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After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

By: History Hit
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About this listen

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 of award-winning podcasts Dan Snow's History Hit, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets.


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.

Hit Networks
Social Sciences True Crime World
Episodes
  • Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?
    Jun 19 2025

    You're laid out on the surgeon's table. Wide awake. He stands over you knife in hand and behind him, in the stands, is a noisy crowd all joking, smoking and scoffing oysters, waiting for the show to start. Welcome to Victorian surgery! Could you survive?


    Joining Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney this week is Sara Yorath, from the Old Operating Theatre museum in London.


    Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


    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.

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    41 mins
  • Murder at Stonehenge
    Jun 16 2025

    A body is found at Stonehenge. It's the skeleton of a man - an archer - who lived at the time when it was built. How did he die? What secrets does his skeleton reveal about his life and the purpose of Stonehenge?


    In today's episode, Anthony and Maddy investigate a 4,000 year-old murder mystery, as well as exploring the big questions that surround Stonehenge: how was it built? Who built it, and why?!


    A special thanks to Adrian Green, Director at Salisbury Museum.


    Edited by Tomos Delary. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


    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.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Dark Side of Ancient Mesopotamia
    Jun 12 2025

    A four thousand(ish) year old murder trial. A procession of the dead. Kings who believed they could escape the gods by dressing gardeners in royal clothes...then killing them. Welcome to the Dark Side of Ancient Mesopotamia! Guiding Maddy and Anthony through this most ancient and most fascinating civilisation is the incredible Professor Amanda Podany, author of 'Weavers, Scribes and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East'.


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


    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.

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
Does everything it says on the tin! Awesome such fun and informative listening. I enjoy it immediately. Recommend to all who dabbled

Just a fab history podcast

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I stumbled across this by pure chance a few days ago and have been completely hooked since. Very well researched and presented with an infectuous passion by the two very likeable hosts.

Hooked

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Love the opening scene they read out! Sets such a good picture. I also love the discussion afterwards! If you love dark history then give this a go!

An absolute must!

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I discovered this podcast a little over a month ago from following Anthony on Instagram (and waiting patiently for his book to come out) and have nearly caught up with all episodes!

As a lover of 18th (and 19th) century history it’s been great hearing differing perspectives of history I’m already familiar with, but also learning about topics I have never heard of and probably wouldn’t have come across myself.

Anthony and Maddy are great hosts and the guests are always interesting…it’s also given me a whole heap of book recommendations so very grateful for that too!

Whatever era or aspect of history (or true crime) you may be interested in, there will definitely be something for you in this podcast!

Hooked on dark history!

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I could quite happily listen to these podcasts for hours (and I often do!?!). The episodes covered are mysteriously intriguing and brought to life by presenters who are genuinely passionate about their histories. Hands down the best history podcast I’ve listened to.

Brilliant-I can’t get enough of these podcasts!

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Really interesting episodes, brilliantly delivered, I look forward to each one, each episode is delivered in a way that is entertaining but respectful of the subject, absolutely brilliant and so glad I found this!

fantastic podcast

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I stumbled across this podcast and from the first episode, I haven't been able to stop listening!

Historical True Crimes - what's not to love!

Such a knowledgeable and fantastic podcast, brilliantly hosted by Anthony & Maddy, along with a range of fab guests.

Discussing a range of fascinating tales and more often gruesome historical mysteries & events. Respectfully and eloquently discussed, they give us a glimpse into the historical attitudes, political and social class positions and potential impacts. It's hard not to learn a few things from this show!

When will this podcast be made into a Netflix show? as I'm all for it! ;)

keep up the amazing work!






A Guilty Pleasure!

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Maddy and Anthony are just so engaging and knowledgeable and their subject choices weirdly fascinating. My only gripe is that I wish new episodes would arrive more quickly....but then that would impact on their thorough research.

soooo interesting

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I came across this by chance about 4 days ago, and haven't stopped listening since! Incredibly interesting, and so eloquently discussed. I'm delighted that there are so many to enjoy, and hopefully many more to come.

Utterly fascinating

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Fascinating podcast, as I study history it’s always wonderful to engage with ideas and stores I don’t usually come across! Also, it’s great how histories of myth are given as much room and respect as those more ‘factual’ histories. Additionally, the discussion on gender and class in relation to each episode is fascinating! Great guests too!

A different history

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