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.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fmSend us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Produced 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/lineupIn 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/lineupTo join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fmSend us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/lineupTo join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fmSend us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon#LeighFrancis #KeithLemon #BoSelecta #AvidMerrion #ScarredForLife #TheExorcist #Horror #Comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, writer and podcaster Alasdair Beckett-King joins Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence on the Scarred for Life podcast to talk about the films, books and television that left a lasting impression on him as a child. Alasdair reveals three very different childhood scars, beginning with the unsettling 1970s animated series Murun Buchstansangur, before moving on to a disturbing playground story inspired by Iain Banks’ The Wasp Factory and, finally, one of the ultimate childhood nightmares: Return to Oz. We get into what makes Return to Oz so genuinely creepy, from the Wheelers and Princess Mombi to its bleak atmosphere, disturbing imagery and unsettling storyline (electroshock therapy anyone?). Alasdair also discusses British sitcoms, children’s literature, The Chronicles of Narnia, his love of unsettling production design and why good children’s books never really have an age limit. Plus, we talk about his comedy and podcasting career, including Loremen and Eleanor and Alasdair Read That, as well as his Montgomery Bonbon mystery books for children. If Return to Oz traumatised you as a kid, this is definitely an episode for you. 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 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 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/lineupThis week on Scarred for Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by returning guest Lisa Bowerman for a nostalgic deep dive into the classic British TV programmes and theme tunes that soundtracked our sick days, school holidays and afternoons on the sofa.From Bod, Crown Court, The Sullivans and General Hospital to Rooms, Farmhouse Kitchen, Paint Along with Nancy and The Way We Used to Live, Lisa, Dave and Andy revisit the strange world of daytime television — the shows you watched when you were off school with a bottle of Lucozade, a flannel on your forehead and absolutely no choice about what was on the telly.They talk about the comforting voices and gentle presentation style of classic children's television, the unsettling themes that could instantly make you feel ill again, the bizarre educational programmes that taught children about history, painting and country life, and why a few seconds of music can bring back incredibly vivid childhood memories.Lisa also shares a particularly personal connection to The Way We Used to Live, after discovering a clip of her own brother being killed off in the historical educational drama.Expect plenty of nostalgia, obscure British TV, bizarre theme tunes, memories of 1970s and 1980s television, and the kind of daytime programming that could only exist in a pre-streaming world.What TV theme tune instantly takes you back to being a kid?Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineupTo join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fmSend us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @MacabreLondon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are some places more frightening than the monsters that live inside them? This week on Scarred for Life, Andy Bush, Dave Lawrence and Nikki Druce take a deep dive into the horror of liminal spaces, unsettling buildings and locations that are more creepy than comforting.From the eerie office corridors of Severance and the endless yellow rooms of The Backrooms, to the 1999 remake of House on Haunted Hill, La Cabina, the Psycho house and Portsmouth's infamous Tricorn Centre, we explore why mazes, empty buildings, brutalist architecture, strange corridors and familiar places that suddenly feel wrong can be so deeply unsettling.Is it the fear of getting lost? Being trapped? The feeling that you're somewhere you shouldn't be? Or does this kind of environmental horror tap into something much more primal?Along the way, we revisit childhood memories of school trips, 1970s interiors, nicotine stained wallpaper, Rigsby's flat in Rising Damp and the strange smells that can transport us straight back to childhood.It's a Thursday deep dive into liminal spaces, psychological horror, creepy buildings, nostalgic horror and the places that scarred us for life.Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineupTo join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fmSend us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @MacabreLondon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School trips were supposed to be fun, weren’t they? A day away from the classroom, a packed lunch, a coach ride and the promise of something vaguely educational. But for many of us, they came with a healthy dose of fear, embarrassment, danger… and occasionally someone throwing up into a sandwich box.For this Thursday deep dive, Andy Bush, Dave Lawrence and producer Nikki take a trip down memory lane to explore the creepy, chaotic and downright traumatic world of school trips.From terrifying public information films and being trapped on questionable 1970s coaches, to quarries, creepy churches, red lakes, wasps in Coke cans and the ever-present fear of the sick kid on the bus, the team revisit the things that could turn an innocent school outing into a childhood nightmare.Nikki recalls taking a school trip to the London Dungeon — and the time she found an actual human skull while working at Highgate Cemetery. Dave remembers a particularly traumatic geology field trip involving a quarry and a blood-red lake, while Andy recalls the legendary school-trip disasters that have stayed with him for decades.Plus, we hear your memories of school trips gone horribly wrong, including vomiting on fairground rides, dead sheep in Snowdonia, disastrous hotel rooms, seasickness, accidental nudity and a school cruise involving vomiting teachers and a child apparently being left in Lisbon.So pack your soggy sandwiches, grab your cagoule and make sure nobody gets left behind…This is Scarred for Life’s deep dive into the terrifying world of school trips.Sleep well. Do have nightmares.Get your live show tickets now at: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/lineupTo join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fmSend us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @MacabreLondon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.