Episodes
| Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1: 63 Wycliffe Road | 20210121 | 20210329 (R4) | 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
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Consultant: Alan Murdie
A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in March 2021.
Strange events start at an ordinary house in South London. Is it a poltergeist? A paranormal cold case re-investigated through a thrilling blend of drama and documentary |
| Episode 2: Shirley | 20210122 | Danny meets the only surviving witness to the haunting - the real-life Shirley Hitchings.
What was it like living with a poltergeist?
Back in 1956, Harold Chibbett begins his investigation of 63 Wycliffe Road, learning more from the family about the shocking events, as objects appear to move of their own accord.
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 1950s London with a fascinating modern-day investigation into Britain's strangest ever haunting - a mystery unsolve | |
| Episode 3: Interview with a Ghost | 20210128 | 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 Hitching | |
| Episode 4: The Underground Exorcist | 20210204 | 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 Hitching | |
| Episode 5: Strange Bones | 20210211 | 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 Hitching | |
| Episode 6: Fright Night | 20210218 | 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 Hitching | |
| Episode 7: Dead Letters | 20210225 | 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 Hitching | |
| Episode 8: Darkness and Light | 20210304 | 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 sprin |