Uncanny (BBC Programme / Podcast)

My daughter had one of those Fisher Price phones when she was tiny and I do recall that, as the toy got old and well-used, the dial wouldn't return to its start position and ring the internal bell quite so readily.
So, occasionally, if you turned the dial all the way clockwise, it would stick in that position and only return to the start position when it felt like it (or was kicked).
Like the rest of you, I wasn't that impressed by the latest Uncanny, although the neighbours corroborating the inexplicable sounds that were heard was quite interesting.

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blessmycottonsocks said:
My daughter had one of those Fisher Price phones when she was tiny and I do recall that, as the toy got old and well-used, the dial wouldn't return to its start position and ring the internal bell quite so readily.
So, occasionally, if you turned the dial all the way clockwise, it would stick in that position and only return to the start position when it felt like it (or was kicked).
Like the rest of you, I wasn't that impressed by the latest Uncanny, although the neighbours corroborating the inexplicable sounds that were heard was quite interesting.

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Surely that defect was noticeable and not scary. Just sticky.
 
MorningAngel said:
Surely that defect was noticeable and not scary. Just sticky.
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The point was that, a stuck dial could unstick itself and trigger the ringing sound at a random time after the child had finished playing.
If it happened in the middle of the night, I can see how that could be regarded as spooky.
 
blessmycottonsocks said:
The point was that, a stuck dial could unstick itself and trigger the ringing sound at a random time after the child had finished playing.
If it happened in the middle of the night, I can see how that could be regarded as spooky.
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True. Sticky little fingers might cause this. The toys couldn't be taken apart easily for repair.
 
DrPaulLee said:
We said that the photos should have been put to the ladies, separately, and asked "is there anyone here that you recognise?" rather than telling them in advance who the photos depicted.
Then when both witnesses had done their scrutiny, their comments could be reconciled.
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Wonder if they did just that, and the ladies didn't recognize anyone so they did it again "Oh...and here's a photo of the Howards!" blah blah

Just a minor criticism, while I enjoyed Cate's story, it was just hyperbole*. I think there's a kernel of truth there but it got lost in the fripperies of tv.


*But then again, there are few paranormal shows that don't indulge in hyperbole.
 
blessmycottonsocks said:
The point was that, a stuck dial could unstick itself and trigger the ringing sound at a random time after the child had finished playing.
If it happened in the middle of the night, I can see how that could be regarded as spooky.
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I listened to the episode last night. My impression was that it wasn't a single random sound, more like repeated playing with the toy telephone.

It also doesn't address the sounds of children's feet running nor the apparition. I don't know why Danny claims a haunted object at the beginning, when it appears to be the house that was haunted. The toy phone never played up when they moved away.
 
Marwood said:
Just listened to the latest Uncanny and...where have I heard this before?
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From memory there was an episode of The Twilight Zone where a young boy is bought a toy phone by his grandmother which she uses to stay in touch with him when she passes on shortly after.

I sure some clever paranormalist will be able to track down the episode.
 
Tempest63 said:
From memory there was an episode of The Twilight Zone where a young boy is bought a toy phone by his grandmother which she uses to stay in touch with him when she passes on shortly after.

I sure some clever paranormalist will be able to track down the episode.
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Season 2 episode 22, Long Distance Call. Billy Mumy is the grandson. Full episode not on YouTube as far as I can see
 
SimonBurchell said:
I listened to the episode last night. My impression was that it wasn't a single random sound, more like repeated playing with the toy telephone.

It also doesn't address the sounds of children's feet running nor the apparition. I don't know why Danny claims a haunted object at the beginning, when it appears to be the house that was haunted. The toy phone never played up when they moved away.
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Yes. I enjoyed this episode and the phone was only a part of it. Interesting that
Elton was still affected by seeing the toy to this day.
 
Ghost In The Machine said:
Where are the holes? I mean, I'd be interested to know a bit more!
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The obvious questions are never asked/answered. I'd have to go back and rewatch the episode to make a list but it's never mentioned if other people see Miss Howard with Kate, if she knew of the history of the story already - if it was already being passed around town, if she had read the web page, etc. Then, identifying and pinpointing one lady out of all the Howards, and there being a historic photo of here, then assuming that it is definitely the woman because she looks like the ghost is ridiculous. We can't remember faces that accurately, and it's nearly impossible to match them via one old photograph. It felt deliberately constructed and I was annoyed. No one ever brings up that we simply can't rely on witness accounts as all that factual yet they build a detailed case of questionable memories.
 
BaronHardacre said:
I dunno whether it's just me, but this season (including the TV shows) has felt quite weak compared to the previous two seasons. Perhaps spreading themselves too thin.
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I have had that thought.

It seems that some of the more recent podcast shows are lacking any really interesting topics that have some depth to them. They are not sparking any "I wonder" thoughts from me.

As others have noted, the questions are obvious and not thought provoking. The topics and stories are fairly simplistic and, even the "skeptical" and "believer" commentators don't seem all too interested in them.

I found the toy phone story cute and was surprised that the boy/man still has an emotional reaction to just seeing the phone. But, why? This isn't explored.

The phone wasn't haunted, and it moved to the new house with them. Why his sister would keep it all of these years is just odd.

My thoughts on the most recent stories is that the show kind of has to rely on stories that people send them. If nothing intriguing is being found, they still have to get out a regularly released program, using whatever they have at the time.
 
blessmycottonsocks said:
My daughter had one of those Fisher Price phones when she was tiny and I do recall that, as the toy got old and well-used, the dial wouldn't return to its start position and ring the internal bell quite so readily.
So, occasionally, if you turned the dial all the way clockwise, it would stick in that position and only return to the start position when it felt like it (or was kicked)
...
The point was that, a stuck dial could unstick itself and trigger the ringing sound at a random time after the child had finished playing.
If it happened in the middle of the night, I can see how that could be regarded as spooky.
Click to expand...
There's clearly something about Fisher-Price - here's a post from me, from seventeen years ago (oh God oh God), similar effect:

stu neville said:
We used to have a Fisher Price clockwork television that would suddenly spring into life, too - it freaked me out like hell to start with, but after a while I worked out that the mechanism was prone to sticking. If the room warmed up, just a little, it would often start up.
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many years ago I bought my goddaughter a Bob the Builder plush that had a electronic toy mobile phone that made different voices and noises.

On many occasions my friends were woken up in the middle of the night with Bob's phone ringing and him answering it. This despite it being downstairs and nowhere near my goddaughter.

The batteries were soon taken out.

Thankfully that worked.
 
Earthly oddity said:
This is one thing that fascinates me - the possibility of discovering potential physiological causes for some (maybe not all) strange experiences.

I know there was some strange idea of the Liverpool train network being some sort of cause for the phenomenon - or did I imagine/remember it wrongly?

I do wonder if it isn't just some sort of phenomena caused by vibrations/their effect on us. Has anyone really studied this in depth? I may have to do some searching.
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Yes, have heard this mentioned idea about the train network mentioned elsewhere. Liverpool doesn't have an underground railway but it has tunnels under the city centre:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseyrail#:~:text=Merseyrail operates 66 railway stations,centres of Liverpool and Birkenhead.

Here is a map of the network and the electrified circle of track many have postulated is causing time-slips:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Merseyrail_Map.svg

This jumped out at me:

"Merseyrail was established in 1977, when existing railway lines were connected by constructing new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead."

So did digging new tunnels under the city centre trigger the time-slips in Bold Street? Certainly worth further research

A video on the 1970s new tunnels:


One issue with this theory id that I'm not certain the MerseyRail tunnels go under Bold Street, can anyone find a map that shows these tunnels superimposed on map of the area?
 
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BaronHardacre said:
New episode that Danny trails as being about the first case they've covered about a haunted object.

Except, it's not the object thats haunted, and I can't really understand why he led with that...

I dunno whether it's just me, but this season (including the TV shows) has felt quite weak compared to the previous two seasons. Perhaps spreading themselves too thin.
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The cases in his book are much stronger and most feature multiple witnesses over a period of time, rather like his first 'Uncanny' episodes. That said, i think perhaps we gloss over the couple of weaker cases in amongst the stronger ones in the first two series (eg the white van premonition). For me the weakest recurring case is "Harry Called" due to the lack of other witnesses and also the primary witness seeking attention on social media.

Another issue is that Danny wants us to play amateur detectives and get involved in his social media channels with our thoughts and theories. I'm sure the BBC love this as it is basically free exposure for their product, listener engagement etc. But one downside of this is that Danny often doesn't ask interviewees obvious questions such as, "Did the tape deck have back-up batteries?". Also I think he knew all too well that those photos of the 'creature' too shocking to be put on social media were a child playing with an unlocked film and looking back he adopted a somewhat theatrical when he first revealed them.

That said, I am still a huge fan of Danny's work and he deserves our support and gratitude for getting Forteana back on the radio and tv.
 
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Paul_Exeter said:
Yes, have heard this mentioned idea about the train network mentioned elsewhere. Liverpool doesn't have an underground railway but it has tunnels under the city centre:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseyrail#:~:text=Merseyrail operates 66 railway stations,centres of Liverpool and Birkenhead.

Here is a map of the network and the electrified circle of track many have postulated is causing time-slips:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Merseyrail_Map.svg

This jumped out at me:

"Merseyrail was established in 1977, when existing railway lines were connected by constructing new tunnels under Liverpool city centre and Birkenhead."

So did digging new tunnels under the city centre trigger the time-slips in Bold Street? Certainly worth further research

A video on the 1970s new tunnels:


One issue with this theory id that I'm not certain the MerseyRail tunnels go under Bold Street, can anyone find a map that shows these tunnels superimposed on map of the area?
Click to expand...

Wasn't there a theory that the trains running underneath Liverpool made some kind of electromagnetic loop that caused time slips? Just tried to search for it, just found loads of articles about a rail strike.
 
Earthly oddity said:
This is one thing that fascinates me - the possibility of discovering potential physiological causes for some (maybe not all) strange experiences.

I know there was some strange idea of the Liverpool train network being some sort of cause for the phenomenon - or did I imagine/remember it wrongly?

I do wonder if it isn't just some sort of phenomena caused by vibrations/their effect on us. Has anyone really studied this in depth? I may have to do some searching.
Click to expand...
I keep saying we need more of the 'not what, but how' research. Why do sleep paralysis visions all seem very similar even across cultures? Why do some people see and hear things that others don't, or can't? What happens in the brain when we perceive something we can't understand or make sense of?

I don't want to rationalise the paranormal out of existence, but sometimes there are questions posed that everyone just seems to shrug off.
 
Aydee_Aitchdee said:
Wasn't there a theory that the trains running underneath Liverpool made some kind of electromagnetic loop that caused time slips? Just tried to search for it, just found loads of articles about a rail strike.
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It is a good sci-fi theory but I cant help thinking there would be more problems than time-slips if huge electromagnetic forces were at play. Personally I would be interested in the tunnel excavations triggering paranormal activity.
 
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