Spooky UK

Before Hollywood gave us silver bullets, full moons and hairy men with questionable hygiene, stories of humans becoming wolves were already being told thousands of years ago.

In this episode of Spooky UK, we’re going back to the beginning ,from the ancient Greek story of King Lycaon through medieval Europe and its beliefs about shapeshifting, curses and the supernatural, to some of the real people who were accused of being werewolves.

Where did the idea of the werewolf actually come from? Why have wolves been so closely linked with humans becoming monsters? And was the werewolf always the snarling creature we know today?

There are ancient curses, bizarre folklore, accusations of lycanthropy, and more than a few stories that make you wonder whether people genuinely believed their neighbours were turning into wolves.

And next time, we’ll leave the folklore behind and head into the world of werewolves in pop culture, from classic horror to modern cinema. We can't wait!

Sometimes life throws you a coincidence so bizarre that you can’t help but wonder… what are the chances?

In this episode of Spooky UK, we’re stepping away from ghosts and cryptids and diving into some seriously strange true stories. From a bullet that spent years embedded in a tree before finding its way back into the story, to a teddy bear stolen for a minute, and a very odd encounter with a barmaid that left Martin wondering whether reality had started playing tricks on him.

These are the stories that make you stop, scratch your head and say, “Hang on… what?!”

Are they simply extraordinary coincidences? A case of probability doing something spectacular? Or are there some things that are just a little too weird to explain away?

Join Helen and Martin for a collection of strange encounters, unlikely connections and downright head-scratching moments.

Sometimes there’s no spooky explanation… but it still gives you goosebumps.

Sources referenced:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/couple-together-at-disney-long-before-they-met/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2pr1njl9vo

Spooky UK welcomes its first ever guest — and what a guest!

This week, Martin and Helen are joined by Phil Hackett, Museum Manager in Leicester, for a conversation that takes us on a journey through history, art, ghosts, UFOs and some of Leicester’s most fascinating stories.

We talk King Richard III, the discovery of his remains and the strange historical legacy surrounding one of England’s most controversial kings. We head even further back into the past with the Jewry Wall and Roman Britain, before leaving history behind and getting properly spooky with ghost stories including Belgrave Hall and...dum dum dum...UFOs.

It's history, art and the unexplained all rolled into one episode, with a few surprises along the way.

And yes… this really is our first guest so please forgive the technical difficultes we expeience!

So grab a drink, turn down the lights and join us for a very special episode of Spooky UK.

Link to the Belgrave Hall video we talk about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDwSEti1hY

We’re back with part two of our deep dive into vampires and this time Martin takes the lead as we sink our teeth into the bloodsuckers of film, television, books, comics, and everything in between.

From the shadowy horror of Nosferatu and the vampire boom of classic cinema, right through to 30 Days of Night, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vampire: The Masquerade and, yes, Edward Cullen, we take a whistle-stop tour through the many different faces of the vampire.

Expect Dracula, fangs, blood, brooding immortals, terrifying monsters and a fair amount of vampire-related waffle as we chat about the characters and stories that have kept the undead alive in popular culture for generations.

So grab some garlic, avoid the sunlight, and join us for a bloody good conversation.

Spooky people! It's our first 2 parter! Before Dracula. Before Nosferatu. Before Edward Cullen started sparkling in the sunlight… there were the dead who refused to stay dead.

In the first part of our vampire double bill, we sink our teeth into the legends, folklore and real-life reports that helped create one of history’s most enduring monsters.

From the revenants of old world England and the origins of the word vampire, to tales of the undead spreading fear across Europe, we explore how the vampire legend evolved long before Hollywood got hold of it.

Join us where it all begins…

ANOTHER BONUS!

It's way too hot in the UK at the moment so remember those wonderfully strange magazines from the 1980s, packed with stories of monsters, mysteries and things that science couldn't quite explain?

No? Well Martin certainly does.

In this episode, we unbox a collection of old spooky magazines — the very same kind Martin's mum used to read, after tracking down some copies on eBay. And let's just say… they have aged to perfection!

In the first half, we take a look through the magazines together, discovering some wonderfully weird stories and gloriously old-fashioned artwork along the way. Then, in the second half, we give you our first impressions of some of the mysteries inside.

From the Loch Ness Monster and Sasquatch, to spontaneous human combustion and the strange world of aura photography, these magazines are a brilliant snapshot of how mysterious the world seemed back in the 1980s.

Will this lead to more spooky episodes? Absolutely!

BONUS EPISODE! Grab a drink, pull up a chair and join us for our second shoot the s*#t episode! Not our usual format, just us chatting all things paranormal.

Hey spooky people! We thought we were finished with Loch Ness...

After exploring the legend of Nessie and the strange connection between the loch and Aleister Crowley, we discovered that the area has another, much darker side.

Because Loch Ness isn't just famous for monsters.

It has ghosts.

In this episode of Spooky UK, we head back to the Highlands to explore some of the eerie stories, legends and alleged hauntings surrounding one of Britain's most mysterious bodies of water.

From phantom figures and mysterious apparitions to stories of tragic deaths, restless spirits and strange experiences reported around the loch, we ask whether Loch Ness has always had a reputation for being somewhere that things aren't quite as they seem.

What do the world's most famous cryptid and the world's most infamous occultist have in common?

This week on Spooky UK, we're diving deep (pun intended) into the mystery of The Loch Ness Monster.Most people know the legend of Nessie, but what is fact and what is folklore?

Could there really be a connection between Crowley's time at Boleskine House and the enduring mystery of the loch? Is it simply coincidence, or has folklore, history and the paranormal become tangled together over the last century?

Edt - We refer to a group of people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland as 'Pikes' but the correct term is 'Picts'

This week we have both researched four famous stories that captivated people for decades, but how many of them actually stand up to scrutiny?

From the eerie mystery of the Mary Celeste to the blood-soaked legend of Sawney Bean, the enchanting tale of the Cottingley Fairies, and the mind boggling spontaneous human combustion, we're separating the evidence from the embellishment.

Some of these tales may have perfectly ordinary explanations. Others may have been exaggerated over time. And a few... well, perhaps they were never true in the first place.

Join us as we ask the only question that matters:

Believe-a-bull... or Just Bull?

As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few disagreements, Helen trying to keep Martin on track (good luck with that), and a healthy dose of scepticism as we dig into the stories behind the legends.

What do you think? Which of these tales still has a grain of truth, and which deserves to be filed firmly under Just Bull? Get in touch at spookyuk666@gmail.com

Can our pets really come back to visit us after they've gone?

From mysterious phantom cats prowling the shadows to faithful dogs that refuse to leave their owners, even after death we're diving into some of the strangest ghost animal stories ever reported.

Martin explores eerie tales from around the UK and beyond, including his own spine-tingling encounter with a ghostly feline, the legend of Greyfriars Bobby, spectral black dogs, haunted horses, and other unexplained animal encounters that have left witnesses questioning what they saw.

Meanwhile, Helen keeps everyone grounded... at least until the conversation takes an unexpected detour into a deep-sea cry fest! Let's just say if you've never heard about anglerfish before, you may wish you'd kept it that way.

So grab a brew, settle in, and join us as we ask one very important question...

If ghosts exist... why wouldn't our pets come back too?

Mystery Triangles – Bennington, Bridgewater & Cannock Chase

What is it about certain places that seem to attract the strange, the unexplained, and the downright terrifying?

In this episode we head into three of the world's most infamous paranormal hotspots. We begin in the forests of Vermont to explore the chilling disappearances of the Bennington Triangle, where hikers, hunters and even an experienced guide seemingly vanished without a trace.

From there, we travel to Massachusetts and the legendary Bridgewater Triangle, a region where UFO sightings, Bigfoot encounters, ghostly apparitions, mysterious lights and Native American folklore have combined to create one of America's most active paranormal locations.

Finally, we bring things back home to compare these American mysteries with one of Britain's own paranormal hotspots – Cannock Chase. From reports of Black-Eyed Children and the Pigman to UFO sightings and ghostly soldiers, we ask whether these locations really share common characteristics, or whether our brains simply connect unrelated mysteries into compelling legends.

Are these places genuine paranormal hotspots? Are there geological or psychological explanations? Or is there something else lurking in these mysterious landscapes?

Join us as we compare the evidence, examine the folklore, and decide whether these infamous triangles deserve their eerie reputations.

Bonus episode! Can you really read one of the greatest horror novels ever written in a single day? Helen decided to find out.

In this episode we talk about what the challenge was really like, was it worth it, and how reading the novel in one sitting changed the experience.

We also dive into our thoughts on the book itself, exploring its themes, characters, and the elements that have made it one of the defining horror novels of modern literature. Along the way, we compare the novel with both the 1990 TV miniseries and the recent film adaptations, discussing what each version gets right, what they leave behind, and which captures the spirit of King's novel most effectively.

Whether you're a lifelong Stephen King fan, curious about tackling a reading marathon yourself, or just love talking horror, this bonus episode is for you.

Hidden among the woodlands of Leicestershire lie the atmospheric ruins of Grace Dieu Priory, a place steeped in nearly 800 years of history, tragedy, and local legend.

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of this medieval Augustinian priory, from its founding in the 13th century through its dissolution under Henry VIII, and the generations of stories that have surrounded its crumbling walls ever since.

Was Grace Dieu simply another religious house lost to history, or has something lingered among the ruins? We delve into the reports of ghostly figures, unexplained experiences, and the folklore that has made the priory one of Leicestershire's most intriguing historic sites and add our own investigation into the mix.

Whether you're fascinated by medieval history, haunted locations, or the hidden stories of Britain's past, this is a journey into one of Leicestershire's most evocative landmarks.

In this episode, we dive into one of Britain's strangest and most enduring mysteries, the terrifying tale of Spring-Heeled Jack. Was he a wealthy aristocrat playing a cruel prank? A mass hysteria that gripped Victorian London? A demon? Or something that defied explanation entirely?

We follow the story from the terrifying first reported attacks on young women through to the infamous encounters with soldiers and ordinary Londoners who claimed to witness a tall, cloaked figure with burning eyes, impossible leaps, and an unnerving laugh.

Join us as we investigate one of Victorian England's greatest unsolved mysteries and decide for yourself whether Spring-Heeled Jack was merely a man... or something far stranger.

This week we're heading to one of Britain's most atmospheric seaside towns, Whitby. Famous for its dramatic abbey ruins, chilling ghost stories and its connection to Bram Stoker's Dracula, Whitby has become a pilgrimage for paranormal enthusiasts, goths, and history lovers alike.

In this episode we explore:

The real connection between Whitby and Bram Stoker's Dracula,the haunting ruins of Whitby Abbey, local ghost stories and supernatural legends and discuss our personal experience there.

Places Mentioned:

Whitby Abbey - The iconic Gothic ruins overlooking the town. Stoker visited Whitby in 1890 and used the abbey, St Mary's churchyard and surrounding cliffs as inspiration for scenes in Dracula.

St Mary's Church - Reached via the famous 199 Steps. The graveyard overlooking the harbour features prominently in Dracula and is one of Whitby's most atmospheric locations.

Whale Bone Arch - One of Whitby's most recognisable landmarks and the meeting point for several of the town's ghost walks.

Dracua Connection - Whitby plays a major role in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. In the story, Dracula arrives aboard the doomed ship Demeter, which crashes into Whitby harbour during a storm. A large black dog is seen leaping ashore and running towards the abbey ruins, one of the novel's most famous scenes.

Sources and further information:

https://www.visitwhitby.com/

Whitby Walks (Dr Crank)https://www.whitbywalks.com/ghost-walk/

Bram Stoker's Dracula Experiencehttps://draculaexperience.co.uk/

Crypid fight night! This week, Martin and Helen dive into the strange and fascinating world of cryptids as they champion their favourite monsters: Sasquatch and Mothman.

From Native American legends and early eyewitness reports to the famous Patterson–Gimlin footage and the terrifying events surrounding Point Pleasant, we explore the history, evidence, and enduring mystery behind two of the world's most famous cryptids.

Expect theories, laughs, questionable science, and a completely unnecessary debate about what happens when Sasquatch and Mothman fall in love.

Join us for another weird and wonderful journey into the unexplained.

Sources & Further Reading

Sasquatch / Bigfoot

Mothman

Listener Question: If Sasquatch and Mothman met in the woods tonight, who walks away the winner?

Or would we all end up meeting their child... the legendary Mothsquatch? Let us know at spookyuk666@gmail.com

This week we’re discussing one of England’s most famous paranormal cases, the Enfield haunting.

This case attracted journalists, police officers and even Ed and Lorraine Warren! Nearly 50 years later it remains one of the most debated haunting cases ever reported.

Sources and further viewing:

‘This House Is Haunted’ by Guy Lyon Playfair

Interviews with Janet Hodgson recorded during and after the case

Films and Dramatations: 

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Get in touch at spookyuk666@gmail.com

This week we are heading to Pendle Hill in Lancashire to explore one of the most famous and tragic witch trials in British history.

We also examine the wider context of witchcraft fears in England at the time and discuss modern day paranormal reports.

Get in touch at spookyuk666@gmail.com

Sources:

https://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/the-lancashire-witches/on-the-trail-of-the-pendle-witches 

https://www.lancastercastle.com/history-heritage/further-articles/the-pendle-witches/

009 Shoot The S*#T - Ghosts, Cryptids & Questionable Opinions

Grab a drink, pull up a chair and join us for our first supernatural shoot the s*#t episode! Not our usual format, just us chatting all things paranormal.

Other creators mentioned in the episode:

Bonus episode! It’s bloody boiling in Britain so here’s a bonus episode because it’s too hot to leave the house! This one was a listener request so we’re stepping into the towering walls of Shrewsbury Prison, also known as The Dana, one of Britain’s most infamous and allegedly haunted prisons.

From Victorian punishment and executions to shadow figures, whispered voices and yet another Grey Lady, we explore the prison’s paranormal reputation, but are the hauntings supernatural or psychological?  

Follow and support - get in touch at spookyuk666@gmail.com with your own spooky tales, we’d love to hear them!

Sources & further reading:

https://www.shrewsburyprison.com

https://www.shrewsburyprison.com/blogs/ 

https://www.youtube.com/c/KalaniGhostHunter 

The Ghost Bunny Podcast

We received some questions following episode 005 about the Hat man so we decided to explore one of the most terrifying and mysterious experiences reported around the world, sleep paralysis.

After Martin shared his chilling encounter with the Hat Man back in episode 005 we decided to dive deeper into the phenomenon itself. 

Sources & further reading:

Dr Michael Breus Sleep Doctor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JVWjLheaJg 

Brain Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TWijdJddrc&t=41s 

The Cleveland Clinic: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-you-should-know-about-sleep-paralysis-and-sleep-demons 

https://www.tiktok.com/@paulinejchoii/video/7480709508294135086 

Get in touch at spookyuk666@gmail.com

In this episode of Spooky UK we dive into two chilling tales rooted in British folklore and paranormal mystery. Helen explores the legend of Mother Shipton’s Cave, one of England’s oldest and most fascinating folklore sites steeped in prophecy, superstition and strange happenings that have captivated visitors for centuries. Meanwhile, Martin investigates the terrifying cryptid know as The Owl Man, a winged humanoid said to stalk the sies of Cornwall.

So dim the lights, settle in and join us for another journey into the strange and supernatural.

Have your own story or paranormal experience? Send it to us at spookyuk666@gmail.com

Fancy visiting Mother Shipton's Cae? Check out mothershipton.co.uk

In this deeply personal episode, Martin shares an unsettling experience with the mysterious figure known as the Hat Man, a shadowy presence reported by people all over the world. We talk about what happened and why encounters like these stay with people for years afterwards. We also dive into the wider legend surrounding the Hat Man phenomenon, the chilling similarities in reported sightings and the theories about who or what this entity could be.

Join us if you dare…

We’re heading back to one of our all-time favourite cities in this episode – the beautiful and historic city of York. From it’s winding medieval streets and cozy pubs to ghost stories, city walls and unforgettable food York, is somewhere we can’t stay away from.

In this episode we’re chatting about York’s most famous ghost stories as well as some lesser known ones plus we discuss what keeps pulling us back, the places we always make time for and a few of the moments that make York feel like a second home to us. Come along as we relive our experience and celebrate everything that makes York so special.

Don't forget to check out our Instagram spookyuk666 to see all the photos we mention!

In this episode, we explore the eerie history and cultural fascination surrounding Ouija boards, from their origins as a Victorain parlour game to the pop culture status they have earned today.

But theory is one thing…actually using one is another. Join us as we attempt our own Ouija session, not entirely sure what to expect. Was anything reaching out to us or did a fair amount of chaos and canines just creep in? Don't forget to check out the pictures on our Insta @spookyuk666

In this episode we dive into a chilling personal experience from Martin’s time working at The Woodman Inn in Saffron Walden. What started as an ordinary job soon took a strange and unsettling turn. From eerie atmospheres to moments that left a lasting impassion, Martin shares his firsthand encounter with the unexplained.

Step into the haunting history of Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, where the tragic story of lady Jane Grey still lingers. In this episode we explore the life of The Nine Day Queen but history isn't the only thing that remains here. Visitors and locals have reported eerie encounters, unexplained sensations and a lingering presence that some believe is Jane, returning home...

Join us as we uncover the history, the mystery and the ghostly whispers of one of our favourite places.