Scarred For Life

What makes a poem scary? Can poetry capture the horrors of childhood, and why do some of the things that frightened us when we were young stay with us for life?
This week on Scarred for Life, we’re joined by the brilliant Robin Ince who's returning for another wonderfully wide-ranging conversation about horror, poetry, creativity and the things that leave a lasting impression on us.

Robin talks about his love of writing poetry, from celebrating horror legends like Peter Cushing to exploring childhood anxiety, loneliness and the experience of being the quiet kid at school. He even treats us to readings of some of his own work, including a moving poem about the love between Peter Cushing and his wife, Helen, and a powerful piece about finding your place in the world....and of course, a little ditty about Killer Crabs - the musical he just did for one night only with Josie Long and Reece Shearsmith at Latitude Festival.

We also explore the darker side of poetry, including Edgar Allan Poe, William Blake and the gothic imagery that makes certain poems genuinely unsettling. Robin shares his thoughts on why poetry is often misunderstood, how the way we’re taught literature at school can kill our enthusiasm for it, and why you don’t need to follow a set of rules to call yourself a poet.
And because this is Scarred for Life, there’s plenty of horror along the way. Robin shares his childhood fascination with horror films, including the book that introduced him to the genre at just eight years old, and tells us about his gloriously chaotic theatrical readings and musical performances inspired by Guy N. Smith’s killer-crab novels, including Night of the Crabs.

We also get into the future of creativity, the rise of artificial intelligence, and why Robin believes we should be more concerned about human greed and the people controlling technology than the technology itself.
#RobinInce #ScarredForLife #ScaryPoetry #HorrorFilms #PeterCushing #EdgarAllanPoe #GothicHorror #Poetry #ClassicHorror #BritishHorror

🎃 Welcome to a very special Scarred for Life Halloween episode.
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Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon
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Come and See Scarred For Life LIVE with special guest Rhys Thomas - Sunday 18th October at The Bedford - London - if you can't make it in person, buy tickets for the livestream!

Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineup

This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence welcome back writer, paranormal psychologist and Uncanny star Evelyn Hollow!

Evelyn returns with her brand new book, Hollow's Hauntology, a fascinating compendium of mythical creatures, monsters and paranormal phenomena from around the world. From the origins of vampires and the terrifying creatures of Scottish folklore to Bigfoot, Slender Man and the monsters that might still be lurking in unexplored corners of the planet, there's plenty to keep you awake at night.

Along the way, Evelyn explains why she hated the recent remake of Nosferatu, reveals the horrifying Scottish creature she thinks deserves more attention than the Loch Ness Monster, and discusses why folklore and supernatural beliefs are enjoying a resurgence.

Plus, why do cultures across the world invent similar monsters? Should children be encouraged to read frightening books? And could the internet be creating an entirely new generation of mythical creatures?

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Come and See Scarred For Life LIVE with special guest Rhys Thomas - Sunday 18th October at The Bedford - London - if you can't make it in person, buy tickets for the livestream!
Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineup

In another of our special Halloween mini series during the month of October, we’re joined by legendary British horror author Ramsey Campbell, one of the most acclaimed and influential voices in modern horror fiction. From Lovecraftian cosmic horror and classic ghost stories to psychological terror and the unsettling darkness hidden inside ordinary life, Campbell has spent more than six decades crafting fiction that gets under readers’ skin.
Ramsey reveals the childhood experiences that first taught him to be afraid—including a genuinely disturbing Rupert Bear Christmas story, “Rupert’s Christmas Tree,” and the eerie illustrations that stayed with him long after childhood. We explore how those early encounters with the supernatural helped shape his imagination, his love of weird tales, and his eventual path into professional horror writing.

We also go deep into the craft of horror. Where do frightening story ideas come from? Has Ramsey ever experienced writer’s block? How does he continue generating fresh ideas after more than 60 years in the genre? And what does it actually take to write horror that lingers with readers long after they finish the final page?
Ramsey discusses the writers who influenced him, including H.P. Lovecraft, and explains why he always carries notebooks filled with ideas, revealing why rewriting is one of the most important—and most enjoyable—parts of his process. He also shares practical advice for aspiring horror writers, from finding ideas in everyday life to trusting suggestion, atmosphere, and the reader’s imagination.

With a career spanning more than 60 years, Ramsey has also met some of the biggest names in horror literature. From Robert Bloch and Fritz Leiber to Stephen King, Dennis Etchison and Karl Edward Wagner, he’s spent decades rubbing shoulders with the writers who helped shape the genre. But perhaps the loveliest revelation is that he and fellow British horror author James Herbert became firm friends after meeting in the 1970s, when Stephen King first came over to Britain and the pair arranged to meet him. Ramsey also shares memories of attending the early World Fantasy Conventions in America, where he encountered so many of the writers whose work helped define modern horror.

We also explore how horror fiction has changed over the decades, why the supernatural remains so powerful, and why the familiar world can become far more frightening than any monster. Ramsey reflects on the difference between showing audiences something terrifying and allowing dread to grow quietly in their minds.
If you love horror books, supernatural fiction, ghost stories, weird tales, classic horror authors, H.P. Lovecraft, M.R. James, or behind-the-scenes conversations about the creative process, this Halloween deep dive with Ramsey Campbell is essential listening.

🎃 Welcome to a very special Scarred for Life Halloween episode.

Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineup
To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm
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Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come and See Scarred For Life LIVE with special guest Rhys Thomas - Sunday 18th October at The Bedford - London - if you can't make it in person, buy tickets for the livestream!
Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineup

What would happen if you took a group of ordinary people, dropped them into an abandoned American town with no running water, no electricity and barely any food, and told them to survive for 28 days?

That’s exactly what happens in Channel 4’s Apocalypse, and this week on Scarred for Life, we’re joined by producer Jo Harcourt-Smith and contestant Stephen McKell to find out what it’s really like to live through it.
Stephen spent 28 days inside the abandoned Indiana location, where hunger, exhaustion, social tension and the constant pressure of survival pushed the contestants far beyond their comfort zones. We hear about food being stolen, rivalries developing, the psychological effects of hunger, going without phones or TikTok for a month, and the surprising ways people change when survival becomes the only thing that matters.

Jo also reveals what went into creating the experiment, how contestants were psychologically assessed and supported, and why the producers deliberately chose ordinary people rather than survival experts.
But then we get to the real scars…

Jo reveals her lifelong fear of getting lost, abandoned buildings and labyrinths, while Stephen explains how Deep Impact gave him a lifelong fear of tidal waves and why watching Scream 2 as a child left him terrified of Ghostface for years.
There’s also a 1970s survival manual, childhood prepping, haunted psychiatric buildings, Gremlins, the terrifying prospect of being trapped in a maze, and plenty of discussion about the fears and films that can stay with us long after childhood.

So… could YOU survive 28 days in an apocalypse?
And what childhood film or nightmare has stayed with you for years?
📺 Watch Apocalypse on Channel 4.

🎃 Welcome to a very special Scarred for Life Halloween episode.
Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineup
To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm
Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279
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Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon
#Horror #APOCALYPSE #HorrorMovies #ScarredForLife
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Leigh Francis — the man behind Keith Lemon, Avid Merrion and Bo’ Selecta! — joins Scarred for Life to talk about the things that genuinely scare him, the films that shaped him, and the strange experiences that have stayed with him for decades.
Leigh reveals his three scars: The Exorcist, frogs and long division. From watching The Exorcist as a child and being terrified by its demonic themes, to a childhood encounter with a frog that left him with a lifelong fear of amphibians, Leigh explains where some of his biggest fears came from.

He also talks about growing up obsessed with films, horror, comedy and physical media, getting into older-rated movies as a kid, and why 1970s horror still has a particular ability to unsettle him.
But this is also a conversation about the career behind some of Britain's most recognisable comedy characters. Leigh talks about creating Avid Merrion, the origins of Bo’ Selecta!, his love of celebrity culture, working on Through the Keyhole, Keith Lemon, Celebrity Juice, and how social media has completely changed the idea of celebrity.
There are stories about Star Wars, collecting movie memorabilia, famous clothes, Pamela Anderson, horror films, art college, long division, and why Leigh would much rather draw something than deal with numbers.
Leigh also talks about making things independently for YouTube, his Keith Lemon Forever channel and his Work Experience series — and explains why Keith Lemon is very much a fictional character rather than Leigh himself.

Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineup
To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm
Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279
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Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon

#LeighFrancis #KeithLemon #BoSelecta #AvidMerrion #ScarredForLife #TheExorcist #Horror #Comedy
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