E42: Ghostwatch, The Scariest TV Show Ever Made
Boo! Haha, only joking. Welcome to Long Distance, Bit Weird, a podcast from international comedy couple Sooz Kempner and Michael Balazo. One of them lives in the UK, the other in Canada. This week we have a literally terrifying episode for you. First off, Sooz and Michael have an eerie discussion about the upcoming American midterm elections, the recent Brazilian election and even Toronto's mayoral race. AaAhHhH. Then, Sooz tells Michael all about Ghostwatch, the infamous pseudo-documentary and horror mockumentary that aired on Halloween night in 1992. Presented as a live investigative BBC news broadcast looking into a poltergeist haunting a family home in London, Ghostwatch was watched by a staggering 11 million viewers. And it was so well done that quite a few of those viewers believed Ghostwatch was real. Upon airing, Ghostwatch triggered immediate national panic, thousands of complaints, and caused such an uproar that the BBC has never shown it again. But how were so many people tricked? Possibly because the program was hosted by trusted television personalities Michael Parkinson, Sarah Greene, Mike Smith, and Craig Charles. Or maybe because the child actors were so believable. Or maybe it's because deep down, everybody believes in the supernatural? Either way, listen up to hear all about the phenomenon that was Ghostwatch. PLUS: we present another edition of the hit segment "Actual Customer Letters to Wetherspoon News." Subscribe to the Long Distance, Bit Weird Patreon for bonus audio and video episodes, including our Ghostwatch watch-along. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS ATTENTION: HUMOUR FANS. Michael Balazo's new, much-anticipated 3rd standup comedy album "Pizza Pals" is out NOW! Recorded in November of 2025, Pizza pals is full of funny jokes and silly ideas, and it's available on Bandcamp! SHOWS! November 4th - Sooz Kempner: IMPOSTER @ Pleasance, London - TICKETS
