would take Europe by storm. We've all heard of Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel. But how well do we really know them? From severed limbs, blinded lovers, and some good old-fashioned cannibalism, these deliciously dark tales continue to entrance a...

In 1845 two Royal Navy ships, HMS Terror & HMS Erebus , departed Britain on an expedition into the Arctic. Along their ill-fated icy expedition, they disappeared almost completely, becoming one of history's greatest maritime mysteries… In this episode, Anthony and Maddy follow the trail of clues left behind by the crew of this doomed voyage and uncover what really happened to them... Edited by...

It's a story that's been around for a good 800 years, but is there any evidence that Robin Hood actually existed? Find out what really went on inside Sherwood Forest, how medieval outlaws lived, and why the Sheriff of Nottingham was a hated figure in the time. Delving into the historical records with us is medieval expert and co-host of our sister podcast, Gone Medieval , Matt Lewis. This...

When the Romans left Britain in the 5th century, what happened next? The following centuries saw a messy and bloody struggle for power that left us with some gruesome royal murders. Taking us through the bloody details is medieval expert and co-host of our sister podcast, Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis. This episode was edited by Anna Brant. Produced by Stuart Beckwith and McKenna Fernandez. The senior...

Today we're revisiting an episode which explores one of the most infamous trials in American history. Lizzie Borden's story is breathtaking even today. In 1893 she was accused of using an axe to murder her father and step-mother. The case obsessed America and despite evidence against her, Lizzie was let off. Was that justice? Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story today. Edited by Tomos Del...

We've spent a lot of time in of Victorian London on this podcast- a world of cobbled streets, grimy buildings and crowded homes. But how accurate is this- what was it really like to live in the slums of Victorian London? Our guest today is Dr. Jackie Riding! Jackie is a specialist in the history of the 18th and 19th centuries, and her most recent book, ‘ Hard Streets: Working-Class Lives in Charli...

In 1675, a planned uprising by the enslaved people of Barbados was crushed before it had a chance to come to fruition. For three years, the conspirators' lives revolved around secrecy. But the discovery of their plan resulted in brutal reprisals by the British, and the deaths of over forty people. In this episode, Anthony and Maddy are joined by Dr Misha Ewen from the University of Sussex to discu...

In 1381, thousands of ordinary people rose up against the Crown, marched on London, and came close to bringing England’s political establishment to its knees... In this episode, Anthony and Maddy are joined by our very own Matt Lewis to discuss the Peasants’ Revolt: why it happened, who led it, and what this extraordinary uprising tells us about life in medieval England. This episode was edited by...

What is it about a ‘bad boy’ that we love? That’s as true today as it was in the 18th century. In this episode of After Dark, Anthony and Maddy unravel the extraordinary rise, daring escapes, and final end of Jack Sheppard- the thief who became history's first celebrity criminal... This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Tomos Delargy and McKenna Fernandez. The senior producer was...

Benedict Arnold was celebrated as a war hero of the American Revolution before he betrayed George Washington and the Continental Army by joining the British. In today's episode Anthony and Maddy take you through his rise and infamous plot to hand over West Point, cementing his name as history's ultimate symbol of treachery. This episode was edited by Anna Brant. Produced by Tomos Delargy and McKen...

This week we're revisiting a favourite episode set in New York at the end of the 20th century. The year is 1897, and this murder case has it all: a villain, an incredibly useless police force, and a duck who saves the day. The incredible Dr Cat Byers (@heymorguegirl) joins Maddy and Anthony to tell this story. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Af...

The Magdalene Laundries existed throughout Ireland up until the late 20th century. Women and young girls were sent to these institutions that were run by orders of nuns. They were told they could not leave, and were forced to work - all because they were perceived to be ‘fallen’ and in need of salvation, fixing. It is a truly dark and complex history we are only now beginning to really peel back t...

Today we're delving back into the After Dark vaults to revisit our classic episode on the death of the short-lived Tudor queen. In 1540 Henry VIII was getting old, and his eyes turned to teenager Catherine Howard. He fell hard and fast for Catherine - his "rose without a thorn" - but when he found out about her past, all hell broke loose. Amidst all the panic and confusion, who was this young woma...

The Chevalier d’Éon was one of France’s most daring spies... until they began making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Armed with explosive state secrets and at the centre of a very public scandal over their identity, d’Éon went from trusted agent to international sensation. Join Anthony and Maddy as they explore this story of espionage, blackmail and disguise. This episode was edited by Anna B...

She was the only person during World War Two to parachute from Britain behind enemy lines into Nazi-occupied Germany, all while wearing a dress. Who was Agent Zo? And what were the incredible missions she was involved in as part of the Polish resistance? Joining Anthony and Maddy to tell her story today is author and historian Clare Mulley, who wrote the book Agent Zo: The Untold Story of a Fearle...

Ruth Ellis made history in 1955 when she was the last woman hanged in Britain. She shot and killed her abusive lover, the racing driver David Blakely, at point blank range on a spring evening outside a pub. What events led up to this seemingly cold-blooded moment? And is it right that Ellis was recently granted a pardon for this murder? Trigger warning: this episode contains themes of abuse which...

Look closely at the Bayeux Tapestry and you will see a medieval spy. But far from the world of James Bond gadgetry, what was medieval spycraft like? Why were they referred to as 'little birds'? And why were women often used in medieval espionage? Joining Anthony and Maddy today is Professor of Medieval History at Cardiff University and expert in all things medieval spycraft, Jenny Benham. This epi...

The world of Viking death rituals and their beliefs surrounding the afterlife is truly fascinating... What happened when a Viking died? What ceremonies and practices did they partake in? And what awaited the spirits of the dead when they departed the world of the living?  Today we welcome our returning guest and go-to expert on all things Viking Eleanor Baraclough! Eleanor is a historian and...

When a whaling ship sank in 1820, her crew were cast adrift thousands of miles from land, and faced starvation, madness, and death. Their ordeal would become one of the most extraordinary survival stories in maritime history… and would become immortalised by Herman Melville's novel, Moby-Dick. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chi...

The captain of the HMS Hermione was a sadist even by the not-very-high standards of the British Royal Navy in the 1700's. He was a prolific flogger, subjecting his crew to the cat-of-nine-tails. It was hardly a surprise when his crew rose up and mutinied. Even if the British Navy couldn't for one second let them get away unpunished. This is the brutal and bloody story of Britain's most horrific mu...

In Medici Florence there were two ways of maintaining power - one was money and the other was murder. Isabella de’ Medici was the believed daughter of the Medici patriarch, a patron of the arts and a sparkling wit. But that meant nothing to her own husband, who murdered her, or her own brother, who turned a blind eye. Maddy and Anthony are joined by Estelle Paranque author of numerous books, inclu...

It's hard to wrap your head around all the disasters that befell Captain Anson's Royal Navy voyage around the world in the 1740s. Rampant scurvy, horrendous storms, marooning and mutiny to name but a few. 90% of the original crew never returned. Those who made it back to Britain were hailed as heroes for surviving! The one and only Dan Snow joins Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling for this unbeliev...