Since 2017, Danny Robins has dedicated his life to investigating the paranormal, from ghosts and ghouls to UFOs. As the creator of the hit podcast Uncanny, he has interviewed countless witnesses of uncanny experiences, covering poltergeists, UFO sightings, and more. Now, his latest spin-off, Uncanny: Cold Cases, takes a different approach by investigating some of the UK's most notorious historical paranormal cases.
The Black Monk of Pontefract
Robins told Metro that one case in particular chills him to the bone: the Black Monk of Pontefract, a poltergeist case from Yorkshire. 'We've got candlesticks levitating and chucking themselves at a vicar,' he explained. 'Eggs exploding in front of people's faces, disembodied gloves dancing in the air, writing on the wall. It builds up to actual potential physical harm, where people seem to receive injuries from a poltergeist. If you put yourself in the shoes of that family, it is truly terrifying.'
What makes the Black Monk so frightening? Robins describes it as a haunting that 'feels like something out of a Hollywood movie.' He recalled a moment where a crucifix fired across the room, attached itself to a girl's back, and left what felt like a burn mark. 'If you accept the fact there are two witnesses, that suggests the impossible is possible. It implies the ghost had the intention to scare and to hurt.'
Avoiding the Demonic Label
Interestingly, Robins is reluctant to label the case as demonic. Across all his series, he has never mentioned demons or the demonic. 'It's tricky territory,' he said. 'If you watch films like The Conjuring, they're constantly telling people they have a demon. If you did that in real life, it's incredibly damaging. Even telling someone their house is haunted can have huge implications. We take the ethical side very seriously.'
Robins also noted that the concept of demonology is specific to Northern European and American religious ideas. 'In other parts of the world, the idea of God and the devil is entirely different. If you're not religious, why would you believe in demons? It's hugely controversial territory. We try to stick to the realms of human psychology.'
Other Cold Cases
Uncanny: Cold Cases explores several famous cases: Episode 1 covers the Black Monk of Pontefract; Episode 2, Return to East Drive; Episode 3, the White Mountain UFO; Episode 4, the Cock Lane Poltergeist; and an episode on the Sandown Clown.
The Sandown Clown case involves a 1973 encounter where two children met 'Sam,' a creature who claimed not to be a ghost. 'Is it a ghost? A UFO? Neither? Both?' Robins mused. 'A little girl on the Isle of Wight encountered this clown-like inhuman character. To us, it feels creepy, but the kids viewed it as a playfellow. It links to her dad seeing UFOs. It's deeply odd, like a folkloric spirit come to life, defying explanation.'
Why These Cases Endure
Robins finds it frustrating that he cannot interview the original witnesses, but he enjoys bringing lesser-known stories to life. 'These cases have mysteries at their heart that feel inexplicable. Unlike Amityville, which is now regarded as a sham, these cases have stood the test of time.'
'A lot of these cases are stories we've been familiar with since childhood,' he added. 'Coming back to them with everything we've learned from Uncanny feels like we can bring useful insight.'
Uncanny: Cold Cases airs weekly on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds, and is also available on the Uncanny YouTube channel.
