Illustration by Seonaid Mackay.

'Once a door is open, it’s difficult to close, even if we try.'

Poltergeists, noisy spirits, have been reported since antiquity. But in the 20th century, the idea of what the poltergeist was changed in collective culture. When, in the past, reported poltergeist activity would be put down to outside, supernatural beings, in the 20th century supposed poltergeist activity was said to come from within a living being: the psyche made physical.

Kirsty tells the story of three famous 20th century poltergeist cases, exploring what happens to the person at the centre, and discovering how the attention from investigators and the media can be more damaging than any ghost. Show less