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PODCAST

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

This is After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds and the Paranormal. The podcast that takes you to the shadiest corners of the past, unpicking history’s spookiest, strangest, and most sinister stories.Join historians Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling, every Monday and Thursday to take a look at the darker side of history. From haunted pubs and Houdini, to witch trials and weird UFO sightings.After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds and the Paranormal - a podcast by History Hit, the world"s best history channel and creators

history

All Episodes

45:35

Who Was the Man In The Iron Mask?

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/23

For decades a mysterious figure was held prisoner by Louis XIV. His face was covered, his identity was a secret beyond all others. Why? Who was this figure? How much of the story is myth and how much is fact? Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story today.This episodes was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith and researched by Phoebe Joyce. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for

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56:54

The Dark Truth about the Haitian Revolution

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/19

The Haitian Revolution is the only successful, permanent slave revolt in history, resulting in the creation of an independent state.Haiti is also the first modern nation of the world to permanently abolish slavery.So what happened the August night of 1791 when the enslaved people of what was known as Saint-Domingue, rose up and started burning plantations?It's a history that involves American and French Revolutions, with the British and Spanish also waging in on the fighting.Joining Anthony and

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57:37

The French Revolution's Reign of Terror

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/16

The French Revolution was famously inspired by ideals such as republicanism and individual liberty. Yet, for all its promises of freedom, the Revolution also descended into what is often considered its darkest chapter... the Reign of Terror.Today's guest is Dr Michael Rapport, a Reader in Modern European History at the University of Glasgow and is author of works including ‘The Napoleonic Wars: A Very Short Introduction’, ‘1848: Year of Revolution’ and most recently ‘City of Light, City of Shadows:

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32:41

The Dark Truth about Wuthering Heights

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/12

Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Brontë in 1847, depicts a gothic world full of violence and passion, set against the wild Yorkshire Moors.So how did the daughter of a clergyman create such a story? How was it received at the time? And what darkness and intrigue happened in the Brontê's lives that could have influenced such stories?With a new Wuthering Heights film being released, Anthony and Maddy are exploring that world with you in today's episode.It’s one of relentless death and tragedy, wild

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53:28

Bloody Beginning of the French Revolution

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/09

The Storming of the Bastille in 1789 marked the beginning of the French Revolution... the day a Parisian crowd stormed the royal fortress-prison that had come to embody absolutist power. This is the story of how mounting unrest erupted into full-scale revolution, and how one looming stone fortress became a lasting symbol of freedom, violence, and the power of the people.Today’s guest is Michael Rapport, a Reader in Modern European History at the University of Glasgow. His works include ‘The

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36:47

Al Capone and the Valentine's Day Massacre

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/05

Bootleg liquor. Tommy guns. Gangs ruling the city with crooked cops.The Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 Chicago sounds cinematic, but the fear and the bloodshed was very real.What was the perfect storm that created this horrifying moment? How did it unfold? And how did the cops finally catch their man?Joining Anthony and Maddy today is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig, to take us back to this bloody moment almost 100 years on.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart

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49:16

Dark Truth About Victorian 'Freak Shows'

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/02/02

Julia Pastrana was a Mexican woman exploited as a sideshow attraction in life and grotesquely exhibited even after her death because of her appearance. Her story is part of the dark history of the Victorian 'freak show'. Anthony tells Maddy the story.This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Stuart Beckwith and researched by Phoebe Joyce.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries,

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45:11

Essex's Darkest Witch Hunt

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/29

This is the story of a 16th century cunning woman, a folk healer, who was found guilty of being a witch. Accusations spiralled until more than a dozen women faced the threat of death. The St Osyth witch hunt became a landmark case, setting a dark precedent for the witch hunts that would explode across the country in the century that followed.Our guest today is Marion Gibson, author of 'Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials'.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. The

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50:21

Who Was the Witchfinder General?

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/26

Mathew Hopkins, also known as the ‘Witchfinder General,’ was responsible for a campaign of terror across 17th-century England. In just a few short feverish years, his witch hunts swept through East Anglia, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people…Edited by Tim Arstall, Produced by Tom Delargy, Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every

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33:17

Inside A Medieval Leper Colony

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/22

Come back with us to a Medieval leper colony.What was life really like for patients inside the gates? What did it mean when the 'leper bell' rang? And what happened at a 'living funeral'?Join Anthony and Maddy as they separate popular myth from fact, taking you through a typical day inside a leper colony in medieval Europe.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Freddy Chick and researched by Phoebe Joyce.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign

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40:19

The Victorian's Dark Obsession with Ancient Egypt

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/19

The Victorians had a lot of twisted fascinations, but their fixation on Ancient Egypt might be the darkest of the lot.From 'mummy unwrapping parties' (yes, really), to gothic stories of romances with mummified bodies and beetles that came to life.Was this a desire to connect with the past? Something darker? Or maybe both.Joining Anthony and Maddy today is historian and author Dr Jay Sullivan, to help us uncover the truth.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior

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40:56

The Deadly Arctic Witch Trials

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/15

It all started when a huge storm drowned 40 men on Christmas Eve, 1617.The people of Vardø, northern Norway, needed someone to blame.What followed were devastating witch trials which featured one of the highest execution rates in Europe, and implicated the town's women and the surrounding indigenous population.Joining Anthony and Maddy to delve into this icy world is author and historian Marion Gibson.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy

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50:10

The Great Fire of London As It Happened

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/12

The Fire that struck London in 1666 was one of the city's darkest chapters. In this episode, Anthony and Maddy examine the accounts of people who witnessed the disaster at the time, tracing the story from its origin in Pudding Lane right up until its dying embers...Who quickly did the Fire spread? How did the terrified population turn to scapegoating the innocent? And how did the aftermath of this catastrophe shape the city we know today?Edited by Tim Arstall, Produced by Tom Delargy, Senior

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49:03

Day in the Life of a Salem Puritan

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/08

What did it feel like to wake up Salem Village during the darkest days of the witch trials? Would you be able to swallow down your beer and pottage breakfast? As you walked towards the simple wooden Meetinghouse in the afternoon, what feeling would have been in your breast?Anthony & Maddy are on a quest to find out!Sign up to History Hit to watch this and hundreds of other original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at

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40:43

Inside the Victorian Asylum

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/05

One of the dark symbols of the Victorian age is the asylum. It struck fear into the mind but what was the reality of life inside its walls? Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story today.Edited by Richard Powers, Produced by Stuart Beckwith, Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at

en

33:49

The Truth about the Conjuring's Ghost Hunters

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2026/01/01

Ghost hunting couple Ed and Lorraine Warren transformed twentieth century America into an enchanted land dotted with haunted houses, cursed objects, and portals to hell. Their exploits are the basis for the Conjuring movie franchise. They are the originators of the Annabelle doll. They are the most famous demon hunters ever. Who were the Warrens? Did they make it up? Or did they believe it all?Maddy and Anthony's guest today is Professor Joseph Laycock from Texas State University. He was our guest

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41:58

Banshees: Herald of Death

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2025/12/29

Today we're delving back into the After Dark vaults to revisit our episode on Banshees...Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls) joins Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling for the story of the Banshee.The Banshee is a female spirit in Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member, usually by shrieking, or keening. Anthony tells us a story about one dying man in 1772 who is called to his death by her wailing cries.Written by Anthony Delaney. Edited by Tom Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.You

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42:45

Ghosts of Henry VIII's Palace

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2025/12/25

We’re re-running this episode because it’s one of our favourites — and it’s worth another listen!The ghost of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, screaming down a corridor. A nursemaid's spinning wheel clicking in the walls. Robed Tudor figures slamming open fire exits. A noisy group of ghosts haunt Hampton Court Palace.Tracy Borman, Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, joins Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney to guide them through the spectres of Hampton Court.Edited by Tomos

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37:47

Dark Truth About Sweeney Todd

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2025/12/22

Sweeney Todd - the demon barber of Fleet Street who beheads people and then sends their bodies through a trapdoor to be made into pies. It's just a story right? Right? There's not any real history to it....or is there? Like two food inspectors examining a particularly noxious looking pie, Maddy and Anthony dig into the dark truths that led to Sweeney Todd's creations.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Research was by Phoebe Joyce. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy

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43:01

The Most Notorious Viking Raid

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal ·

2025/12/18

The Viking attack on the monastery at Lindisfarne, a remote tidal island in North East England, sent psychological and cultural shockwaves through the history. It's a story of blood and terror, but there's more subtlety to it as well, as Maddy and Anthony learn today with returning guest Dr Eleanor Barraclough.Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick.You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhitSign up to History Hit for

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