Cackle's After Dark

About Cackle's After Dark

Podcast series taking a nostalgic look at CITVs The Worst Witch through the eyes of the original cast. Hosted by original cast member, Holly Rivers AKA Drusilla Paddock cacklesafterdark.substack.com (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Onward Ever Striving Onwards

Category

tv & film · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Jul 2026

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

6 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   Cackle’s After Dark - Episode 6 - with guest Emma Brown

   She spent her time at Cackle’s Academy playing Mildred’s bespectacled sidekick, Maud Moonshine. Her hair was scraped into tighter than tight pigtails, and she wore glasses that she couldn’t wait to take off! Now as an adult, Emma Brown, is still patrolling school corridors, but in a very different role! Tune in to find out what it is she does as a job… In Episode 6 you’ll also discover the original origins of the term EXTREME; hear about Emma’s favourite on-set (and off-set!) memories; listen to a rather slutty sounding spell; and ponder over which Worst Witch characters would be beneficial come an apocalypse! As always, the audio podcast is free for everyone to listen to, but PAID SUBSTACK SUBSCRIBERS will get access to exclusive video content and photos, not posted anywhere else. Thanks to everyone who’s already signed-up — we’re very nearly a Substack Bestseller! Subscribe, like, share and recommend! We are also on TIKTOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@cackles.after.dar?_r=1&_t=ZN-9ADfjDbs7PP), INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/cacklesafterdark?stkn=ZjR3NWhnNm53dXE%3D&utm_source=qr), FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594152130153) and YOUTUBE (http://www.youtube.com/@Cacklesafterdark) Onward! Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast is a listener-supported podcast. To receive extra content and support our work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Thanks x x x Get full access to Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast at cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Cackle’s After Dark - Episode 5 - with guest Felicity Jones

   She’s played a leader of The Rebel Alliance; the second female Associate Justice of the U.S Supreme Court; a competitive snow boarder and Charles Dickens’ dirty bit on the side! But before all of these roles, she was our original Ethel Hallow! I was delighted to have the inimitable Felicity Jones in The Cackle’s After Dark studio for this episode. We talk about the Ethel’s hereditary trauma, running up and down hotel corridors, Weirdsister College, making work for yourself, favourite snacks and nights in Soho! We even brought back our alter-egos to recreate a scene from series one! As always, the audio podcast is free for everyone to listen to, but PAID SUBSTACK SUBSCRIBERS will get access to exclusive video episode content and photos, not posted anywhere else. Subscribe, like, share and recommend! We are also on TIKTOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@cackles.after.dar?_r=1&_t=ZN-9ADfjDbs7PP), INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/cacklesafterdark?stkn=ZjR3NWhnNm53dXE%3D&utm_source=qr), FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594152130153) and YOUTUBE (http://www.youtube.com/@Cacklesafterdark) *WARNING - This episode features strong language* Onward! Get full access to Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast at cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Episode 4 - Cackle’s After Dark with Kate Duchêne - ‘An Inspector Calls’

   Welcome to Episode 4 of Cackle’s After Dark! And what a treat we have in store for you witches! Miss Hardbroom spent her days at Cackle’s Academy, clad in skin-tight dresses, dreaming of discipline, appearing from thin air, and terrifying a generation of young viewers! The actress who played her - Kate Duchêne - has since worked mainly in theatre, often playing powerful, unhinged women, with repeated collaborations with director Katie Mitchell at the National Theatre, London. It was a delight and a privilege to have Kate in the Cackle’s After Dark studio, and in this episode you can hear us chatting about the infamous finger thing, wearing a ‘hair pretzel’, stunts, keeping her keys on the right (if you know, you know 🏳️🌈 🏳️🌈 🏳️🌈!!!), and the enormous phone bill resulting from calling Miss Cackle in Canada for a catch up! Additional music in this episode was by Diego Durazzo (https://soundcloud.com/diego-durazzo-cejudo) If you like this podcast please subscribe, like, comment and share with your favourite magical people! For more exclusive content sign up for a paid SUBSTACK (https://substack.com/@cacklesafterdark?r=1zd5hp&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=light) subscription - listener generosity is enabling us to keep the podcast free for everyone; as well as paying for studio time, marketing and guests. THANK YOU ALL! You can also follow us on TIK TOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@cackles.after.dar?_r=1&_t=ZN-99QdMIuZxjS), INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/cacklesafterdark?igsi=ZjR3NWhnNm53dXE%3D&utm_source=qr) and YOUTUBE (https://www.youtube.com/@Cacklesafterdark). ONWARDS! X X X X Get full access to Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast at cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Cackle's After Dark - Episode 3 - ‘The Genius of the Lamp’

   Hello witches! Join me for Episode 3, where I chat to Charlotte Knowles AKA Sybil Hallow. She spent her days at Cackle’s sobbing in a corner, and now she’s an award winning film-maker! What’s in store in this episode? Auditions, shopping trip faux-pas, Maud’s sunglasses “from Barcelona”, erupting yak’s milk, neurodiversity and … onions! If you like the show please subscribe, like, comment and share! Keep up to date with us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cacklesafterdark/), Tik Tok (https://www.tiktok.com/@cackles.after.dar?_r=1&_t=ZN-98m5DBxEQKs) and YouTube (https://youtube.com/@cacklesafterdark?si=5e50Z6koqamwOB12) and Substack (https://substack.com/@cacklesafterdark) ONWARDS! . Get full access to Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast at cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Cackle's After Dark - Episode 2 - Carried Away

   Hello witches! I’m delighted to say that Episode 2 of Cackle’s After Dark is now live and ready to listen to. I had a magical time in the studio chatting to my dear friend Katy Allen who played Ethel Hallow (seasons 1 and 2) We reminisced about her first time on set as the notorious school bully… her favourite scenes to film…hiding from tutors….cheese and bean toasties...fake I.D…and my penchant for blob fishes! Hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! There’s going to be a very loooooong bloopers reel that’s for sure! If you enjoy the show— please comment, like and add it to your favourites. Share with anyone else that might need some witchy nostalgia too! You can listen on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Pockets Casts, and you can follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cacklesafterdark?igsh=ZjR3NWhnNm53dXE=), Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@cackles.after.dar?_r=1&_t=ZN-98iUfw0x0KM) and YouTube (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUTQ96XMsGrQ&si=_syRDGUmWnRPQBLS) This is a listener-supported podcast, so if you’re in a position to sign up for a paid Substack subscription, that will help keep the show free for everyone to listen to. Thanks for all of your support so far! ONWARDS! Written, hosted and presented by: Holly Rivers Music by: Paul K Joyce Recorded at: The Podcast Room Magic provided by: Jill Murphy Get full access to Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast at cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Cackle’s After Dark - Episode 1 - Battle of The Broomsticks

   Here it is! Episode 1 of Cackle’s After Dark! This has been such a joy to write, record and edit… so get your headphones on, cast a silencing spell on anything else that needs doing, and grab yourself a bowl of ‘eel-flavoured cauldron noodles’ to munch on! If you enjoy the show (and I really hope you do) please comment, like and add to your favourites You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts You can also follow us on INSTAGRAM and TIK-TOK If you are a paid subscriber you’ll be receiving some exclusive extra content related to this episode very soon… Thanks for all of your support so far ONWARDS! Get full access to Cackles After Dark - The Worst Witch Nostalgia Podcast at cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe (https://cacklesafterdark.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

30 ratings

Contact Cackle's After Dark

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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