After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Black Death

Victorian Era

Henry VIII

Jack the Ripper

French Revolution

Ancient Egypt

True Crime

Samuel Pepys

London

Salem Witch Trials

Plague

Joseph Merrick

Christianity

Charles II

Titanic

Civil War

Easter Rising

Stonehenge

Thomas Cromwell

Witch Trials

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: Myth... more

6.2k ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	292	Founded	3 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	HistoryTrue Crime

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Latest Episodes

The Sicilian Catacombs of the Living Dead

*Warning: this episode contains discussions of child death*

Deep beneath the sunny streets of Palermo Sicily, the Capuchin Catacombs are home to over a thousand people, most of them still standing in their Sunday best.

Why did the residents of the ... more

Yesterday • 51 min

How Boudica Took On The Roman Empire

Ancient Britain was occupied by the Romans, and tension was building with local tribes.

Their brutal occupation reached a breaking point.

So what happened when Queen Boudica stood up to the might of the Roman Empire? Bloody battles followed and Rom... more

8 Jun 2026 • 58 min

The Gruesome History of Sexual Disease

*Warning: this episode contains discussions of puss*

Gonorrhea and syphilis are no laughing matter, especially in a time before antibiotics.

How were symptoms first recorded and what were the disturbing treatments people endured?

Joining Anthony t... more

4 Jun 2026 • 1 hr 3 min

YouTube

Who tried to kill Queen Victoria?

Queen Victorian was an icon of Britain at the zenith of its power... but that didn't mean she was invulnerable to attack. In today’s episode, we’ll be exploring some of the many assassination attempts on Victoria's life. We’ll be discussing the massi... more

1 Jun 2026 • 45 min

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Number of Listeners

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Recent Guests

Campbell Price

Egyptologist, curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum; honorary research fellow at the University of Liverpool

Manchester Museum

Episode: Inside the Egyptian Underworld

Verity Babbs

Presenter, comedian, and art historian; author of The History of Art in One Sentence

Independent/Author

Episode: 400 Year Old Artist's Dark Revenge

Caroline Dodds Pennock

Professor of International History, author of Bonds of Blood, Gender, Lifecycle, and Sacrifice in Aztec Culture; On Savage Shores, How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe

University of Sheffield

Episode: Human Sacrifice In The Aztec Empire

HRH Aphrodite

Drag artist, historian, and commentator brought in to discuss queer history and performance

Independent/History Hit collaboration

Episode: The Victorian Sex Scandal of Fanny & Stella

Dr. Alexandra Dold

Doctor of history and Outlander scholar

University/academic circles referenced in episode

Episode: The Real Outlander

Cat Byres

Historian/Paranormal researcher

History Hit

Episode: The Man Who Ate Everything

Greg Jenner

Public historian, broadcaster and author

BBC You're Dead to Me; History Hit

Episode: The Human Cost of Fame

Dr. Jess Venner

Ancient historian and archaeologist; author of Lost Voices of Pompeii

History Hit

Episode: Who Killed Julius Caesar?

Melissa Mercury

Professional tarot reader and lecturer on the history of tarot

Episode: Mysterious History of Tarot Cards

Hosts

Maddy Pelling

Co-host; historian and author; Host of After Dark

Anthony Delaney

Host; historian; co-host; guides discussion with hosts

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 6.2k ratings

Vehemently Anti-male
Entertaining and informative but they constantly mock males and vocally underscore how most men are evil, to an annoying extent. Like, I get it, men are the root of all evil and all women were justified in any crime committed.
Apple Podcasts
3
WarsawMike
United States21 days ago
Better production please
The hosts talk over one another - especially Maddy who also makes a lot of verbal affirmations which distracts from the content. Stories are interesting and worth the time. I tend to enjoy the more scholarly history podcasts but this one is a nice change of pace. Speaking of pace, please talk slower.
Apple Podcasts
3
thicks51
United Statesa month ago
A joy to listen to!
Antony & Maddy are a wonderful double act. The banter between them is hilarious. Anthony always makes me laugh. Such a variety of topics. I look forward to each episode
Apple Podcasts
5
BeverleyB
United Kingdoma month ago
Love this podcast!
Maddy and Anthony are a great double act
Entertaining, interesting a really good listen
Love the diversity of topics and quirky characters
Apple Podcasts
5
catriona kennard
United Kingdoma month ago
Favorite history podcast
I listen to a good deal of history podcast (mostly from History Hit) and After Dark is easily my favorite, not just for the subject but the chemistry between Maddy and Anthony. It’s relaxed and soothing, a nice change of pace from most history shows which can be too staid and academic.
Apple Podcasts
5
Blue Meanie 1138
United Statesa month ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the strong historical grounding and chemistry between hosts.

Guests are typically experts, which adds credibility and fresh angles to familiar topics.

Feedback highlights the show's engaging mix of serious history and accessible storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify	#45	United States/History
Apple Podcasts	#36	United States/History
Spotify	#171	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Spotify	#11	United Kingdom/History
Spotify	#123	United Kingdom/Trending
Apple Podcasts	#100	United Kingdom/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside the Egyptian Underworld

Q: What did the ancient Egyptians believe?

They believed knowledge and ritual practice—rather than mere belief—guided the soul through a complex system of gods, rites, and texts, with the soul consisting of multiple aspects (Ka, Ba, Sakh, etc.) and the aim of transforming the body to dwell with the gods after death.

Ancient Rome's Bloodiest Murders

Q: Is there one particular murder case that stands out as Emma's favorite?

Emma's favorite is a domestic murder where a husband threw his wife out of a window on the Palatine Hill, a case that reflects high-status crime and social dynamics, including potential family abuse, making it a rare clear example of interpersonal Roman murder.

Human Sacrifice In The Aztec Empire

Q: Why did the Aztecs practice sacrifice, and what role did religion play in everyday life?

Sacrifice was rooted in a cosmology where blood and ritual sustenance maintained world balance and the sun's movement. It was integrated with daily life through regular festivals, education, and governance, not just as a distant religious ritual.

Human Sacrifice In The Aztec Empire

Q: What are the sources that give us insight into Aztec culture, and how reliable are they?

The main sources are Spanish accounts, later ethnographic texts like the Florentine Codex, and indigenous continuities written under colonial influence. They are biased and often framed for evangelical or political purposes, so we must read them critically and combine with archaeology.

Who Killed Julius Caesar?

Q: What was the political climate like in Rome just before Caesar's murder?

The hosts describe a republic where power was increasingly concentrated in strong leaders who could mobilize popular loyalty, with generals expanding influence and the Senate losing traction, ultimately creating a prelude to civil conflict.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers historical storytelling around dark, mysterious, and often contested topics—ranging from witch trials and hauntings to ancient necromancy and infamous assassinations. Episodes pair scholarly context with lively banter, highlighting primary sources, contested narratives, and the human stories behind big historical myths. A notable strength is the balance between rigorous analysis and engaging, accessible storytelling, often featuring expert guests who illuminate niche angles (art history, archaeology, gender history) and co-hosts who bring warmth and humor to dense material.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Not Just the Tudors
2. Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
3. Gone Medieval
4. The Ancients
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 292 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Campbell Price
2. Verity Babbs
3. Caroline Dodds Pennock
4. HRH Aphrodite
5. Dr. Alexandra Dold
6. Cat Byres
7. Greg Jenner
8. Dr. Jess Venner

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