Best Rob Kirkup Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 108 - Bramshill House 29:03

1d ago29:03

29:03

In episode 108 we head to a mansion in Hampshire built in the early 17th century. I will tell you all about this building which was the home of aristocracy, and kings and queens for almost 400 years, but now stands silent, empty and abandoned whilst currently up to sale. This grand house is infamous as it is believed to be haunted by at least 14 se…

1
52. Games With Character Creators 1:36:03

8d ago1:36:03

1:36:03

This episode's category caused a bit of consternation amongst the lads. Maybe that's to be expected, what with Steve ‘I don’t create characters - just make sure the hedgehog is blue’ Andrews, and Rob ‘I don’t understand any categories anymore. Why can’t we have games with bikes instead of this woke nonsense?’ Kirkup on the show. But hey, we've got …

1
May Patreon Teaser - Berwick-upon-Tweed After Dark 6:52

8d ago6:52

6:52

In the 33rd Patreon bonus podcast I’m back in the Scottish borders, spending some time in the most northerly English town. This is a place that I have a huge fondness for, so much so, that this is a place I took you on a ghost walk last Halloween. You join me spending time here on a bit of a break, but despite this supposedly being a bit of rest an…

1
Ep 107 - Glasgow Necropolis 34:53

15d ago34:53

34:53

In episode 107 I head north of the border to a stunning cemetery in Scotland’s largest city. This city of the dead overlooks the city of the living, and its most prominent monument celebrates it’s 200th birthday this year, predating the first burial here. With 50,000 of the city’s dead buried here, it comes as no surprise that this place has long b…

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51. Rare and Expensive Games 1:25:04

19d ago1:25:04

1:25:04

Get your wallet out, you cheap bastards, because in this episode we're nominating games that are rare and/or expensive. You can choose your voting choice for the Hall of Fame based on the rarest, most expensive or just the best game (probably do that). In an explosive pod, Rob nominates something fucking ridiculous and we try to track down and live…

1
Bonus Episode 20 - Preston Tower 37:52

22d ago37:52

37:52

Originally released for Patreon supporters in April 2024 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 20th Patreon bonus podcast you join me on location at a 14th century pele tower in Northumberland, constructed during uncertain times when England was at war with Scotland, and being so close to the border required this tower to be fortified.…

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Ep 106 - The Ghosts of Salem Part 3 1:05:00

29d ago1:05:00

1:05:00

In episode 106 we bring our time in an incredible, yet horrifying city in Massachusetts to a close. The impact of the 1692 witch trials is evident at every turn for anyone fortunate enough to visit, especially around Halloween, as one listener took the time to tell me about, as you’ll hear. This might be the final part of a trilogy of episodes, but…

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April Patreon Teaser - Middlesbrough Town Hall 8:39

1M ago8:39

8:39

In the 32nd Patreon bonus podcast you join me in Teesside at a location which has served the town of Middlesbrough since 1889. An impressive building which has rose to infamy in recent years for its ghostly inhabitants, most famously that of a man who committed suicide while being held prisoner here. But what would happen when John, Tom and I dared…

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50. Bonus Inductions Special #5 + QUIZ! 1:03:30

1M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

We're here to cram those pesky loser games from the last 8 episodes into the Hall of Fame whether you like it or not! That's not all, though, as we actually induct FIVE games in this episode, because there's a quiz to play and the winner gets to induct ANY game that's lost from any previous episode. You can play along with the quiz, and you also ne…

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Episode four | Lisa Cowley, CEO at Beacon Vision 31:19

1M ago31:19

31:19

In the latest episode of Making Complaints count, our Outreach and Engagement Officer Alison Smith is joined by Lisa Cowley, CEO of sight loss charity Beacon Vision. Lisa attended one of our Complaint Champions workshops that support organisations with the tools they need to help people that use their service to navigate the complaint process. They…

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Ep 105 - The Ghosts of Salem Part 2 1:02:08

2M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

In episode 105 we continue our time across the pond in a city known the world over for the witch trials that occurred here in 1692. Fourteen women and five men were hanged, at least five people died while in disease infested prison while awaiting trial for witchcraft, and an 81 year old man was crushed to death. All of them were completely innocent…

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Bonus Episode 19 - The Lit & Phil 1:09:03

2M ago1:09:03

1:09:03

Originally released for Patreons in March 2024 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 19th Patreon bonus podcast you join me as I investigate a building dating from 1825, which is today the largest independent library outside of London. This was the first public building lit by an electric lightbulb and in 1830 a mummy from Egypt was un…

1
49. Console Launch Titles 1:42:48

2M ago1:42:48

1:42:48

Well, this feels topical doesn't it! Who doesn't love a good console launch (when the games don't cost £75)? We're here to celebrate Gaming Christmas by nominating four incredible console launch titles for potential induction into the Hall of Fame. Oh, and skip to about 9:50 if you hate football and everything to do with it. We had to placate the G…

1
Ep 104 - The Ghosts of Salem Part 1 1:04:46

2M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

In episode 104 we begin a very, very special trilogy of episodes in which we’ll head to the USA, to somewhere synonymous with all things creepy, ghostly, and witchy. This place was the scene of unease, irrational panic, and mass hysteria in the late 17th century, and what followed has left a stain on this town In this episode I will speak to an exp…

1
March Patreon Teaser - Weetslade Country Park 7:32

2M ago7:32

7:32

In the 31st Patreon bonus podcast you join me on location very, very close to where I grew up. I am at a beautiful country park, which was built upon the wasteland of a colliery which had been abandoned, entirely, 26 years earlier. What would happen when I visited this site after dark, all alone. A site you won’t find in any books, YouTube videos, …

1
48. Fighting Games 1:40:20

2M ago1:40:20

1:40:20

Put 'em up, punk! We're nominating fighting games for the Hall of Fame! Voting's finished for this one (this is a re-upload), so listen to Episode 49 to find out the winning game! Come say hi @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky and send emails to [email protected]

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Ep 103 - The Odstock Curse 40:39

2M ago40:39

40:39

In episode 103 we welcome Emma from the Weird Wiltshire blog to the podcast to tell us all about a curse dating back over 200 years, which would see anyone who should lock the door of a church drop down dead. So join Emma and I, and let us together find out all about the Odstock Curse. Thanks so much to Emma for joining me once again, be sure to ch…

1
Bonus Episode 18 - Dean Court Hotel 1:23:27

3M ago1:23:27

1:23:27

Originally released for Patreons in February 2024 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 18th Patreon bonus podcast we return once more to York, and in particular to a hotel in the shadow of York Minster which was originally built between 1864 and 1865 as three separate dwellings for the Dean of York Minster, to house the Clergy. But wh…

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Ep 102 - Cairndhu House 30:42

3M ago30:42

30:42

In episode 102 we go to Northern Ireland and visit a once great house just a short 30 minute drive from Belfast. Built in the mid 1870s as a summer retreat, this mansion has been a home, a hospital, it aided the war effort during World War 2, and now it is sadly a ruined, vandalised, shadow of its former grandeur, facing an uncertain future. And it…

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47. Superhero Games 1:32:23

3M ago1:32:23

1:32:23

We can be your hero, baby. That's right, we're here to kiss away your pain with four superhero game nominations for the Video Game Hall of Fame. The pickings may be a bit slim, but we still come out of it with four bangers. Just remember that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is already in the HOF so there's no rush to induct, say, its predecessor. Just FYI. G…

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February Patreon Teaser - Seven Nights in a 15th Century Castle Part 2 9:31

3M ago9:31

9:31

In the 30th Patreon bonus podcast we continue our adventure in North Yorkshire, back in the late summer of 2024, when I lived in a haunted castle for seven days and nights. Last time out we had a sample of what this 15th century castle had to offer, but in the final four nights of my time here, things are about to get far more scary. Tonight, let u…

1
Ep 101 - Bellver Castle 30:58

3M ago30:58

30:58

In episode 101 we head overseas to the beautiful Balearic island of Mallorca. And just 3km from Palma, the capital of Mallorca, we find a castle as well preserved as it is haunted. Let us escape the British winter and head to sunny Spain, and let’s ask together how haunted is Bellver Castle? Support How Haunted? by subscribing and leaving a review.…

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46. PlayStation 2 Games 1:29:02

3M ago1:29:02

1:29:02

What a console the PS2 is. So many classic games for us to nominate for the Hall of Fame (and a fair few we already have). Join us in a celebration of one of the GOATs. Once you've heard the pod, head over to @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on BlueSky to vote for the PS2 game you want in the HOF. Send us an email to [email protected]…

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Bonus Episode 17 - 48 Hours Alone With a Haunted Doll 2:00:00

4M ago2:00:00

2:00:00

Originally released for Patreons in January 2024 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 17th Patreon bonus podcast I do something a little different. Following on from episode 69 and 70, in which we looked at some of the most haunted dolls in the world, I buy a haunted doll of my very own and spend some time after dark all alone with no…

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Episode three | Dr Tony Dysart 29:48

4M ago29:48

29:48

Our Policy and Public Affairs Manager Anna Davies is joined by Dr Tony Dysart, Senior Lead Clinician at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. They discuss the launch of Tony’s new patient safety blog series and:- how his work at PHSO informs his work as a GP- the biggest patient safety challenges facing the NHS and how these can be overco…

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Ep 100 - The Haunted Coastline of North Tyneside 1:08:48

4M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

In episode 100 you join me on location here in the north east as I give you a tour along a beautiful stretch of coast visited by around 6 million people each year, but what almost all of those visitors won’t know is just how many supposedly haunted spots there are here just waiting to be explored. Wrapped up against the British winter I will brave …

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Ep 99 - The Ghost Trail of Teesside 42:27

4M ago42:27

42:27

In episode 99 we spend some more time in the north east of England, and look at a region known for it’s industrial heritage, and perhaps not known quite so much for the plethora of phantoms that lurk within this region. So, let us ask together, just how haunted is Teesside? Support How Haunted? by subscribing and leaving a review. Find out more abo…

1
45. Therapeutic Games 1:25:31

4M ago1:25:31

1:25:31

In this episode, we chill out by nominating therapeutic games for the Hall of Fame. Remember, therapy is a very subjective activity! Voting's closed on this one now, so tune in to episode 46 to hear the winner. Please say hi @VG_HOF on Twitter or @vghof on Bluesky and/or send emails to [email protected]…

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January Patreon Teaser - Seven Nights in a 15th Century Castle Part 1 8:14

5M ago8:14

8:14

In the 29th Patreon bonus podcast you join me for the first of a two part special. Let us investigate a castle which dates from some point between 1425 and 1430. With almost 600 years of history, this was once the home of royalty, but for a week at the end of the summer of 2024 is was home to me. Let’s find out what happened on my first three night…

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Ep 98 - Listeners' Questions III 37:30

5M ago37:30

37:30

In episode 98, we kick off 2025 by once again delving into the mailbag of questions sent in from listeners and I will answer questions including what I'm most proud of since launching the podcast, the scariest thing I've ever experienced on an investigation, where do I think is the most haunted place in Britain, and where would be my dream location…

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44. 2024 Games 1:53:26

5M ago1:53:26

1:53:26

Is it too late to say happy new year? It is isn't it. Well, hope you had a good one anyway, and to celebrate the beginning of 2025 we're doing another de facto GOTY pod and inducting a 2024 game into the Hall of Fame. Steve doesn't really play new games that aren't Shenmue homebrew mods, so we bring in a special guest to nominate for him. We also h…

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New Year's Evil 2024 1:31:40

5M ago1:31:40

1:31:40

As we bid farewell to 2024 and begin an exciting new year, allow me to bring you one final dose of How Haunted? for the year as we pick up where we left off in our Nightmare Before Christmas special, and I bring you real life ghost stories from listeners just like you, as well as a few polterguests dropping by to tell us a spooky tale of their own.…

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Bonus Episode 16 - Kielder Castle 1:52:39

5M ago1:52:39

1:52:39

Originally released for Patreons in December 2023 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 16th Patreon bonus podcast we head into the remote Northumberland countryside, and to former hunting lodge built in 1775 that stands in the largest man-made woodland in England at 250 square miles, famed for its dark skies. But what would happen whe…

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43. Games Featuring Snow + BONUS QUIZ! 1:48:00

5M ago1:48:00

1:48:00

Putting the 'ho' in your ho ho, we are here for another Christmas special episode to introduce the nominees for the last game going into the Video Game Hall of Fame Class of 2024 - it's games featuring snow. Loads of games to choose form on this one, but that's not all. We also have a special Xmas quiz you can play along to at home. Rob's early pod…

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Nightmare Before Christmas 2024 1:55:58

5M ago1:55:58

1:55:58

Christmas is here once again, and in this – the third annual Nightmare Before Christmas special I will once again read real ghost stories from listeners, and there’ll also be a number of very special polterguests dropping by to tell you of their own scary experiences, in their own words. So, let us get this year’s Nightmare Before Christmas underwa…

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Episode two | Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo MBE 41:32

6M ago41:32

41:32

In the latest episode of Making Complaints Count, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor Annie Wakefield is joined by Bishop Dr. Desmond Jadoo MBE, Chair and director of the Windrush National Organisation. They discuss the Windrush Compensation scheme and:- our report which spotlighted common reasons people were wrongly denied compensation- …

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December Patreon Teaser - Cresswell Pele Tower (THE SIX HOUR LONG VERSION) 7:43

6M ago7:43

7:43

In the 28th Patreon bonus podcast you join me in the remote Northumbrian countryside at a pele tower dating from the 14th century. I join Spiritus Paranormal for a paranormal investigation, and I’m taking you along with me. This is a bumper version of the two-part special which formed episodes 87 and 88 of the podcast back in September. You’re goin…

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42. Movie Tie-ins 1:13:36

6M ago1:13:36

1:13:36

Considering Goldeneye 007 is already in, and one of them Lord of the Rings PS2 games has already been nominated this year, we had slim pickings for this one! We needed movie tie-in games only - no movie licence games! See if you can guess the one Rob was denied by his not-so-subtle hints later in the pod. Go vote for the game you want in the Hall o…

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Ep 95 - The Christmas Spirits 1:11:28

6M ago1:11:28

1:11:28

As we enter December and get ever closer to Christmas, which, for many, is a very, very special time of year. This is the perfect time of year, on this cold, dark, winter’s evening to explore twenty different locations the world over which are said to be the haunt of spooks that only make an appearance at Christmas. As the snow falls gently outside…

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Bonus Episode 15 - The Bedlam Theatre 1:45:45

6M ago1:45:45

1:45:45

Originally released for Patreons in November 2023 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. In the 15th Patreon bonus podcast we head to Edinburgh, and to a student-ran theatre which dates from the mid-19th century, and before we spent a cold November night there back in 2012, had never before had a paranormal investigation carried out there. But…

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November Patreon Teaser - Jedburgh Castle Jail 6:30

6M ago6:30

6:30

In the 27th Patreon bonus podcast you join me on location in October of this year, 2024, in the Scottish borders at a jail built in 1823 that would house the very worst of the prisoners in the area. What would happen when fellow Geordie podcaster, Icy Sedgwick, and I joined a public ghost hunt at this jail built atop the site of a castle that stood…

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Ep 94 - The Haunted Hotels of Northumberland 26:13

6M ago26:13

26:13

Join me in the most remote county in England, right here in my native north east as we take a deep dive into a trio of hotels you definitely want to avoid if you want a good night’s sleep. However if you’re aim is to seek out those ethereal entities that lurk in such places in the dead of night, then these hotels will be just perfect for your needs…

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41. Bonus Inductions Special #4 1:19:28

6M ago1:19:28

1:19:28

Four bitter beings join together to force in games you peasants decided weren't good enough for our Hall of Fame. Well, bollocks to you, we're sticking four of them in anyway! We also do some thoroughly exciting admin by deciding on the next run of episode themes. You'll love it! You'll also love the email we got from a returning amphibian. Go to @…

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Ep 93 - Scarborough's Grand Hotel 38:05

7M ago38:05

38:05

Join me on a trip to the seaside, as we head to North Yorkshire and check into a hotel that opened in 1867 as the largest hotel in Europe. The hotel has since seen its fair share of highs and lows, and was even targeted by Adolf Hitler during World War II as being perfect for his base in England. Today the hotel is, sadly, a budget hotel but it is …

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40. Games Featuring Pumpkins 1:20:25

7M ago1:20:25

1:20:25

We missed the Halloween deadline because Alex went on holiday and forgot to transfer his audio to his MacBook, but we're belatedly here with an episode that isn't really spooky anyway. Still, Halloween is all about pumpkins, so that's what all our nominees had to feature. If you hear a game nominated that you like, go vote for it to be in the Hall …

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Bonus Episode 14 - The Golden Fleece 1:11:17

7M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

Originally released for Patreons at Halloween 2023 I hope you enjoy this very special episode. Join me, as my team I step foot inside an ancient inn, labelled by many as the most haunted in Britain. We would have a night that none of us would ever forget. But just what happened when my team and I once again headed to York, the most haunted city in …

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Halloween 2024 - Vampire Month: The Vampiric Castles of Transylvania 1:50:32

7M ago1:50:32

1:50:32

The culmination of Vampire Month sees us head into the heart of Transylvania, and we will delve deep into the life and death of Vlad III Dracula, a man who undoubtedly influenced Bram Stoker’s decision to place his Dracula here. We will then go in search of ghosts in three gothic castles with ties to not only Vlad, but Dracula himself. This Hallowe…

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39. Sports Games 1:52:29

7M ago1:52:29

1:52:29

Goooooooal! Touchdown! Boomshakalaka! Deuce! Oh, he's snookered him! That's icing! Cricket! Yeah, it's an episode where we nominate four sports games for the Hall of Fame. Everyone's loved at least one sports game in their life, even if it's just Wii Sports like an old granny. Go vote for the sports game you want inducted over @VG_HOF, and send us …

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October Patreon Teaser - The Ghost Walk of Berwick-upon-Tweed 7:12

8M ago7:12

7:12

In the 26th Patreon bonus podcast you join me for a very special Halloween Patreon episode as I am on location in the Scottish Borders. You will come with me as I walk these ancient streets and ramparts, and tell you the dark history and ghost stories of the most northern town in England. And of course this October is Vampire Month on the How Haunt…

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Ep 91 - Vampire Month: Dracula in Whitby 1:22:07

8M ago1:22:07

1:22:07

We continue Vampire Month by going in search of Dracula in an English seaside town which has fully embraced its status as the gothic capital of the UK. As we get ever closer to Halloween we will explore in depth why this place is so intrinsically linked to vampires, I will guide you on a tour of the locations with ties to Dracula, and we will look …

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Rob Kirkup Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen