“I know what I saw,” the haunting refrain that greats anyone visiting a garden shed in Walthamstow belonging to Danny Robins. The iconic theme music, by Lanterns on the Lake, signifies one thing – Uncanny.
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| Credit: BBC |
In case you have been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you may be unaware of the phenomenon that is Uncanny. Starting out as a podcast with a simple premise, provide a real-life story and then have experts from Team Believer and Team Sceptic review the evidence, it has evolved over 3 series, a book, a TV series and even a sell-out stage production. Critically acclaimed and housed by the BBC, it is also the starting point for my journey into paranormal investigation. But where did it start?
If you have read or listened to any of Danny’s interviews,
he has always had an interest in the paranormal starting from a young age but
considers himself a sceptic who wants to believe. He is a master of
storytelling and that is clear through the dramatic portrayals of The Battersea
Poltergeist and the events at Heol Fanog in The Witch Farm. If you haven’t
listened to these audio delights, I won’t give any spoilers but each is like an
episode of Uncanny on steroids, with dramatic presentation of the story, with
each section of the hauntings examined from a believer and a sceptical
standpoint.
The real-life accounts that make Uncanny what it is was not
Danny’s first foray into this field. Back in 2017 Haunted asked the
question “Do ghost exist? If not, why do we see them?” Over 10 episodes
accounts of racist, racing and racy ghosts (as well as many others) are
subjected to forensic examination through Danny’s coordination of experts and eyewitnesses.
Danny’s interest in real experiences and a simple social media appeal led us
all to Belfast, Case 1 and in particular room 611 of Adambrook Hall - giving
birth to the catch phrase “Bloody Hell, Ken!” (and Samuel James Paranormal.)
The eyewitness accounts cover all the things that go bump in
the night, from poltergeist activity and ominous shadows to cow-moving aliens,
life-saving angels and the possibility of time-slips. They are all given the
same level of scrutiny from the experts and then turned over to us, the great
unwashed, to put our two-pennies into the debate with regular catch ups and
updates along the way.
The Uncanny Community takes great delight in questioning and
offering their own theories or explanations into the subject’s story. This
debate is usually well mannered, supportive and doesn’t resort to the
name-calling or toy-throwing that other parts of the paranormal community
attract. One of my favourite debates comes from Series 2. Case 12: The Ghost
That Followed Us Home. The account from Carly is that a child ghost has
hitchhiked back to the UK after her family had attended a wedding in France. Skeletal
footprints photographed by builders on a chair could have been caused by dust
movement or this phantom child, but what was most interesting was the
appearance of photographs too disturbing for social media (and requiring a
visit to the episodes website).
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| Credit: BBC |
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| Credit: SJP |
As you can see there are similarities, and depending on vehicle and phone models would depend on the ease of creating the image, and then the subsequent sharing. High strangeness indeed but not necessarily paranormal and this critical thinking approach is what makes Uncanny, in my opinion, stand out from other paranormal documentaries.
It is very easy to simply accept, to follow a belief that
ghosts exists and stay happy in your own little bubble of knowledge. To
challenge, debunk or look at other possible causes is more difficult, but opens
up the world of possibilities from hallucinogenic mould spores to infrasound.
This is the critical viewpoint experts like Chris French and Ciaran O’Keefe
provide. Counterpoint to Team Sceptic are the experts from Team Believer,
including Evelyn Hollow, who provide the argument for the supernatural being
the explanation based on historical and parapsychological evidence and
experience.
Being the thrill seeker that I am, I like to listen to
Uncanny whilst out walking in the woods (usually on the night the latest
episode drops.) Headphones in and occasionally basked in the light of a full
moon. This is my happy place, a chance to listen to Mr Robins and Company present
the latest case file. This element was lost with the three TV episodes that
screened last year, and prompted another thought – why does the addition of
seeing the witness and their nonverbal communication make me more disbelieving
of their account? I’m not sure this
opinion was shared with the majority as I think bringing Uncanny to the small
screen opened up the community to another audience, and the name Miss Howard
would echo around the clustered groups (who were normally stood in the way)
when I was out shopping.
One of my lasting memories was the infrasound experiment,
where a group of students were taken to a hanger where infrasound was played in
a directed pattern. The spookometer (printed images of ghosts) readings
followed this pattern which would suggest sound frequency can influence
perceptions of hauntings.
I enjoyed that the format was not lost in the translation
from ears to eyes, and it was interesting to read a post from one of the
subjects that her account went deeper and many details were lost in the edit.
Hopefully this will provide an opportunity for some case updates in the near
future.
It is not just the cases that drew me into the world of
Uncanny as through his investigations Danny draws his audience into his own
life. We are given a rare opportunity to understand how paranormal research can
affect our nearest and dearest. Danny using his own house (and having to put an
expenses claim for new speakers) to test theories of noise transference in The
Battersea Poltergeist, not only involves his wife, Eva, but also his
neighbours. Several episodes open with the sounds of his children playing or
talking about the latest research intermingled with his own thoughts of how
much information he can share without disrupting bedtime and inducing
nightmares.
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| Credit: SJP |
Danny further draws us into his life in his book, Into the Uncanny. He presents his fears in such an honest way that you are with him on that treacherous path surrounded by porgs. His dogged determination for answers, starting out very much as a sceptic but eventually taking us to Rome, slowly unfolding the evidence and stories of all those he meets almost to the point where he has switched teams (or at least a middle ground Team Unsure).
This autobiographical adventure is used as a skeleton for
probably the greatest risk Uncanny has taken – Uncanny: I Know What I Saw. This
sell out tour, that I was lucky to see in Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre (Bloody
Hell Ken(t)) brings Danny’s shed on the road, spectacularly framed with tree cut-outs
and illuminated ‘Uncanny’ sign. The slow drifting mist of a smoke machine
accompanied by the low, atmospheric music set the scene with this curtain
warmer. As the houselights extinguished his mere presence on stage, shrouded in
his trademark red duffle coat, was met with thunderous applause and cheers from
the audience who were made up of believers, sceptics and those that had been
(reluctantly) dragged along.
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| Credit: SJP |
Danny’s infectious enthusiasm was palpable as he invited us to his office like an excited imp as he opened the casebook, a local story – The Post-It Note Poltergeist. The background was presented that our witness owned a plumbing shop in Strood, and soon became the occupant of the flat upstairs. Our witnesses’ life was joined by a whirlwind romance and with a baby soon on the way, the couple decided to take a romantic getaway before the sleepless nights and full nappies would become the norm. Set around Valentine’s day the romance was strong within this couple as our witnesses better half had created a heart-shaped mural of love out of Post-It notes, each adorned with a message of amore. This cardioid of love had been recreated as part of the set design.
As Danny, acting the return of our witness from their
weekend away, returned to the stage the Post-it notes fell to floor. We were
told that the notes were torn and scrunched up, scattered around the flat, but
more was to come as the kettle had been switched on and was left to boil dry.
The tension had been built but it was time to meet the experts, for this
production Team Sceptic was represented by Chris French and Team Believer by
Evelyn Hollow. As the pros and cons of this haunting were discussed, Danny
opened the conversation to the seated community in front of him.
Uncanny, much like Lego has an age range of 9-99. A brave 9
(“actually I’m 10”) year old, sat with her family in the gods, was given the
microphone and proudly declared that despite Chris’ opening arguments what had
occurred must have been a ghost (what other reason was there?). The chuckle of
appreciation for the candidness of the child was replaced by a round of
applause which was met by the angelic beam from her brave face.
The experts retired and soon we back into the case; noises,
footsteps and the increasing danger that someone or something wanted to harm this
couple. Knives came into the play as they were removed from the drawers and
placed in a circle, the stage manager gave the que and as if by magic (and to
the shocked gasp of many in the audience) a knife appeared, standing on its
point as if thrown.
Bought back again, the experts discussed and with house
lights raised so was my hand. Danny was walking towards me and I soon had a
microphone in my hand. A little star struck, my force ghost mere feet from me,
I battled with my fanboyness giving my name and asking whether there could be
an element of hallucination, contagion or (having knowledge of the area)
something to do with infrasound provided by the busy railway line that ran
close by the flat.
My theories prompted acknowledgement from Chris, who said
that if Ciaran O’Keefe were here would have jumped on the infrasound argument
but he definitely liked the hallucination from mould spores idea. Evelyn, whose
thesis concerned contagion and priming appeared to appreciate my input. As I
handed the mic back to Danny (my heart thumping in my chest) I felt validated
that maybe I did know something about the paranormal and these people who I had
been listening to for the past few months agreed with what I had to say.
The baby’s seat sliding across the stage closed the casefile
and the first act and I excitedly text Mrs J to tell her that I had done a
thing. Phone back into flight mode I settled back in my seat excitedly awaiting
Danny’s return for Case 2.
Dell’s story was much more emotional, but none the less
ghostly than the first. Birds flying into windows, the sounds of music blaring
and toys operating on their own had all the hallmarks of a generic haunting.
But this was more personal. Dell lying in bed was disturbed by the appearance
of her neighbour distraught looking for her children, the stuff of gothic
literature. Her parents had kept secret from Dell that her neighbour had died
in a car crash and they had gone to the hospital on that fateful night to take
care of her children until their family could be located. The tension between
what Dell experienced and the secret that her parents had kept from her was palpable,
only resulting with the parent’s truth being laid bare.
With the revelation of case 2, Danny invited the audience to
share their stories where the chilling finds from Tiny Tim’s were laid bare as
well as a fantastic account of a phantom elephant parade. Following bows and
rapturous applause, the houselights came up, the show had ended. But my night
had one more thing in store as I quickly grabbed my things and joined a queue
(because I’m British) to get my copy of Into the Uncanny signed and meet
my hero.
As the line shifted towards the table where Danny and Evelyn
were sat, I felt that grip of excitement around my heart. Taking a few breaths,
it was my turn and I walked up to the table where Danny signed my book. He
asked me if it was Ok if Evelyn signed it as well and I made a joke that it was
actually his book and if he was happy with Evelyn signing it, I definitely was.
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| Credit: SJP |
They say you should never meet your heroes but that sentiment couldn’t be further from the truth as I stood talking to Danny and Evelyn as if no one else in the world mattered. They were genuinely interested in what I had to say and appreciated that their work had birthed my own. A few photographs later and I was back outside, my insides warm contrasting against the cold night air. I floated back to my car and was soon on my way home excited to show Mrs J my book (and Team Believer T-shirt)
So do I recommend Uncanny? Absolutely! The presentation of
real-life lived experiences and the believer and sceptical responses works no
matter the presentation format. The glue that holds it all together is Danny
Robins and his ability to tell a story that sucks you in. If you haven’t drank the
Kool-aid yet then grab yourself a big glass and settle in – you have a lot to
catch up on.
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| Credit: SJP |
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