15 episodes
The Battersea Poltergeist BBC Podcasts
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- Fiction
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4.6 • 832 Ratings
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A paranormal cold case, re-investigated through a thrilling blend of drama and documentary. The true story of one of Britain's strangest hauntings, with Dafne Keen and Toby Jones. Presented by Danny Robins.
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Introducing... The Witch Farm
Danny Robins introduces his investigation, set in the wild Welsh countryside, into the real-life mystery behind what has been called Britain's most haunted house.
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Introducing... Uncanny
The Battersea Poltergeist’s Danny Robins introduces a chilling excerpt from his intriguing new paranormal series, Uncanny.
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Episode 9: Doubt and Wonder
In a final bonus episode, Danny takes one last deep dive into the investigation, as he explores more of your theories, examines some of the most puzzling moments in the case, and puts your questions to Shirley.
There are still some surprising revelations in store as Danny uncovers new witnesses to the strange events at 63 Wycliffe Road. What really happened to Shirley and her family 65 years ago?
Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers), with original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 1950s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved… until now.
Cast:
Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen
Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones
Wally Hitchings……..Burn Gorman
Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe
Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack
Joyce Lewis………..Miranda Raison
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe, Evelyn Hollow and Deborah Hyde
Sound Designer: Charlie Brandon-King
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
Consultant: Alan Murdie
With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'
A Bafflegab Production for BBC Radio 4 -
Episode 8: Darkness and Light
Who wrote the letters?
How can the seemingly impossible happen in front of multiple witnesses?
Is this a haunting or a hoax?
In this final episode, the investigation reaches its climax as Danny and the experts assess the evidence and look for answers to explain the strange events at 63 Wycliffe Road.
As the modern-day investigators try to reach conclusions, back in 1956, there are still surprises left to spring… The Hitchings face a truly chilling event as Chib searches obsessively for the clues to back up his theories. Who or what is Donald?
Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).
With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping eight-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.
Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen
Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones
Wally Hitchings……..Burn Gorman
Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe
Lily Chibbett……..Kacey Ainsworth
Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack
John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow
Sound Designer: Richard Fox
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
Directed by Simon Barnard
Consultant: Alan Murdie
With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'
A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021. -
Case Update: A New Witness
In this bonus episode, Danny discusses your questions and theories on the investigation after the shock developments of Episode 7, and, in a new twist, he uncovers another living witness to the bizarre events at 63 Wycliffe Road back in 1956. Can they shed any more light on the case?
Written and Presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists, Capote), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers), with original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping 8-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 1950s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved… until now. -
Episode 7: Dead Letters
The Hitchings family experience strange new phenomena, as drawings appear on the walls and rooms are violently trashed, but strangest of all are handwritten letters that appear, seemingly from Donald the poltergeist.
Meanwhile ghost hunter Harold Chibbett makes progress in his attempts to communicate, becoming convinced he is on the verge of discovering Donald’s true identity.
Danny assesses the new developments, alongside experts Ciaran O’Keefe and Evelyn Hollow. How can these things be possible? Are there other more human explanations for what is going on?
Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).
With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping eight-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.
Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen
Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones
Wally Hitchings……..Burn Gorman
Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe
Lily Chibbett……..Kacey Ainsworth
Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack
John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow
Sound Designer: Richard Fox
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
Directed by Simon Barnard
Consultant: Alan Murdie
With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'
A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
Customer Reviews
Interesting
My Brother told me to listen in, after discussing a paranormal event which happened to him.
I’m sceptical but really enjoyed theBattersea poltergeist.
Really good podcast!
I think the part that really appeals to me is the fact that it’s both drama and documentary. Like, one minute we’re hearing the family suffering the wrath of the poltergeist, the next Danny’s doing experiments and interviewing people. I’m really captivated to the story. I’ve listened to it a lot already and it’s really cool. For people who love a good old horror story, paranormal documentaries or a dose of drama, I highly recommend this.
A gentrified ghost story?
Ah the bbc…. I want to poke fun at this podcast but let’s just say that (spoilers), the evidence shows that it was a hoax. Now let’s talk production. We need a theme tune, so let’s wheel some people who sound like they’re fresh off the killing Eve set to do it, I guess you’re getting your moneys worth from them. Now we need a cockneye, someone who can represent Shirley the young girl in Battersea…. I know let’s get someone who sounds a lot like Lyra from “His magical gardening equipment” or whatever that drama was called. Of course she sounds nothing like her counterpart, maybe she would if she was an urban youth of today, or trans; authenticity when it “matters”. Insert workaday English actor to play chib and a gullible want-to-believe journo and there you have it. It’s sort of entertaining but slowly reveals itself like a derek acora possession and ultimately is a dressed up liberal letdown about as authentic as the story itself.