What childhood TV show made Tom Price physically recoil? Why did joining the Beano Club feel like his first introduction to capitalism? And why was BBC newsreader Nicholas Witchell so terrifying to watch as a kid?

This week on Scarred for Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by broadcaster, comedian and actor Tom Price, to revisit the childhood TV, films and pop culture that left a lasting impression — and in some cases, genuinely scarred him.

Best known for playing PC Andy in Torchwood, Tom chats about his long-running role in the Doctor Who spin-off which resulted in a friendship with David Tennant or as Tom calls him, "Wilf dad". Tom explains how what was meant to be a bit part truend in to a full blown character thanks to Russell T Davies.

Tom chats about growing up in Monmouth, his love-hate relationship with horror films, and the strange things that frightened us when we were young.

First up is Johnny Briggs: a children's TV show whose theme tune signalled the end of fun for Tom. Then we get into the crushing disappointment of the Beano Club, where the exciting merchandise promised in the comic apparently failed to live up to the hype. And finally, we explore the terrifying world of old-school TV news, when serious newsreaders delivered stories of doom in a way that could leave a lasting impression on a child.

Along the way, Tom shares memories of Doctor Who, Torchwood: Children of Earth, the horror films that got under his skin, his podcast Golf Is Ruining My Life, and My Mate Bought a Toaster — plus a sporting scar involving Wales' infamous 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final.

It's a brilliant chat about childhood nostalgia, British television, growing up with frightening news stories, and the cultural moments that never quite leave us.

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Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon

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Which fictional witch genuinely gave you nightmares as a child? From the terrifying Grand High Witch in The Witches to the unseen horror of The Blair Witch Project, we're diving into the witches that made our childhoods a little more disturbing.

Andy Bush and David E. Lawrence are joined by returning guest Lizzie Hopley for a special Halloween deep dive into the most iconic, frightening and downright unforgettable witches in film and television. Lizzie reveals her top five witches of all time, while Dave brings some equally sinister contenders to the cauldron.

We're revisiting the nightmare fuel of childhood favourites, the dark magic of cult horror and the unsettling folk horror that gets under your skin.

🧙‍♀️ In this episode, we discuss:

• The Wicked Witch of the West – Margaret Hamilton's iconic performance in The Wizard of Oz, and why she's one of cinema's greatest villains.
• The Grand High Witch – Anjelica Huston's unforgettable transformation in the 1990 adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches.
• The Witch (2015) – Robert Eggers' disturbing folk horror film, Puritan paranoia, sinister woods and Black Phillip.
• The Blair Witch Project (1999) – How found-footage horror created a terrifying legend without ever properly showing us the witch.
• Fenella the Kettle Witch and Evil Edna – The wonderfully weird and genuinely unsettling witches of classic British children's television.
• Hocus Pocus – The surprisingly dark opening of a Halloween favourite.
• Hammer House of Horror’s Witching Time – A 17th-century witch, supernatural seduction and vintage British horror.
• Murrain (1975) – Nigel Kneale's unsettling folk-horror tale about an isolated rural community convinced an elderly woman is responsible for their misfortunes.

Plus Grotbags, Belladonna, Jadis from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Witchiepoo, Aunt Gladys from Weapons and plenty more.

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

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Produced and edited by Nikki Druce @NikkiMacabreLondon

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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.

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