BBC Sounds

“The Mackenzie Poltergeist, the most dangerous and violent poltergeist in the world.”

In the second of two editions recorded at the inaugural Uncanny Con, we have Laura Whitmore, fresh from her starring role in 2:22 A Ghost Story, and Ciaran O’Keeffe, our resident ‘Debunker in Chief’, in conversation, discussing brand new listener cases.

A sinister misogynist from the 17th century by the name of George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, AKA ‘Bloody Mackenzie’, is allegedly attacking young women in showers, following a scary turn in the catacombs of Edinburgh during a ghost tour. I can personally testify that those ghost tours are perfect nightmare fuel, and as Gemma, the witness in this case, muses, it’s hard enough battling sexism from living men, never mind the “bloody dead ones coming after you too!” It does seem fishy that only the young women were attacked… until an intelligent and erudite audience member with professional experience tending to bruises points out that there is a very easy medical explanation. This gets a standing ovation from Ciaran, the “Uncanny equivalent of the Paul Hollywood handshake”!

Sophia’s tale follows this, one of late grandmothers and electric keyboards… an electrical surge is plausible, one that knows the deceased’s favourite tune? Less so! It was definitely her… wink, wink.

Next, one of the biggest bombshells yet – Ciaran has seen a UFO! Before we can get too excited, he rightfully points out that ‘Unidentified Flying Object’ does not mean alien… spoilsport, Ciaran! Couple that with a WWII story that could be debunked by a Ouija-board confession from a similar case – “I tricked my friends… after 10 minutes it was boring!” and I’d say it’s 3-1 to Team Sceptic this week… but who’s keeping score?

Verdict: A lively conversation, deconstructing some spooky stories from the Uncanny Community. 7/10

Claire Smith