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Every episode
After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
30 episodes
The Spy Who Fooled The Nazis
Ep 304 · Aug 17, 2026 · 48 min
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 Fearless World War II Resistance Fighter. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Stu…
The Murder That Changed Britain
Ep 303 · Aug 13, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
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 some may find upsetting. This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Stuart Beckwit…
How To Be A Medieval Spy
Ep 302 · Aug 10, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
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 episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Freddy Chic…
What Did The Vikings Do With Their Dead?
Ep 301 · Aug 6, 2026 · 55 min
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 author of books including Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. This episode was…
Wild Shipwreck and Cannibal Story That Inspired Moby Dick
Ep 300 · Aug 3, 2026 · 42 min
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 Chick. Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click to place…
Britain's Bloodiest Mutiny
Ep 299 · Jul 30, 2026 · 31 min
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 mutiny, told by the one and only Dan Snow! This episode was edited by Anna Brant. The producer was Tom…
Murder In The Medici Court
Ep 298 · Jul 27, 2026 · 48 min
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, including most recently Thorns, Lust and Glory: the Betrayal of Anne Boleyn. This episode was edited by A…
The Most Disastrous Voyage in Navy History
Ep 297 · Jul 23, 2026 · 49 min
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 unbelievable tale of naval adventure and endurance. This episode was edited by Anna Brant. The producer was…
Britain's Worst Airship Disaster
Ep 296 · Jul 20, 2026 · 50 min
"It's like the Titanic, except you've never heard of it. And in a way, it's even weirder." So says today's guest, Cautionary Tales' host, Tim Harford, about the disastrous story he's taking Anthony and Maddy through. Airships were the ocean liners of the skies, and in the 1920s, Britain had ambitions to connect the Empire in this way. Until it all went tragically wrong. Listen to more of Tim's Cautionary Tales here: https://timharford.com/etc/more-or-less/ Voting is now open for the Listener's C…
Would You Rather Be On The Titanic Or In Pompeii?
Ep 295 · Jul 16, 2026 · 48 min
Sound the trumpets! The day has finally arrived: Maddy Pelling is back on After Dark! To welcome her back into the coven, we're playing a game of historical 'Would You Rather?'. Listen on to hear Anthony and Maddy decide between the many awful scenarios in history they would rather find themselves in. If you've also asked yourself, 'Would you rather be a 17th century plague doctor or an 19th century body snatcher?', then you've come to the right place. This episode was edited by Anna Brant. The…
The Story of England's First Drag Queen
Ep 294 · Jul 13, 2026 · 43 min
Born John Cooper, "Princess Seraphina" was one of the first English Drag Queens. Princess Seraphina was an 18th-century gentleman’s servant who openly embraced her feminine drag persona. But in May 1732, a man named Thomas Gordon robbed her of her clothes and money. The court case that followed was astounding. Today Anthony Delaney takes Kate Lister back to the riotous streets of 18th century London. Anthony's book Queer Georgians is out now in paperback. Edited by Tim Arstall. Senior Produ…
The Woman Who Had Sex With Ghosts
Ep 293 · Jul 9, 2026 · 49 min
Ida Craddock is a name that should be much, much better known. She was a maverick sex educator who fought violent censorship in turn of the century America. She also loudly announced to the world that she was married to a ghost and that their sex life was great, thank you very much. Dr Kate Lister tells this story taken from her new book Flick: The Story of Female Pleasure, available everywhere. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of ho…
The Tragic Execution of a Victorian Murderess
Ep 292 · Jul 6, 2026 · 47 min
In 1856, Martha Brown was led to the scaffold and hanged for the murder of her abusive husband. Her execution was clearly an injustice, even at the time. While Martha was condemned, multiple other female killers were spared the noose. In this episode, Anthony talks with Dr Rose Wallis from the University of West England Bristol about the societal implications of Martha's fate. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundr…
The Witch Men of Iceland
Ep 291 · Jul 2, 2026 · 46 min
When we think of the great witch trials of history, we usually picture innocent women accused of impossible crimes... but that wasn't always the case. In the frozen, windswept landscapes of 17th-century Iceland, a wave of witch trials led to the persecution and execution of men accused of practising dark magic. Why were male witches feared more than female ones? And what happens when ancient Norse magic, strict Lutheran beliefs, and one of Europe's most isolated landscapes collide? Edited by Ann…
The Secret Lesbian Affair under Mary Queen of Scots
Ep 290 · Jun 29, 2026 · 54 min
16th century Scotland was a hard time to be a woman, far harder if you happened to be a woman who loved women. Yet from this dark time a dazzling lightness has survived - the secret lesbian love poetry of Marie Maitland. Marie's story is groundbreaking, uplifting and heartbreaking and is being shared with the world for the first time by our guest today Ashley Douglas whose new book With My Own Hand will be out on July 16th. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Freddy Chick. Sign up to History…
The Murder Network That Terrified Versailles
Ep 289 · Jun 25, 2026 · 46 min
In 17th century France, Louis XIV's court sparkled with luxury. It also teemed with poison, occult rituals and aristocrats trying to murder their way up the social ladder. What started with one poisoned Easter pie uncovered a criminal network stretching from the backstreets of Paris to the bedchamber of the Sun King himself. Joining Anthony to uncover this criminal underworld is special guest co-host, and host of our sister podcast Betwixt the Sheets, Dr. Kate Lister! Thanks so much to https://w…
History's Greatest Ghosts with Uncanny's Danny Robins
Ep 288 · Jun 22, 2026 · 54 min
In this special episode of After Dark. Anthony and Uncanny’s Danny Robins delve into historical ghost stories and explore why our obsession with death and the paranormal remains an integral part of the human experience. Danny will be at the Crossed Wires podcast festival, which takes place between 2nd-5th July in Sheffield. All tickets, including Danny’s headline show of Uncanny Cold Cases and his free Uncanny Uncovered show, are available at CrossedWires.Live. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produce…
Most Famous Murder In Ancient Egypt
Ep 287 · Jun 18, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Millenia ago, a plot was hatched within the highest echelons of Egyptian society which ended with royal blood being spilt. This assassination, known as the Harem Conspiracy, and the following trial would fascinate historians for the next three thousand years... Who was behind the plot? How close did they come to seizing the throne? And what can archaeology tell us about Egyptian society as a whole? Our guest today is Dr. Campbell Price, Curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum and honorar…
The Dark History of the Quakers
Ep 286 · Jun 15, 2026 · 56 min
17th century England was a world turned upside down. A civil war resulted in King Charles I being executed, and from this moment a religious movement called the Quakers grew rapidly. Far from the pacifists we think of them as today, Quaker leaders shocked the country with their radical approach, including attempts to resurrect the dead. Taking us back to the 17th century today is Dr Erica Canela, historian and author of Zealous: A Darker Side of the Early Quakers. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Prod…
The Sicilian Catacombs of the Living Dead
Ep 285 · Jun 11, 2026 · 52 min
*Warning: this episode contains discussions of child death* Deep beneath the sunny streets of Palermo Sicily, the Capuchin Catacombs are home to over a thousand people, most of them still standing in their Sunday best. Why did the residents of the catacombs want to be buried standing up? And how have their remains survived centuries? Joining Anthony today as a special guest co-host is Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator at Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh, to take us back through this fascinating h…
How Boudica Took On The Roman Empire
Ep 284 · Jun 8, 2026 · 59 min
Ancient Britain was occupied by the Romans, and tension was building with local tribes. Their brutal occupation reached a breaking point. So what happened when Queen Boudica stood up to the might of the Roman Empire? Bloody battles followed and Roman occupation in Britain changed forever. Her incredible life and story will shock and surprise you. Taking you back to Iron Age Britain is the incredible historian and author Kate Williams, who joins Anthony to immerse us in Boudica's world. Edited by…
The Gruesome History of Sexual Disease
Ep 283 · Jun 4, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
*Warning: this episode contains discussions of puss* Gonorrhea and syphilis are no laughing matter, especially in a time before antibiotics. How were symptoms first recorded and what were the disturbing treatments people endured? Joining Anthony today as a special guest co-host is Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator at Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh, to take us back through this gruesome history. Edited by Anna Brant and Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Freddy Chic…
Who tried to kill Queen Victoria?
Ep 282 · Jun 1, 2026 · 46 min
Queen Victorian was an icon of Britain at the zenith of its power... but that didn't mean she was invulnerable to attack. In today’s episode, we’ll be exploring some of the many assassination attempts on Victoria's life. We’ll be discussing the massive changes Britain was experiencing during this time and how this might have motivated these attackers… Some of them are pretty wild. Our guest today is Professor Kate Williams, historian and author whose new book ‘Regina: A New History of Women and…
Burke & Hare's Serial Killing Dissection Business
Ep 281 · May 28, 2026 · 52 min
What did Ancient Egyptians discover while dissecting bodies? What did the first medieval dissecting manual say? Who were the serial killers who supplied 19th century surgeons with bodies in Edinburgh? Joining Anthony today as a special guest co-host is Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator at Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh, to take us back through this bloody history. Edited by Anna Brant and Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundr…
Ancient Rome's Bloodiest Murders
Ep 280 · May 26, 2026 · 37 min
Today we're delving back to an early episode of After Dark, where Anthony and Maddy explore the goriest murders of Ancient Rome. From flesh-eating fish and humiliating deaths inside sacks, to a deadly re-enactment of the Icarus myth. For a culture that is seen as an emblem of civilisation (whatever that means), the Romans expended a lot of creative energy on inventing new ways to kill people. And our guest today knows them all! Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling are joined by the one and only Emm…
The Doctor Who Shocked Victorian Britain
Ep 279 · May 21, 2026 · 42 min
What lurks behind the door of Dr. Kahn's Grand Anatomical Museum in Victorian London? Step inside and find out what shocked the public (and medical establishment) of the 19th century Britain so much, that it was eventually forced to close. To take you there today, Anthony is joined by guest co-host Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator at Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh. Edited by Anna Brant and Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hun…
Inside the Egyptian Underworld
Ep 278 · May 18, 2026 · 55 min
For the Ancient Egyptians, death marked the beginning of a new chapter: a journey through a shadowy realm of trials, monsters, and divine judgment, ruled by the God Osiris. What does the Ancient Egyptian Underworld, the Duat, tell us about their culture, their society and morality? Our guest for today is Dr. Campbell Price! Campbell is our go-to Ancient Egypt expert, he is Curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum and honorary research fellow at University of Liverpool. His newest book ‘Br…
400 Year Old Artist's Dark Revenge
Ep 277 · May 14, 2026 · 45 min
Artemisia Gentileschi's paintings personify female rage against men. She paints women beheading men, hammering nails into their skulls, brandishing their dead faces. In her personal life, Artemisia was the victim of sexual abuse, torture and public shaming. Can we read her traumatic personal life into her work? Edited by Anna Brant and Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new…
BONUS: Hear a chapter of Maddy's new book, Hoax
Ep 276 · May 12, 2026 · 55 min
Hear a chapter of Maddy's new book, "Hoax: Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlightenment". It's out now! It's the story of three women and their hoaxes in the age of Enlightenment. One saw ghosts, the other claimed magic powers, the third was a Princess. Were these hoaxes entirely of their own making? Why were the public transfixed? For more information, click here. After Dark will return to its normal programming on Monday (Sunday for subscribers). Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Awar…
Human Sacrifice In The Aztec Empire
Ep 275 · May 11, 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
When you think of the Aztec Empire, what do you picture? Human sacrifice? In today's episode, Anthony is joined by Aztec expert Dr. Caroline Dodds Pennock, to unpack why we fetishise the Aztecs in this way, why ritualised violence is certainly not limited to this civilisation in this time in history, and who it benefitted to think of them in this way. Edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original…
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