• The Murder that Shook Mary Queen of Scots
    Apr 16 2026

    On the night of Saturday the 9th of March, 1566, a pregnant Mary Queen of Scots was having a dinner party.


    It was a night that ended in the brutal murder of one of her closest friends, David Rizzio, led by her husband, Lord Darnley.


    How did this happen? How did Mary handle this traumatic moment? And did Mary have a Scottish or French accent?!


    Joining Anthony once more as special guest co-host is author and historian Gareth Russell, to take us back to this disturbing night.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Edited by Tim Arstall and Anna Brant. Produced by Stuart Beckwith.


    For tickets to see Anthony and Maddy talking about her new book, Hoax, click here: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/hoax/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    48 mins
  • The Victorian Sex Scandal of Fanny & Stella
    Apr 13 2026

    The Victorians are seen as the ultimate guardians of rigid gender boundaries.


    When Fanny Park and Stella Boulton transgressed those imagined lines, they triggered a scandal that reached the length and breadth of Britain.


    To tell this story Anthony is joined by HRH Aphrodite, historian, artist and drag queen.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Edited by Hannah Feodorov and Anna Brant. Produced by Stuart Beckwith.


    For tickets to see Anthony and Maddy talking about her new book, Hoax, click here: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/hoax/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    59 mins
  • Henry VIII's Descent into Darkness
    Apr 9 2026

    He's known as one of history's most murderous kings, but was he always a monster? Or was he acting in ways expected of a king during his time.


    Joining Anthony as special guest co-host is author and historian Gareth Russell, to explore the theories that support the latter.


    Did the break from Rome set him off on a violent spiral? Did a fall from a horse in a jousting tournament really start his descent into darkness?! Or is there just no justifying what he did?


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Edited by Hannah Feodorov and Anna Brant. Produced by Stuart Beckwith.


    For tickets to see Anthony and Maddy talking about her new book, Hoax, click here: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/hoax/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    50 mins
  • The Victorian Era's Wildest Murder
    Apr 6 2026

    It was one of the most gruesome crimes of the Victorian era... and it ended up in David Attenborough's garden! Kate Webster, a servant, killed and dismembered her mistress, Julia Martha Thomas in 1879. It's a story that show us the everyday life of Victorian Londoners, and how that world can be turned upside down.


    Edited by Tomos Delargy, Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Edited by Tom Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    41 mins
  • The Real Outlander
    Apr 2 2026

    The book and TV series "Outlander" has introduced millions of fans to Scottish history and the story of the Jacobites.


    One of those fans is Maddy Pelling! Maddy is back (in a pre-recorded episode) to delve into the tragic story of the Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army.


    Joining her today is Dr. Alexandra Dold, expert and scholar in all things Outlander, to take you back to the 18th century Scottish uprisings.


    Edited by Hannah Feodorov and Anna Brant. Produced by Stuart Beckwith.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    For tickets to see Anthony and Maddy talking about her new book, Hoax, click here: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/hoax/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Man Who Ate Everything
    Mar 30 2026

    Listener warning: this episode contains a description of cruelty to animals


    One of the strangest tales to emerge from Napoleonic France was that of Tarrare - the man who ate everything. The stories go that he ate corks, cats, snakes and was even guilty of cannibalism. Is this myth or reality? Anthony is joined by Dr Cat Byers, historian of the Paris Morgue to tell this tale.


    Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Freddy Chick.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    44 mins
  • Britain's First Ghost Hunt
    Mar 26 2026

    It was the original modern ghost hunt, the one that set the template for all the haunted houses to come. When a wealthy plantation family moves into a crumbling Georgian mansion in the 1760's the haunting begins. By the end even royalty were on tenterhooks. Eleanor Janega joins Anthony Delaney for this episode.


    Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    53 mins
  • Dark Side of the Celts: Wicker Men and trophy heads
    Mar 23 2026

    The Ancient Celts: feared in battle, guided by Druids, and bound together by ritual.

    Long before Rome pushed north, Celtic peoples ruled forests, hilltops, and river valleys. But in this episode we'll be discussing the darker aspects of this ancient civilisation...


    We are very lucky to be joined by Professor Ronald Hutton as our guest. Ronald is a returning fan favourite having been on numerous episodes of After Dark, including the Origins of Halloween and the Execution of Charles I.


    This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Tomos Delargy. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.


    You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here.


    All music from Epidemic Sounds.


    After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    49 mins