Henry VIII's Descent into Darkness

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Serial Killers, Mystery, True Crime, Ghosts, Society & Culture, Supernatural, Folklore, Ufos, Myths, History, Murder, Paranormal

4.7 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

He's known as one of history's most murderous kings, but was he always a monster? Or was he acting in ways expected of a king during his time.

Joining Anthony as special guest co-host is author and historian Gareth Russell, to explore the theories that support the latter.

Did the break from Rome set him off on a violent spiral? Did a fall from a horse in a jousting tournament really start his descent into darkness?! Or is there just no justifying what he did?

You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@afterdarkhistoryhit

Edited by Hannah Feodorov and Anna Brant. Produced by Stuart Beckwith.

For tickets to see Anthony and Maddy talking about her new book, Hoax, click here: https://www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/event/hoax/

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Looking for more shady and sinister stories, sign up to History Hit.
0:04.4	You can join us to explore the tragic life of the Bronties or discover the chilling story of Burke and Hair.
0:10.7	Plus, with your History Hit subscription, you'll unlock hundreds of hours of exclusive documentaries with a brand new release every week exploring everything from the ancient world to World War II.
0:22.5	Just visit historyhit.com forward slash subscribe
0:25.2	to start exploring the past.
0:44.8	At Tburn, a cart creaks to a halt before the gallows.
0:51.1	The prisoners are months from the London Charterhouse, dragged from their cloisters for refusing to recognise Henry VIII as head of the church.
0:55.4	Huds are soon pulled back methodically and ropes tightened with choreographed precision.
1:01.5	The crowd watches as the king's justice unfolds.
1:05.2	These men will be hanged, cut down alive and pulled asunder before the gathering public.
1:10.5	A warning of what it means to defy a king.
1:18.6	During the reign of King Henry VIII, it is said England grew more fearful. Holy men were butchered,
1:24.6	his closest friends sent to their deaths, and his queen placed on the chopping block.
1:31.1	All this has seen him gain a reputation as one of history's most monstrous kings, but was Henry VIII always a monster?
1:39.2	And it so did the machinery of the Tudor state create him?
1:43.6	Or was he, when all is said and done,
1:46.3	no more brutal or ambitious than any other ruler in early modern England?
1:51.6	From the dark heart of the Tudor court, welcome to After Dark.
2:03.6	Thank you. The The Hello and welcome to After Dark.
2:23.8	I'm Anthony and I'm Gareth.
2:26.3	And you will have noticed, Gareth is not Maddie.
2:29.6	No.
	...

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