Before Scotland Yard... before the Met Police... there was chaos . In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the wild, booze-soaked origins of Britain's very first police force – the Bow Street Runners . But these weren’t your average crimefighters. Oh no. These were drunken, brawling, and occasionally criminal men who blurred the lines between justice and disorder. Led by an eccentric magistrate and paid with public funds (and sometimes beer), this ragtag group laid the foundations for mod...
Jun 03, 2025•31 min
In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the astonishing true story of the Chevalier d'Éon — a master spy, decorated soldier, and diplomat in 18th century France who became one of the first openly transgender or gender-nonconforming public figures in recorded history. D'Éon led a double life in the shadowy world of Louis XV’s secret intelligence network, using diplomacy, disguise, and blackmail to survive the cutthroat politics of the French royal court. After years of military service and...
May 06, 2025•29 min
Before London had the Met, it had chaos. In this episode of Macabre London, we uncover the strange and often deadly story of how policing began in the city—from the drunken "Charlies" who fell asleep on the job, to the terrifyingly informal Hue and Cry system that let ordinary citizens legally execute criminals on sight. And let's not forget Jonathan Wild: the man who invented organised crime while pretending to be its biggest enemy. Join me as we dig into the murky underworld of Georgian crime,...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min
True crime lovers, horror fans, and mystery addicts – it’s time to get spooky! Join Nikki and Cheryl as they return for another chilling season of Killers, Cults & Queens ! This season, we’re diving deeper into the most twisted cult leaders, infamous serial killers, and bizarre conspiracy theories you won’t believe. From historic slashers to the murderer next door, expect shocking stories, eerie surprises, and spine-tingling twists. AND we've got plenty of new surprises for you... you won't want...
Apr 11, 2025•40 sec
☠️ Poisoned to Death in Plain Sight – Who Was The Croydon Poisoner? 💀 In the 1920s, an unknown killer stalked the quiet streets of Croydon, leaving a deadly trail of poisoned victims in their wake. But who was behind these sinister tea-time murders? Was it an elusive criminal mastermind, or did police completely miss the real killer who may have just been a little closer to home? Join me on Macabre London as we uncover the twisted tale of The Croydon Poisoner —one ...
Mar 25, 2025•34 min
Deep in the heart of Egypt, a horrifying discovery shocked archaeologists—a mummy with its mouth frozen in an eternal scream. Who was this tormented soul? And why did ancient embalmers leave them in such a ghastly state? In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the chilling mystery of the Screaming Mummy of Luxor. Was it a curse? A case of live burial? Or something even more sinister lurking in the sands of time? And even worse...why did the victorians like to eat mummies at parties?...
Mar 10, 2025•22 min
Jack Sheppard & Jonathan Wild: The Criminal & The Thief-Taker Who Betrayed Each Other In the dark and dangerous streets of 18th-century London, crime was everywhere—but so was corruption. Jack Sheppard, the legendary escape artist, and Jonathan Wild, London’s self-proclaimed ‘Thief-Taker General,’ started as allies, but their partnership took a deadly turn. One was a master thief who became a folk hero; the other, a crime boss masquerading as law enforcement. Their rivalry led to betrayal, captu...
Feb 24, 2025•31 min
Before Scotland Yard, before the modern police force, one man ruled London’s underworld—Jonathan Wild, the so-called "Thief-Taker General." But was he a crime fighter or the city’s first true crime lord? In this episode, we uncover how Wild manipulated both criminals and the law, shaping the way crime was controlled in 18th-century London. Discover the shocking history behind Wild’s double life, his role in the early justice system, and how his downfall influenced the creation of the modern poli...
Feb 10, 2025•42 min
Step into a new adventure with Macabre London! I’m thrilled to announce a special series where I’ll be narrating some of my all-time favorite books, starting with H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds . This iconic sci-fi masterpiece has been a personal favorite for years, and now I’m bringing it to you in audiobook form! To celebrate, I’m releasing Part 1 for free on the main podcast feed (there are ads on this one but all future episodes on Patreon are AD FREE!). If you love it as much as I ...
Jan 27, 2025•48 min
It’s the end of 2024, and I’m back with your Weird News Round-Up ! Forget the regular doom and gloom of daily news—this is all about the strangest, most head-scratching stories from the past year. 🌌 From Lexington, Kentucky, beaming out literal invitations to aliens, to mysterious unsolicited packages in the latest “brushing” scam, and a look back at psychic predictions for 2024—what came true, what didn’t! 👽📦✨ Plus, my own predictions for the year to come, and some of the w...
Jan 01, 2025•29 min
Welcome to another Weird News Round-Up where we delve into the strangest stories of 2024! This episode is packed with bizarre twists, from bear-themed insurance scams to mysterious space station mishaps. Here's what you can expect: 🐻 Bear Costume Insurance Scam Three people in California thought they could outsmart the system by blaming bear attacks for car damage—but when investigators found the "bear" was a costume, the claws of justice were quick to catch up! 💡 Light...
Dec 23, 2024•17 min
Prepare yourself for a whirlwind of bizarre stories in this episode of Macabre London! From cheese thefts to sheep-stealing antics and a surprise *high* in a pizza joint, it’s a wild ride filled with unbelievable twists and pun-filled fun. 🧀 *The Great Cheese Heist:* Discover how an audacious scam led to the theft of **22 metric tons of cheese** from Neal’s Yard Dairy. Learn how the public and celebrity chefs rallied to save the beloved cheesemongers from financial ruin, while the police worked...
Dec 20, 2024•13 min
Weird News Round-Up 2024: Spy Whale Mysteries, Cryptid Clowns, and Airport UFOs! In this year’s Weird News Round-Up , I uncover some of the strangest stories from 2024 that you won’t believe are real! From a mysterious beluga whale with alleged ties to Russian espionage to UFO sightings over China’s Tianjin Airport, this episode has it all. Plus, we revisit a beloved British cryptid who’s been immortalized in an 8-foot statue on the Isle of Wight. 🎙️ Stories: Hvaldimir’s Mystery : W...
Dec 18, 2024•16 min
### Podcast Description (SEO Optimized) 🌍 Weird News Round-Up 2024: August Edition!📰 Join me, Nikki as I delve into the bizarre, the baffling, and the downright unbelievable stories that didn’t make the regular headlines this year! In this August round-up, we explore: 🚘 *Driverless Chaos in San Francisco* : A glitch in Waymo's AI fleet turns peaceful streets into a honk-fest for sleep-deprived residents. 👶 *Phantom Twins* : A mysterious divorce case involving allegati...
Dec 16, 2024•12 min
🎙️ Weird News Round-Up July 2024: Orca Attacks, AI Meltdowns & A Forest Rescue Welcome back to the Macabre London Podcast ! In this episode, we’re diving into the strangest stories from July 2024. Forget the bleak headlines—this roundup is all about bizarre, fascinating, and sometimes darkly humorous tales from around the world. 🕒 What’s Inside : 1️⃣ A Shocking Forest Discovery – A woman chained to a tree in India raises questions about survival, visa evasion, and mental health. 2️...
Dec 12, 2024•15 min
*Weird News June 2024 | Mysterious Monolith Returns, Robots With Human Skin, and the Voynich Manuscript Decoded!* June 2024 has delivered some of the strangest and most fascinating stories of the year, and we’re diving into them all! Prepare for a wild ride as we uncover baffling discoveries, unsettling breakthroughs, and ancient mysteries finally solved. In this episode, we explore: 🛸 *The Return of the Mysterious Monoliths:* Another enigmatic monolith has appeared, leaving scientists and cons...
Dec 09, 2024•13 min
May 2024 was full of bizarre weird news headlines you won't believe! From a terrifying bee invasion to a dark web body modification scandal and a mind-boggling cat mystery, this month’s round-up is one you don’t want to miss! 🐝💉🐱 In this episode, we cover: *The Bee Infestation That Sounded Like Monsters:* A 3-year-old girl in North Carolina heard monsters in her closet, but it turned out to be 70,000 bees nesting in her walls! The full story of how her family discovered the “monster hive” is ...
Dec 06, 2024•17 min
Welcome back, fiends! Dive into the strangest stories of 2024 in this *Weird News Round-Up: April Edition.* From cosmic chaos during the historic solar eclipse to runaway cavalry horses galloping through London, these tales are nothing short of bizarre. 🌌🐴 *What’s in this episode?* - *Eclipse Madness:* A once-in-a-lifetime solar event dazzles astronomers, confuses animals, and even disrupts the internet! - *Galloping Mayhem:* London commuters were caught off guard as two army horses went rogue...
Dec 04, 2024•20 min
Welcome back to another episode of Weird News 2024 - we recap some of the strangest stories to have come out of March 2024. March 2024 brought us some of the most bizarre and unexpected news stories of the year, and we’re here to break them down for you! This isn’t your regular news round-up; this is where the strange and surreal shine. 🕺 *In This Episode:* 1️⃣ *The Return of the Paris Waiters Race:* Witness waitstaff dash through Paris with trays full of croissants and coffee in a revived trad...
Dec 02, 2024•15 min
Welcome back to another episode of Weird and Wonderful 2024 - we recap some of the strangest stories to have come out of February 2024. 🦈 Charlotte the Stingray : How did a stingray in North Carolina become a viral sensation for an impossible pregnancy? From theories of immaculate conception to unexpected tragedy, Charlotte’s story captivated the internet. 🦫 Punxsutawney Phil’s Prediction : The world-famous groundhog didn’t just forecast an early spring—he also became a dad! Discover the...
Nov 27, 2024•19 min
Get ready for the most bizarre, unexpected, and downright fascinating stories from January 2024! In this first episode of Weird News 2024, I’m diving into a hidden Victorian dress mystery, the viral kindness of Elmo, and the cutest (and tidiest) little mouse you’ll ever meet. Join me, Nikki Druce - your Spooky Specialist, as I uncover the unbelievable and fascinating tales from January 2024. If you’re a fan of strange stories, historical puzzles, and quirky events, you’re in the right place! Eac...
Nov 25, 2024•18 min
The Shocking Rayleigh Bath Chair Murder: WWII’s Most Bizarre Crime Story | Macabre London Podcast Step back into the dark streets of wartime England with Macabre London, where we uncover the chilling tale of The Rayleigh Bath Chair Murder. In 1943, a seemingly routine walk turned deadly when Archibald Brown, a 47-year-old man reliant on his bath chair, was killed by a hidden explosive device. Who would go to such lengths to murder a disabled man during one of the UK’s most turbulent times? Was i...
Nov 14, 2024•26 min
In this episode of Macabre London , Nikki Druce dives into the backstreets of London’s horror film history, focusing on the 1981 classic An American Werewolf in London . Known for its groundbreaking special effects and darkly comedic twists, John Landis’s cult hit left an indelible mark on both London’s movie scene and horror cinema. Join Nikki as she explores the origins of the film, its mix of American and British influences, and the ways it pushed horror forward with practical eff...
Oct 31, 2024•24 min
An electrified statue, a royal nuclear bunker hidden in plain sight and a lion washing ceremony? It must be time to once more delve into a few tall tales from the city that are often presented as fact. Today on Macabre London, we uncover a few more supposed myths about the city and see if we can bust them. ------------------------- TODAY'S SPONSOR: If you want to give magic mind a try, head to magicmind.com/macabrelt and use my code MACABRELT20 for up to 48% off your subscription.&nb...
Oct 14, 2024•26 min
Hi Ghouls, I'm so pleased to let you know the Killers, Cults, and Queen's , is back for its long awaited Season 2! I've managed to get an exclusive first listen ready for you all of the first 15 mins of episode one but be sure to listen in full to the first two episodes as soon as you can, they're ready and waiting for you right now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for Killers, Cults and Queens and we'll pop up. It's been a joy to be back in the studio with Cheryl ...
Oct 14, 2024•21 min
When two men appeared at a hospital after dark with a bag over their shoulder, they rang the doorbell of the dissecting room and a porter answered. When the porter told them he wasn’t interested in buying a body, the men asked if they could store the corpse there overnight to lessen the chances of them being found wandering around the streets with a dead body. When the porter agreed and the men left the bag on the table and scuttled off back into the night, a foot flopped out of it. ...
Sep 30, 2024•35 min
On the 8th of February 1983, police were called to a top floor flat in a suburban area of London. The man that had made the call was a plumber and the reason he’d got in contact was as he’d discovered something unusual. When residents started complaining of the drains being backed up and a strange smell emanating from the property, the plumber came to clear the suspected blockage, however what he found under the manhole cover would reveal a dark and terrifying story, one which had been kept secr...
Sep 16, 2024•32 min
On the 8th of February 1983, police were called to a top floor flat in a suburban area of London. The man that had made the call was a plumber and the reason he’d got in contact was as he’d discovered something unusual. When residents started complaining of the drains being backed up and a strange smell emanating from the property, the plumber came to clear the suspected blockage, however what he found under the manhole cover would reveal a dark and terrifying story, one which had been kept secr...
Sep 02, 2024•35 min
London has always been a progressive and forward thinking city. As any vibrant and changeable capital in the world will attest to, the city is only ever as interesting as its residents, and the different life experiences people bring to where they live, shaping and moulding the place into something great. Moving with the times, London has always been at the forefront of new trends and in 1888, one man made the residents of the city far more colourful, quite literally, by opening the first ever t...
Aug 22, 2024•25 min
If I mention murder in London during the year of 1888, one name will probably spring to mind, Jack the Ripper, but that wasn’t the only serial killer active in London at the time. A short distance away, someone was using the lifeblood of the city, the river Thames, as a place to dispose of their victims. Washing up on the shore, bodies were found along its inlets, discarded, dismembered and defiled, left to the mercy of the tidal waters in the hopes they would be washed away and forgotten. Howev...
Aug 05, 2024•38 min
