Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we wander through London’s haunted past, uncover the humanity behind history’s ghost stories, and rediscover how kindness, comedy, and curiosity connect us all. From spectral legends to small acts of light in the dark, this episode celebrates the strange and the sincere in equal measure. First, Kevin is joined by historian and author Dr Maddy Pelling — host of After Dark — for a walk through the strange, true story of the Hammersmith Ghost. Together they unearth the 1800s case that blurred the line between myth and murder, ask why ghosts so often reveal the living more than the dead, and explore how our fears have always found form in flickering candlelight. Then, on our Parish Noticeboard, we turn from frights to generosity with the story of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF — the Halloween tradition that began with a few milk cartons and became a global movement.  After that, we open the Audio Archives to dust off a peculiar relic from the 1990s: the first ever bum dial. Part séance, part sitcom, it’s proof that even ghosts can appreciate good signal. Finally, the Victorian Parlour Games return with Ring My Gourd! — glowing rings, good humour, and just the right amount of Halloween mischief. So pour yourself something warm, get comfortable, and join us for a night of hauntings, humour and history in The Big Smoke. 🎟️ The Big Smoke Christmas Special is coming to The Phoenix Arts Club, Soho – 14th December. Expect ghost stories, lively games, seasonal music and festive mischief.  💬 Follow, review, and share the show with a friend — and remember: may your ghosts be friendly, and your gourds well-ringed. — Chapters (00:00) Intro (1:42) Pub Quiz: Trick-or-Trivia! (2:43) Maddy Pelling Interview (58:45) Live Christmas Show  (1:00:04) Parish Notices: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF (1:08:02) Audio Archives: Bum Dial (1:22:43) Victorian Parlour Games (1:24:57) Pub Quiz Answers (1:27:11) Outro — Links 🎓 Learn more about Dr Maddy Pelling 📚 Pre-order Maddy’s upcoming book Hoax 🎃 75 Years of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 🇬🇧 UNICEF UK 🌍 UNICEF International — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Assistant Produced by Adam Wright Original music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Audio Archives written by Aidan Parker and performed by Aidan Parker, Cait Roddam Jones and Kevin Bennett