The Battersea Poltergeist

BBC Radio 4

A paranormal cold case, re-investigated through a thrilling blend of drama and documentary. The true story of one of Britain's strangest hauntings, with Dafne Keen and Toby Jones. Presented by Danny Robins.

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Episodes

Episode 1: 63 Wycliffe Road
21-01-2021
Episode 1: 63 Wycliffe Road
63 Wycliffe Road is an ordinary house on a quiet South London street, but in 1956 it becomes famous as the site of an alleged poltergeist. The strange events focus around teenager Shirley Hitchings – but is it a haunting or hoax? Ghost hunter Harold Chibbett arrives to investigate. This series blends drama and documentary to explore an intriguing paranormal cold case. As we hear the original haunting brought to life, host Danny Robins begins his own present-day investigation – what really happened to terrify the Hitchings family 65 years ago?Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping 8-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.Shirley Hitchings........Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett.........Toby Jones Wally Hitchings........Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings..........Alice Lowe Ethel Hitchings..........Sorcha Cusack John Hitchings........Calvin Demba Mrs Cameroo..........Amina ZiaWritten and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon BarnardConsultant: Alan Murdie With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2021.
Episode 3: Interview with a Ghost
28-01-2021
Episode 3: Interview with a Ghost
Danny explores possible links between the Battersea case and the Enfield Poltergeist, a famous alleged haunting from 1977. He meets two reporters who covered the case, one of whom claims to have been attacked by the poltergeist. We hear more from the real-life Shirley Hitchings as, back in 1956, teenage Shirley appears to communicate with Donald the Poltergeist, and her story becomes front page tabloid news, gripping the nation.Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping 8-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones Wally Hitchings…… Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba Ronald Maxwell……….Rufus Wright Joyce Lewis………..Miranda RaisonWritten and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon BarnardConsultant: Alan MurdieWith thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London' A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2021.
Episode 4: The Underground Exorcist
04-02-2021
Episode 4: The Underground Exorcist
A psychic medium offers to perform an exorcism to remove Donald the Poltergeist. Broken by sleepless nights and constant fear, the Hitchings family accept – but is this putting teenage Shirley in even more danger? As Danny continues his present day investigation of the case with the help of parapsychologists Ciaran O’Keefe and Evelyn Hollow, he meets a real-life exorcist to learn about the risks involved.Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping 8-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones Wally Hitchings…… Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba Harry Hanks…….. David Troughton Ronald Maxwell……….Rufus Wright Joyce Lewis………Miranda Raison Mrs Hanks……….Lizzie Roper Christina.........Amina Zia Written and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon BarnardConsultant: Alan Murdie With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
Episode 5: Strange Bones
11-02-2021
Episode 5: Strange Bones
After the exorcism, Shirley’s fame increases, but as she’s drawn into a press expose by two journalists, the world wants to know – is this a haunting or a hoax? At Number 63, the poltergeist activity seems to intensify, taking a terrifying new direction that puts the whole family in danger.Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping eight-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones Wally Hitchings…… Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba Lily Chibbett……..Kacey Ainsworth Ronald Maxwell……….Rufus Wright John Knight……..Dan Starkey Consultant…….Stephen CritchlowWritten and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon BarnardConsultant: Alan Murdie With thanks to James Clark, co-author of The Poltergeist Prince of LondonA Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
Episode 6: Fright Night
18-02-2021
Episode 6: Fright Night
After the press backlash, the Hitchings family fight to prove the haunting isn’t a hoax. They invite young journalist Joyce Lewis to spend a night at Number 63 Wycliffe Road – will she experience the phenomena that can prove Donald is real? Meanwhile, Danny spends his own night with a ghost, investigating a house that claims to have an active poltergeist, with sinister parallels to the Battersea case. Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping eight-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones Wally Hitchings…… Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe Joyce Lewis………..Miranda Raison Steve………………..Rufus Wright Written and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon Barnard Consultant: Alan Murdie With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London' A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
Episode 7: Dead Letters
24-02-2021
Episode 7: Dead Letters
The Hitchings family experience strange new phenomena, as drawings appear on the walls and rooms are violently trashed, but strangest of all are handwritten letters that appear, seemingly from Donald the poltergeist. Meanwhile ghost hunter Harold Chibbett makes progress in his attempts to communicate, becoming convinced he is on the verge of discovering Donald’s true identity. Danny assesses the new developments, alongside experts Ciaran O’Keefe and Evelyn Hollow. How can these things be possible? Are there other more human explanations for what is going on?Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping eight-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now.Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones Wally Hitchings……..Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe Lily Chibbett……..Kacey Ainsworth Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack John Hitchings……..Calvin DembaWritten and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon BarnardConsultant: Alan Murdie With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.
Episode 8: Darkness and Light
04-03-2021
Episode 8: Darkness and Light
Who wrote the letters? How can the seemingly impossible happen in front of multiple witnesses? Is this a haunting or a hoax?In this final episode, the investigation reaches its climax as Danny and the experts assess the evidence and look for answers to explain the strange events at 63 Wycliffe Road. As the modern-day investigators try to reach conclusions, back in 1956, there are still surprises left to spring… The Hitchings face a truly chilling event as Chib searches obsessively for the clues to back up his theories. Who or what is Donald? Written and presented by Danny Robins, starring Dafne Keen (His Dark Materials), Toby Jones (Detectorists), Burn Gorman (Torchwood) and Alice Lowe (Sightseers).With original theme music by Mercury-nominated Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, this gripping eight-part series interweaves a chilling supernatural thriller set in 50s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain’s strangest ever haunting – a mystery unsolved... until now. Shirley Hitchings……..Dafne Keen Harold Chibbett………Toby Jones Wally Hitchings……..Burn Gorman Kitty Hitchings……….Alice Lowe Lily Chibbett……..Kacey Ainsworth Ethel Hitchings……….Sorcha Cusack John Hitchings……..Calvin Demba Written and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Ciaran O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow Sound Designer: Richard Fox Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard Directed by Simon Barnard Consultant: Alan Murdie With thanks to James Clark, co-author of 'The Poltergeist Prince of London'A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2021.