DeepSummary
Danny Robins investigates a paranormal case where his old friend Sarah had a terrifying experience at her cousin Kerry's house in Montecito, California, a celebrity hotspot. Sarah heard loud footsteps and a man's presence in the guest house she was staying in, but no one was there. Kerry admitted that the house is haunted by the ghost of Arthur Grant, the man who built it in 1956.
Kerry has experienced Arthur's ghost looming over her in bed, whispering 'you bitch' to her, and has seen a shadowy figure of a man. Her husband Jameson has also witnessed unsettling occurrences. Despite the hauntings, Kerry feels protective of the house and believes she and Arthur coexist in it.
Experts Jeff Belanger and Chris French provide paranormal and skeptical perspectives, respectively, on the experiences. Kerry shows Danny a hidden plaque on the wall signed by Arthur in 1956, signifying his ownership of the house even after death.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The residents of the Montecito house, Kerry and her family, believe they are being haunted by the ghost of Arthur Grant, the man who built the house in 1956.
- Kerry has experienced terrifying encounters like seeing Arthur's ghost looming over her bed and hearing him call her an offensive name.
- Despite the hauntings, Kerry feels she has made peace with Arthur's spirit and believes they coexist in the house he built.
- The episode presents both paranormal and skeptical perspectives from experts on whether the experiences could be attributed to ghosts or have rational explanations.
- Experiencing a haunting firsthand is portrayed as far more terrifying than simply enjoying a ghost story, with no ability to escape the haunting.
- The upscale neighborhood of Montecito and its celebrity residents provide an unlikely setting for a haunted house story.
- Arthur Grant's signed plaque from 1956 discovered in the house serves as physical evidence of his former ownership and presence.
- The case study highlights the complex psychological implications of dealing with a haunting, from fear to making peace with the perceived supernatural presence.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “He comes towards me and he whispers in my ear. I am absolutely terrified.“ by Kerry
- “If you're listening, it's a lot like going on a roller coaster or going to a fun house. You know, you're safe, you're strapped in. But living there, having nowhere else to go, is quite another thing.“ by Jeff Bolanger
Entities
Company
Person
Place
Tvshow
Podcast
Episode Information
Uncanny
BBC Radio 4
7/2/24
When Danny gets a call from his old friend Sarah describing a terrifying experience she had at her cousin Kerrie’s house, it leads him to Montecito, California, a beautiful coastal enclave, home to celebrities such as Oprah and Harry and Megan. Kerrie grew up living opposite cantankerous old neighbour Arthur, and when he dies, Kerrie buys the cottage. It’s everything you could want from a home, except for one thing - Arthur is seemingly still there, and he doesn’t like Kerrie living in his house. Can Kerrie make peace with him?
Written and presented by Danny Robins Experts: Christopher French and Jeff Belanger Editing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme music by Lanterns on the Lake Script editor: Dale Shaw Development producer: Sarah Patten Production manager: Tam Reynolds Commissioning executive: Paula McDonnell Commissioning editor: Rhian Roberts Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4