Join Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney on the dark streets of Edinburgh as they investigate the infamous nineteenth century case of Burke and Hare: Scotland’s most notorious serial killers.
William Burke and William Hare murdered for money, killing in cold blood at least 16 times, so that they could sell the bodies of their victims to the anatomist table.
Anthony follows the story of their horrific crimes right up to Edinburgh’s high society, to the medical establishment so bent on scientific progress it fuelled a clandestine trade in bodies.
Maddy examines the evidence we have about the victims' lives, the poor and itinerant people who made their livings in Edinburgh’s crowded Old Town. Those unlucky people who tragically crossed Burke and Hare’s murderous path were targeted because of their isolation… but there was always more to their stories…
The murders could only go on for so long… and Burke and Hare’s downfall, trial and the public execution of Burke caused a media storm. The killings made headlines and haunted the public in Edinburgh and across the world.
Anthony and Maddy consider the unanswered questions of the case: how much did flamboyant Doctor Knox, who bought the bodies, know about where they had come from, how complicit were the men’s partners in their crimes… and what happened to William Hare.
If you'd like to hear more from Anthony and Maddy, check out their podcast for History Hit: 'After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal'. https://podfollow.com/1705694900/view
Up Next in Documentaries
-
The Medieval Dancing Plague with Elea...
When people think of Medieval diseases, hysterical dancing is not usually what first comes to mind. Yet in 14th and 15th century Germany, dozens of ordinary people claimed to be infected by the ‘dancing plague’. What was this mysterious phenomenon? What caused it? And was it even a real disease?
... -
Bring Out Your Dead: The Great Plague...
1665-1666 was not a good time for the people of London. Not only was most of the city engulfed by what soon became known as The Great Fire of London in September 1666, but months before the most infamous outbreak of disease in British history occurred: the Great Plague. Plague arrived in England ...
-
The Seven Deadly Sins: With Stephen Fry
Actor, writer and legendary broadcaster Stephen Fry joins Dan to talk about the 7 Deadly Sins.
15 Comments