Lights On Still Scared

Episode 10 Haunted Theatres Part 1

Haunted theatres, ghostly backstage encounters, and a few very human legends come together in this episode as Graeme Milne and Karen Swanston dig into some of Britain’s most reported paranormal playhouses. From elegant old venues to modern concrete institutions, the stories here range from affectionate apparitions to unsettling empty corridors, unexplained footsteps, and a few famous names who seem to have stayed on after the curtain fell. You’ll hear first hand-style accounts and folklore around the London Palladium, Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre, Sunderland Empire, the old BBC Scotland HQ on Culduthel Road, and London’s Royal National Theatre. Along the way, the conversation explores why theatres so often collect ghost stories: long histories, strong emotions, backstage superstitions, and the eerie atmosphere of buildings that are often empty when everyone else has gone home. This is part one of a two-part look at haunted theatres, and it balances spooky detail with the hosts’ familiar humour, making it as much about theatre culture and memory as it is about the paranormal. Key Topics [00:00:03] - Introduction to haunted theatres and the episode’s focus [00:01:24] - The London Palladium: the woman on the stairs and Bruce Forsyth’s lingering presence [00:05:54] - Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre: the tragic 1942 lift accident and “Jake” the ghost [00:15:37] - Sunderland Empire Theatre: Sid James’s death on stage and the famous dressing-room haunting [00:23:33] - BBC Scotland HQ on Culduthel Road: grey lady sightings, screams, and poltergeist activity [00:26:54] - Royal National Theatre: shadow figures, moving trolleys, and ghost light traditions [00:33:59] - Closing thoughts and what to expect in Haunted Theatres Part Two Relevant Links London Palladium: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/london-palladium/ His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen: https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/venues/his-majestys-theatre/ Sunderland Empire: https://www.sunderlandempire.co.uk/ National Theatre: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ Bruce Forsyth (Britannica): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bruce-Forsyth Sid James (Britannica): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sid-James The episode leaves you with a simple question: are theatres haunted because of the stories people tell about them, or because so much life, performance, and emotion gets left behind in their walls? Either way, the next time the house lights go down and the stage goes quiet, it may be worth checking the wings, the dressing rooms, and the empty seats one more time.

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Episode 9 Haunted Houses Part 2

Episode 9 HAUNTED HOUSES: PART 2 Just when you thought it was safe to turn the lights off... We're back with another collection of chilling tales in Haunted Houses – Part 2. This week, we ask some very important questions... Why was Karen talking about an 80s pop group? Who—or what—was knocking at Granny's house? Which haunted home has left investigators scratching their heads for decades? And what other strange encounters await behind closed doors? As always, we'll be sharing a mixture of famous hauntings, lesser-known cases, and some of our own experiences, with plenty of laughs along the way. So grab a drink, dim the lights (or leave them on—we won't judge!), and join us for another journey into the unexplained. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or visit our website for all listening links. Have you ever heard unexplained knocking, footsteps, or voices in your own home? Tell us in the comments or send us your story through our website—you could feature in a future episode! lightsonstillscared.com/episodes

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Episode 8 Haunted Houses

Episode 9 – Haunted Houses What is it about an ordinary house that can become the setting for extraordinary fear? In Episode 8 of Lights On, Still Scared, Karen and Graeme step inside some of the world's most chilling haunted homes. From grand manor houses and isolated farmhouses to seemingly ordinary suburban properties, they explore the places where people claim the paranormal has made itself at home. But this episode isn't just about famous cases. Karen and Graeme also share some of their own personal experiences inside allegedly haunted houses—moments that have stayed with them long after they walked back out of the front door. From unexplained noises and unsettling atmospheres to encounters that still leave them questioning what really happened, they reveal the stories they don't often tell. Expect tales of shadow figures watching from the staircase, phantom footsteps echoing through empty rooms, mysterious knocks in the dead of night, objects moving without explanation, and families convinced they are sharing their homes with something they cannot see. Are these experiences evidence of lingering spirits, echoes of the past, or simply the power of suggestion? Join us as we unlock the front door and discover why sometimes the scariest places aren't castles or abandoned asylums... they're the homes people still live in. So switch the lights on... because after this episode, you may never look at your own house in quite the same way.

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Episode 7 Into Edinburgh's Darkness with Special Guest John Tantalon

This week on Lights On, Still Scared, we're joined by our first special guest, John Tantalon, creator of North Edinburgh Nightmares, paranormal investigator, storyteller, and one of Edinburgh's best-known voices on the city's haunted history. In this special episode, Graeme sits down with John to explore Edinburgh's darker side, discussing the ghost stories, forgotten legends and unexplained encounters that continue to fascinate both locals and visitors. From haunted closes and ancient graveyards to chilling eyewitness accounts and the city's most infamous paranormal locations, John shares the stories and experiences that have shaped his own journey into the unexplained. Karen joins the conversation throughout, listening in and offering the occasional insight from her perspective, making this feel like an evening spent around the table sharing ghost stories with friends. Together, the discussion explores why Edinburgh has become known as one of the world's most haunted cities, how folklore and history often intertwine, and why so many people continue to report strange experiences centuries after the events that inspired the legends. Whether you're fascinated by the paranormal, passionate about Scottish history, or simply enjoy a good ghost story, this episode offers a fascinating conversation filled with mystery, humour, and a genuine love of Edinburgh's rich and haunted heritage. So dim the lights, settle in, and join us for an evening exploring the stories that still linger in the shadows. Because in Edinburgh... history is never really buried.

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Episode 6 Haunted Palace & Castles Continues

Lights On, Still Scared – Episode 6: Haunted Castles & Palaces (Part 2) The ghosts are still rattling the chains, and we're not finished exploring Britain's most haunted historic buildings just yet. In Part 2 of our journey through haunted castles and palaces, Karen and Graeme uncover even more chilling tales from some of the UK's most legendary locations. From phantom nobles and tragic queens to mysterious apparitions seen by staff and visitors alike, we delve into the stories that refuse to stay buried. Why do so many ancient fortresses seem to attract reports of paranormal activity? Are these simply echoes of violent histories, or could something more sinister still linger within their stone walls? Join us as we explore centuries of murder, betrayal, imprisonment, and unexplained encounters from Britain's most iconic royal residences and strongholds. Expect ghostly sightings, strange legends, historical mysteries, and plenty of discussion along the way. So lock the gates, light the torches, and settle in for another night of haunted history. Because when the lights go out, some residents never really leave... 👻🏰 #LightsOnStillScared #HauntedCastles #HauntedPalaces #GhostStories #ParanormalPodcast #BritishGhosts #HistoryAndHauntings #KeepTheLightsOn

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Episode 5 Haunted Castles & Palaces

Episode 5: Haunted Castles & Palaces From royal residences to ancient strongholds, castles and palaces have witnessed centuries of triumph, betrayal, imprisonment, execution, and tragedy. Is it any wonder that so many are said to be haunted? In this episode of Lights On, Still Scared, Karen and Graeme explore some of the most fascinating haunted castles and palaces in the UK and beyond. From phantom queens and headless nobles to mysterious apparitions that continue to walk ancient corridors, we uncover the history, legends, and ghostly encounters linked to these remarkable locations. Join us as we delve into tales from some of the world's most famous royal residences and medieval fortresses, examining the stories that have endured for generations. Are these simply legends born from history, or could something still linger within these ancient walls? Turn the lights on if you must... but prepare to be still scared.

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Episode 4 More Haunted Tales From Edinburgh

The shadows of Edinburgh still have stories to tell. In Episode 4 of Lights On, Still Scared, we continue our journey through the city's haunted history, exploring more chilling legends, ghostly encounters, and unexplained mysteries that have lingered through the centuries. From eerie closes and ancient graveyards to restless spirits said to roam the capital's historic streets, these tales remind us why Edinburgh remains one of the world's most haunted cities. So dim the lights, settle in, and join us for another collection of spine-tingling stories that prove some legends never truly die. Will you make it to the end with the lights still on?

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Episode 2 Our Hometowns Leatherhead & Aberdeen Part 2

Episode 2 continues our journey into the strange and unsettling stories surrounding Leatherhead and Aberdeen. From eerie encounters in quiet streets and shadowy pathways… to chilling experiences that still can’t be explained… the stories only get darker from here. What was the dripping figure seen inside a block of flats? Why do some people believe something still lingers near the old buildings of Aberdeen? And which terrifying encounter left us genuinely shaken? Join us as we uncover more paranormal tales, ghostly sightings, and bizarre experiences that will make you think twice before turning the lights off. 🎧 Lights On… Still Scared — Episode 2. Keep the lights on.

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Episode 1 Our Hometowns Leatherhead & Aberdeen

In this debut episode, we dive into the eerie legends, ghost stories, and unexplained happenings from our hometowns of Leatherhead and Aberdeen. From shadowy figures and haunted buildings to local myths whispered for generations, we uncover the chilling tales that made us sleep with one eye open growing up. Expect creepy history, personal stories, and the kind of hometown hauntings that hit differently when they happened right where you live. So grab a blanket, keep the lights on, and join us for a night of local legends and real fear.

Episode 3 Haunted Edinburgh: Beautiful By Day Haunted By Night

In this episode of Lights On, Still Scared, we journey to the historic streets of Edinburgh, a city often described as one of the most haunted places in the world. A place where we now call home. From the shadowy closes of the Old Town to the infamous underground vaults, we explore the chilling legends, ghostly encounters, and dark history that have earned Edinburgh its supernatural reputation. Along the way, we share some of the city's most unsettling hauntings, eyewitness accounts, and paranormal tales that continue to intrigue visitors and locals alike. We'll also discuss some of our own experiences and thoughts on the paranormal, examining what draws us to these stories and whether there may be more to them than mere folklore. So dim the lights, settle in, and join us as we uncover the haunted heart of Scotland's capital. Are the ghosts of Edinburgh simply stories from the past, or do some spirits still walk its ancient streets? 🎙️ Lights On, Still Scared — because some stories stay with you long after the lights come back on.

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