After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal cover art

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

By: History Hit
Listen for free

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
  • Poison in the Tower of London

    Poison in the Tower of London
    Jun 26 2025

    Today’s story is one that takes us to a very familiar setting - the Tower of London - but shows it in a new light. Edward Francis was an enslaved man who lived in the Lion Tower. In 1691 he decided to poison his enslavers. Maddy and Anthony are joined by (friend of the pod) Dr Misha Ewen who helped bring this history to light. Misha is the author of "The Virginia Venture: American Colonization and English Society, 1580-1660".


    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


    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
    44 mins
  • Stonehenge: 10 Strangest Facts

    Stonehenge: 10 Strangest Facts
    Jun 23 2025

    It wasn't made by Druids (or Aliens or Merlin the wizard). But it was a garden centre. Get ready for the 10 strangest facts (mostly) about Stonehenge! Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney back among the stones.


    Edited by Amy Haddow. 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
    36 mins
  • Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
From the poor to the rich the innocent and the dam right bad guys. No part of history is safe. The jokes the back and fourths between hosts and guess. Aswell as not so factal facts and of course witches and ghost and anything in-between. To good to switch of and go to bed to xx

never know history could be fun

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews