Reece Shearsmith Shares His Affection For The Hit Podcast 'Uncanny'
This article is more than one year old.
Renowned actor and writer Reece Shearsmith, best known for his work on 'The League of Gentlemen' and 'Inside No. 9', has opened up about his fondness for the hit paranormal podcast series 'Uncanny'. "I've been a fan of Danny Robinson's 'Uncanny' since Mark Gatiss introduced me to the podcast in 2021," Reece opened, setting the stage for his deep dive into the series. "He drew me in describing the alarming story of a haunted Belfast student accommodation and the supposedly unspeakably evil presence that lurks within. It had a haunted lift, bizarre poltergeist activity, and inexplicable banging on the doors in the middle of the night. I was instantly hooked."
Reece's fondness for 'Uncanny' was spotlighted in this week's episode, where he had the honour of introducing a classic case from the series. "There are so many fantastic episodes to pick from over the two series. It's hard to choose a favourite," he admitted. Despite the plethora of spine-tingling narratives, Reece picked a story that, in his own words, "stands out for me as the events aren't scary from the start, and it just seems to get worse and worse."
In 'Harry Called', Danny explores the haunting tale of Will, who was at the time a first-year student at Royal Holloway University in London. Will enjoyed the company of his close-knit group of friends—Leon, Charlie, and James. After a hesitant engagement with a Ouija board, Will finds himself at the centre of a series of unsettling events. Will himself opted not to participate in the session due to a childhood warning from a medium. Despite his reservations, the coin, serving as a planchette, moved to spell out the name "Harry".
Shortly after this ominous experience, Will began to find notes on his dorm room door stating "Harry called." Initially dismissing it as a prank by his mates, Will soon discovered they were as perplexed as he was. These mysterious messages were accompanied by strange phone calls in which a voice seemed completely unresponsive to Will's queries.
"I'm drawn to it as a story because I've always loved the power that the Ouija board as a scary object seems to hold over people," Reece continued. "It's the staple of many horror films, often the cause of the problems that follow. In the case of Reagan and 'The Exorcist', I suspect 'problems' is putting it mildly."
But Will's tale took even darker turns. Relocating to a new student hall, Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Will found himself being watched by a man whose appearance seemed straight out of another era. This mysterious figure would later appear in front of Will's car in the pouring rain—yet remaining inexplicably dry—before disappearing right before Will's eyes.
The climax of Will's nightmarish experience came when he found himself face-to-face with this same figure in his own bedroom. Paralysed by an indescribable terror, he felt the figure approach him and sit on his bed. It was a night that would forever remain etched in Will's memory, leaving him in a state of psychological turmoil.
"And then on top of this, the subsequent phone calls from the dead phenomenon is a creepy icing on this particularly terrifying cake," Reece observed, capturing the multi-layered horror elements that make this episode truly standout.
While Reece occupies 'Uncanny' fans with this classic episode, Danny is busy entertaining fans and followers around the country. The live show 'Uncanny: I Know What I Saw' kicked off in Leicester last night. And as if that weren't enough, the 'Uncanny' television series premieres on BBC Two and iPlayer on Friday night at 9pm.
You can listen to Reece Shearsmith's appearance on 'Uncanny', as well as all of the previous episodes on BBC Sounds now.
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