The Victorians had a lot of twisted fascinations, but their fixation on Ancient Egypt might be the darkest of the lot.

From 'mummy unwrapping parties' (yes, really), to gothic stories of romances with mummified bodies and beetles that came to life.

Was this a desire to connect with the past? Something darker? Or maybe both.

Joining Anthony and Maddy today is historian and author Dr Jay Sullivan, to help us uncover the truth.

This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.

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.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It all started when a huge storm drowned 40 men on Christmas Eve, 1617.

The people of Vardø, northern Norway, needed someone to blame.

What followed were devastating witch trials which featured one of the highest execution rates in Europe, and implicated the town's women and the surrounding indigenous population.

Joining Anthony and Maddy to delve into this icy world is author and historian Marion Gibson.

This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.

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.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Fire that struck London in 1666 was one of the city's darkest chapters. In this episode, Anthony and Maddy examine the accounts of people who witnessed the disaster at the time, tracing the story from its origin in Pudding Lane right up until its dying embers...

Who quickly did the Fire spread? How did the terrified population turn to scapegoating the innocent? And how did the aftermath of this catastrophe shape the city we know today?

Edited by Tim Arstall, Produced by Tom Delargy, Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.

You can now watch After Dark on Youtube! www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit

You can view the map of London referenced in this episode on Anthony & Maddy's instagram pages: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTcq3yzCvdN/?igsh=dmw5cXNwNGV6dWgz

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.

All music from Epidemic Sounds.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.