After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal16 Maalis

The Human Cost of Fame

You might think the idea of “celebrity” is a modern invention. In reality, its roots stretch back centuries... perhaps even millennia. People have always been fascinated by the rare individuals who rise above the crowd and capture public attention. Whether admired or despised, the famous have always held a powerful grip on our curiosity.

In this episode, we explore the dark origins of 'celebrity': where it began, how it has evolved, and the strange ways it has shaped people's lives. We delve into tales of the Ancient Gods of Gossip to the Georgian actor who hired haters to heckle his rivals…

And who better to take us through this episode than Greg Jenner? Greg is a public historian, broadcaster and author of works including ‘Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity From Bronze Age to Silver Screen.’ He’s the host of the BBC Podcast ‘You’re Dead to Me.’

This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Tomos Delargy. 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.

Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click to place your vote on the Spotify mobile app: https://open.spotify.com/s/xhg6PJa

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

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(317)

Did Robin Hood Exist?

It's a story that's been around for a good 800 years, but is there any evidence that Robin Hood actually existed?Find out what really went on inside Sherwood Forest, how medieval outlaws lived, and wh...

28 Syys 50min

The Bloodiest Anglo Saxon Royal Murders

When the Romans left Britain in the 5th century, what happened next?The following centuries saw a messy and bloody struggle for power that left us with some gruesome royal murders.Taking us through th...

24 Syys 50min

America's 'Innocent Axe-Murderer' Lizzie Borden

Today we're revisiting an episode which explores one of the most infamous trials in American history. Lizzie Borden's story is breathtaking even today.In 1893 she was accused of using an axe to murder...

21 Syys 58min

How Grim Were Victorian Slums?

We've spent a lot of time in of Victorian London on this podcast- a world of cobbled streets, grimy buildings and crowded homes. But how accurate is this- what was it really like to live in the slums ...

17 Syys 53min

Dark History From The Caribbean Plantations

In 1675, a planned uprising by the enslaved people of Barbados was crushed before it had a chance to come to fruition. For three years, the conspirators' lives revolved around secrecy. But the discove...

14 Syys 1h 2min

When Medieval Peasants Attacked London

In 1381, thousands of ordinary people rose up against the Crown, marched on London, and came close to bringing England’s political establishment to its knees... In this episode, Anthony and Maddy are ...

10 Syys 1h 9min

Georgian London's Celebrity Criminal

What is it about a ‘bad boy’ that we love? That’s as true today as it was in the 18th century. In this episode of After Dark, Anthony and Maddy unravel the extraordinary rise, daring escapes, and fina...

7 Syys 55min

The Wild Story of America's Biggest Traitor

Benedict Arnold was celebrated as a war hero of the American Revolution before he betrayed George Washington and the Continental Army by joining the British.In today's episode Anthony and Maddy take y...

3 Syys 43min