Video Description

Watch this full episode of After Dark with Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling where they chat about how Jack the Ripper's name and face became one of legend, even in a Victorian era of no photographs. With guest historian Dr. Bob Nicholson, they explore how the character of Jack the Ripper—the shadowy figure in the top hat—is a complete creation of the 19th-century press. The episode delves into how sensationalist newspapers like the Illustrated Police News and The Star used graphic illustrations and feverish reporting to craft a terrifying narrative, culminating in the infamous "Dear Boss" letter, which may have been a journalistic hoax to sell more papers. This discussion also uncovers the real-world consequences of this media frenzy, from fueling public hysteria and anti-semitic sentiment to wrongfully accusing men like John Piser, known as "Leather Apron." Learn how the public's insatiable appetite for a gory story created a powerful and enduring myth, a myth so profound that it continues to shape our perception of the case over a century later and influences everything from movies to AI-generated images. 0:00 - The Ripper: A Victorian Media Creation 3:54 - Was Jack the Ripper a Real Person? 6:24 - How Newspapers Invented the Ripper's Image 17:18 - The "Dear Boss" Letter Hoax 29:24 - When "Fake News" Had Deadly Consequences 34:51 - The Birth of True Crime Tourism Video edited by Natija Grauzinyte. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #HistoryHitPodcast #AfterDark #JackTheRipper #VictorianHistory