After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

The 'Changeling Murder' of Bridget Cleary

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 interrogat

Medieval Origins of Dracula

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 Vic

The Real Werewolf Trials of Europe

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

The Dark Side of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales

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

"HMS Terror" Death on the Arctic Tundra

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 co

Did Robin Hood Exist?

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, ho

The Bloodiest Anglo Saxon Royal Murders

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 ro

America's 'Innocent Axe-Murderer' Lizzie Borden

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 a

How Grim Were Victorian Slums?

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 rea

Dark History From The Caribbean Plantations

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 a

When Medieval Peasants Attacked London

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 e

Georgian London's Celebrity Criminal

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

The Wild Story of America's Biggest Traitor

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

Is This New York's Craziest Murder Case?

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 incredibl

Magdalene Laundries: Ireland's Dark Secret

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.

The Brutal Murder of Catherine Howard

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 h

18th Century France's Most Outrageous Spy

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 c

The Spy Who Fooled The Nazis

She was the only person during World War Two to parachute from Britain behind enemy lines into Nazi-occupied Poland, all while wearing a dress. Who was Agent Zo? And wha

The Murder That Changed Britain

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 ran

How To Be A Medieval Spy

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 referr