General Witchfinders

About General Witchfinders

General Witchfinders: The British Horror Podcast Welcome to General Witchfinders, a podcast dedicated to the dark heart of British horror and classic Hammer horror films – officially selected for permanent preservation in the British Library’s National Sound Archive. If you are passionate about British horror cinema, Hammer films, classic folk horror, Nigel Kneale’s Quatermass, and the chilling legacy of British supernatural television, this is the podcast for you. Hosted by lifelong friends Ross, Jon, and James, General Witchfinders dives deep into the world of British horror, gothic cinema, and unsettling archive television. We explore everything from Hammer horror’s blood-drenched vampire classics – starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing – to the eerie landscapes of The Wicker Man, Tigon’s The Creeping Flesh, and Amicus anthology films. Whether it is cinematic British horror icons like Dracula AD 1972 and The Curse of Frankenstein, modern independent UK folk horror like Possum and In The Earth, or sci-fi horror thrillers like Event Horizon and The Medusa Touch, we unearth the films that shaped the genre. We cover the definitive British sci-fi horror of Nigel Kneale – including The Quatermass Xperiment, Quatermass 2, Quatermass and the Pit, The Stone Tape, and his terrifying TV anthology series Beasts. Our episodes shine a spotlight on classic British horror literature, including the tales of James Herbert from The Rats to The Survivor, alongside vintage television gems like the BBC’s Ghost Stories for Christmas (Whistle and I’ll Come to You, The Ash Tree), Doomwatch, Tales of the Unexpected, Inside No. 9, Ghostwatch, and classic Doctor Who horror stories like The Dæmons and Horror of Fang Rock. Expect thoughtful commentary, dry wit, and nostalgic tangents about 1980s and 90s British culture. Beyond the Podcast We also publish the independent General Witchfinders horror zine and host live podcast events and film screenings for the UK horror community. General Witchfinders is your premier audio guide to British horror, Hammer films, folk horror, Quatermass, and everything that makes the UK’s supernatural tradition uniquely haunting. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or grab our latest horror zine and live event tickets at www.generalwitchfinders.com (https://www.generalwitchfinders.com). Listener Reviews “Really entertaining and insightful. About half a dozen episodes done so far, and all on horror/supernatural things I personally love and wanted to hear more about. Lots of new facts and just downright entertaining takedowns. Great work.” – 5 Stars ***** 🦴 “If you’re looking for a fun chat about vintage British horror and sci-fi, then this is the podcast for you.” – 5 Stars ***** Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders (http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Ross, Jon & James | Exploring Cult British Horror Films, TV & Books

Category

tv & film · tv & film · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

3 Jan 2021

Latest episode

7 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

122 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Nov 2026

   74: Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) Live – Hammer Film Productions – Dir. Roy Ward Baker – Written by Brian Clemens

   In this special live episode of General Witchfinders, recorded on stage at ActOne Cinema in Acton on 30 October, we bring you the live podcast panel following our sell-out screening of Hammer’s gender-bending 1971 horror classic, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde. Directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ralph Bates alongside Martine Beswick, this Hammer Film Productions spin on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde remains one of the studio’s most inventive offerings. Joining us on stage for the post-screening Q&A is director and producer Sam Clemens (@samjtclemens (https://www.instagram.com/samjtclemens/)), son of the film’s legendary screenwriter, Brian Clemens. We dive into the film’s production, his father’s body of work, and the creative choices that make this entry in the Hammer canon stand out. Brian Clemens was a titan of British film and television. Beyond writing Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde, he served as the script editor, associate producer, and primary writer on The Avengers, wrote and directed Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter, and penned screenplays ranging from Highlander II: The Quickening to the atmospheric classic The Watcher in the Woods. His legacy includes co-creating Bugs, writing for Hammer’s House of Horror, Tales of Mystery and Suspense, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, as well as creating Thriller – a series that paved the way for modern anthology storytelling like Inside No. 9. Stick around after the end credits for a special track share. Our resident sound engineer for the night, Richie Adam, and his group The Whitley Lake Band (@thewhitleylakeband (https://www.instagram.com/thewhitleylakeband/)) have just released their new single, Ghosts of Whitley Lake (https://ditto.fm/ghosts-of-whitley-lake). Be sure to add the song to your music app and follow the band on Spotify or Apple Music. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders (http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   31 Oct 2026

   Book Club 03 – The Apparition Phase by Will Maclean (with Brontë Schiltz)

   Welcome to the third episode of the General Witchfinders Book Club – a spin-off from our regular British horror podcast, run in partnership with Teasel & Skylark, an independent bookshop in Dorchester. To accompany our real-life, face-to-face book club meet-ups, host Ross Cleaver invites a special guest co-host onto the show every two months to discuss our latest reading choice. On this episode, Ross welcomes Brontë Schiltz. Brontë is a journalist, writer, and PhD candidate researching Televisual Gothic at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research and writing explore gothic literature, horror film, and the uncanny, with contributions to collections including Comma Press’s Monster Capital (https://commapress.co.uk/books/monster-capital) and The Book of Manchester (https://commapress.co.uk/books/the-book-of-manchester). Together, they discuss Will Maclean’s 2020 debut novel, The Apparition Phase. The Apparition Phase Twins Tim and Abi have always been different from their peers, spending their evenings in the attic of their parents’ suburban house, poring over reports of the unexplained. Obsessed with photographs of ghostly apparitions, they decide to fake their own and use it to frighten a girl at school. What was supposed to be a harmless prank sets in motion a terrifying chain of events that neither of them could have predicted. Set in the 1970s, Will Maclean’s debut is a chilling, atmospheric tale of disturbed teenagers, malevolent spirits, and the haunting power of belief. How to Get Involved We want to build a community around these books, both locally in Dorset and remotely with our podcast listeners and zine readers. Join us in Dorchester: Ross leads the in-person discussions at the King’s Arms Hotel. Spaces are limited, so sign up at the Teasel & Skylark shop. Local club members get 10% off the featured books, plus 10% off all other books and gifts in-store (excluding original artwork). These discounts are only available in person at the shop. Join us from elsewhere: If you are not local, read along at home and send your thoughts or audio voicemails to generalwitchfinders@gmail.com. Support Independent Bookshops If you are close enough to Dorchester, please order your copy through Teasel & Skylark and pop in to collect it. If you cannot get to West Dorset, please find your local indie store via Bookshop.org. Links & Resources Book Club Info: General Witchfinders Book Club (https://generalwitchfinders.com/the-general-witchfinders-book-club/) Our Partner Bookshop: Teasel & Skylark (https://www.teaselandskylark.com/) Buy The Apparition Phase online: Bookshop.org (https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-apparition-phase-shortlisted-for-the-2021-mckitterick-prize-will-maclean/e33df0b9a068d424?ean=9781786091017&bkshp-astro=t) Buy The General Witchfinders Zine: Ko-fi Shop (https://ko-fi.com/generalwitchfinders39813/shop) Find Indie Shops Nationwide: Bookshop.org (https://uk.bookshop.org) Support the Show: General Witchfinders Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/generalwitchfinders) Featured Guest Links (Brontë Schiltz) Website: Brontë Schiltz Official Site (https://bronteschiltz.squarespace.com/) Linktree: Brontë Schiltz Links (https://linktr.ee/bronte.schiltz) Instagram: @bronte.schiltz (https://www.instagram.com/bronte.schiltz/) Books: Monster Capital (https://commapress.co.uk/books/monster-capital) | The Book of Manchester (https://commapress.co.uk/books/the-book-of-manchester) | Comma Press Homepage (https://commapress.co.uk/) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders (http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   3 Oct 2026

   73: The Quatermass Conclusion (1979) – Euston Films / Thames TV – Dir. Piers Haggard - Witten by. Nigel Kneale

   In this episode, we conclude our deep dive into screen adaptations of Nigel Kneale’s legendary sci-fi creation, Professor Bernard Quatermass. We take a look at the 1979 Euston Films/Thames Television serial The Quatermass Conclusion (also known as Quatermass IV or Quatermass), starring Oscar-winner John Mills as the titular professor. Plus, stick around after the end credits for an exclusive clip preview from Room 5064 and B7 Media’s full-cast audio adaptation of Ramsey Campbell’s iconic folk horror novel, The Hungry Moon – starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Louise Jameson, Mina Anwar, and Jemma Moore. In This Episode: The End of Quatermass: How Nigel Kneale brought his flagship character full circle after his groundbreaking BBC serials (The Quatermass Experiment, Quatermass II, Quatermass and the Pit) and iconic Hammer Films adaptations. Remastering the Score: News on Buried Treasure Records' upcoming remaster of the Quatermass Conclusion soundtrack composed by Nic Rowley and Marc Wilkinson – featuring music clips in this episode. Folk Horror Audio Preview: An exclusive clip from Episode 1 of The Hungry Moon, featuring a sinister local folk song and a trip to the dark depths beneath the Peak District village of Moonwell. Links Listen to all our Quatermass coverage: General Witchfinder Quatermass Archive (https://generalwitchfinders.com/blog/quatermass/) Grab a copy of our print zine: General Witchfinder Official Shop (https://generalwitchfinders.com/) Follow Buried Treasure Records on Bandcamp: buriedtreasure.bandcamp.com (https://buriedtreasure.bandcamp.com/) Featured Audio Drama: The Hungry Moon Set in 1984 in the Peak District, Ramsey Campbell's Lovecraftian tale of religious superstition pits ancient evil against nuclear dread. Starring: Peter Davison (Doctor Who), Colin Baker (Doctor Who), Louise Jameson (Doctor Who, EastEnders), Mina Anwar (The Sarah Jane Adventures), and Jemma Moore (Host). Run time: 250 minutes (Includes exclusive 90-minute interview with Ramsey Campbell). Get The Hungry Moon audio drama: Buy on Room 5064 PayHip (https://payhip.com/b/SrbiG) Buy on Audioteria (https://audioteria.com/product/the-hungry-moon/) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders (http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

15 ratings

Spotify

4.2 / 5

56 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

76

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

50

Contact General Witchfinders

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Hammer Time: A Hammer Horror Podcast

• 

  Scarred for Life

• 

  The Evolution of Horror

• 

  Smersh Pod

• 

  Loremen Podcast

• 

  Hammer Horrors

Questions about General Witchfinders