You'll get a chance to ‘Ask Me Anything’ and I'll do my best to answer as much as I can! Got a question for an ageing child star with a mullet? Then sign on up!

See you at 8pm BST. I might even have my two furry familiars with me…

ONWARDS!

HOLLY x x x

I really hope you’ve all enjoyed listening to Episode 3? It was so amazing to have Charlotte Knowles in the studio — we could have talked for hours and hours (and in fact, we did carry on yapping at a burger bar after we wrapped!)

I’m heading off for a little holiday this weekend, but I’m delighted to say that the inimitable Kate Duchêne will be joining me for Episode 4, which will go live on September 3rd. I haven’t seen her for nearly 20 years, so I’m really looking forward to chatting to her about all things Miss Hardbroom! I wonder how many spells she remembers?

We are also looking for podcast sponsors to help us grow the show.

If anyone has a business or company which aligns with our content / values / ethos then please get in touch! Ideally Dr. Martens would come onboard and kit me out with some new Cackle’s boots…

Anyway, I’ll look forward to hearing from you!

If you’re a paid Substack subscriber scroll on for an extra video of me and Charlotte talking about life post The Worst Witch.

We chat about getting into the film industry, making our own work, and helping creatives boost other creatives. It’s a really interesting watch, even if I do say so myself!

The paid subscription is £5 per month (and even cheaper if you pay for the year) and is funding our studio time, editing, tech, marketing and enabling us to pay our guests.

Unlike our earnings 30 years ago, the money is NOT being splurged on posh clothes and BOGOF cocktails!

We couldn’t do this without the generosity of our subscribers, so thank you from the bottom of Miss Cackle’s cauldron!

Read more

Join me for Episode 3, where I chat to Charlotte Knowles AKA Sybil Hallow. She spent her days at Cackle’s sobbing in a corner, and now she’s an award winning film-maker!

What’s in store in this episode? Auditions, shopping trip faux-pas, Maud’s sunglasses “from Barcelona”, erupting yak’s milk, neurodiversity and … onions!

If you like the show please subscribe, like, comment and share!

Keep up to date with us on Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube

ONWARDS!

As part of your founding members subscription to Cackle's After Dark Substack, you get to ask a question to our next guest, the lovely Charlotte Knowles!

We'll be recording tomorrow so send th…

Read more

…Charlotte Knowles AKA Sybil Hallow!

Sybil spent her time at Cackle’s bursting into tears at any given moment, but now Charlotte is an award-winning documentary maker and producer.

Her credits include Rebel Dykes, The Medallion, and Palestine Comedy Club, which received four BIFA nominations as well as winning the Spirit of Raindance award. She’s making some incredibly important and thought provoking work. Can’t wait to chat to her about her career post The Worst Witch, as well as reminiscing about our time together on set.

The episode will go live on August 10th, so not too long to wait!

We are also now on TIK TOK and YOUTUBE, so go give us a follow?

In the meantime, here’s the video of Katy and I talking about skiving off tutoring … our poor chaperones!

There is also one extra video for paid subscribers to follow. Us witches got our fancy shoes on as adults (just in case the tabloids are lurking!) and went for a little boogie one evening. BUT WHO WAS THE PHANTOM FARTER ON THE DANCE FLOOR?

ONWARDS!

Holly x

Read more

Ever fancied having a bedtime story read to you by Ethel and Drusilla?

From the 15th to 16th August, Instagram book blogger Gary The Reader is hosting a ‘The Worst Witch Weekend’ where he’ll be posting about all things Cackle’s Academy.

We’ll be joining in with a special Cackle’s After Dark ‘read along’ video!

Paid subscribers, read on for a silly little vid filmed on my phone as I journeyed to the recording studio (with Drusilla’s original broom!) to meet Katy Allen for Episode 2!

ONWARDS!

Holly x x x

Read more

Thanks so much for listening to Episode 2 - the download figures have been great! Hope you enjoyed mine and Katy’s yappin’!?

As promised, we are doing a GIVEAWAY!

We’ve teamed up with amazing artist / illustrator / worst witch fan RAGTAG RATBAG — a super-friendly creative based in Sheffield who makes wonky and colourful art, addressing important topics as well as making people smile!

They’ve designed this incredible Cackle’s After Dark art print for us (just look at my hairy legs and mullet!) and we have 2 to give away. Both will be signed by me and Katy!

To be in with a chance of winning, follow the instructions on our Instagram and TikTok posts — you can get an entry on each platform. Paid Substack subscribers automatically get 5 entries! Good luck!

See you for Episode 3 in a fortnight’s time! Who can guess who my guest might be….?

Onwards!

Holly X

If you have a paid Substack subscription, enjoy the following Episode 2 blooper reel - nearly 5 minutes of absolute tomfoolery! (sorry for the swears…again!)

Read more

Hello witches!

I’m delighted to say that Episode 2 of Cackle’s After Dark is now live and ready to listen to. I had a magical time in the studio chatting to my dear friend Katy Allen who played Ethel Hallow (seasons 1 and 2)

We reminisced about her first time on set as the notorious school bully… her favourite scenes to film…hiding from tutors….cheese and bean toasties...fake I.D…and my penchant for blob fishes!

Hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! There’s going to be a very loooooong bloopers reel that’s for sure!

If you enjoy the show— please comment, like and add it to your favourites. Share with anyone else that might need some witchy nostalgia too!

You can listen on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Pockets Casts, and you can follow us on Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube

This is a listener-supported podcast, so if you’re in a position to sign up for a paid Substack subscription, that will help keep the show free for everyone to listen to.

Thanks for all of your support so far!

ONWARDS!

Written, hosted and presented by: Holly Rivers

Music by: Paul K Joyce

Recorded at: The Podcast Room

Magic provided by: Jill Murphy

Notice how they changed the word FEARSOME to FEARLESS for the final version…maybe they didn’t want to freak out the younger audience?!

Give Paul a follow on Substack, and head over to his Soundcloud for more of his amazing kids tv themes

Paid subscribers, read on for an extra special on-set recording featuring the legend that is Una Stubbs!

ONWARDS X

Read more

And a huge thank you to everyone that’s signed up as a paid subscriber. Because of you we now have the funds to keep us going until the end of the year— this means being able to book the recording studio for every episode, paying our guests for their time, and having the means to promote the show online.

The exclusive content below is for you - Enjoy the bloopers and extra chat!

Onwards!

Subscribe now

Read more

This has been such a joy to write, record and edit — so put your broom down, get your headphones on, cast a silencing spell on anything else that might need doing, and grab yourself a bowl of ‘eel-flavoured cauldron noodles’ to munch on! Half an hour of nostalgia, giggles, confessions and magical mayhem awaits you!

If you enjoy the show— please comment, like and add it to your favourites. Share with anyone else that might need some witchy nostalgia too!

You can listen on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Pockets Casts, and you can follow us on Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube

This is a listener-supported podcast, so if you’re in a position to sign up for a paid Substack subscription, that will help keep the show free for everyone to listen to.

If you are already a paid subscriber you’ll be receiving some exclusive extra content related to this episode very soon

Thanks for all of your support so far!

ONWARDS!

Written, hosted and presented by: Holly Rivers

Music by: Paul K Joyce

Recorded at: The Podcast Room

Magic provided by: Jill Murphy

Hello!

Our video trailer has landed at last! And what a trip down memory lane it was making it…

Mildred’ and ‘Drusilla’ had such a giggle in the studio recording! We could have reminisced for hours more, but our session had come to an end and our engineer politely reminded us that it was now time to wrap up!

BUT….we have so many exciting guests booked in for future episodes:

* Katy Allen (Ethel Hallow)

* Kate Duchene (Miss Hardbroom)

* Paul K Joyce (Theme tune composer)

* Mhara Starling (Tik Tok influencer and practising witch)

* Charlotte Knowles (Sybil Hallow)

*Laura Ellen Anderson (Best selling children’s author of Amelia Fang)

* And many more too!

Enjoy the memories, and if you’re a paid subscriber, enjoy these extra videos too!

Episode 1 will go live very soon….

Holly x

Read more

I also wanted to share this lovely message sent to me by a new subscriber. The Worst Witch has such a dedicated fandom and I can’t wait to create an even bigger community through this podcast.

Watch this space to know when Episode 1 of the podcast goes live!

Read more

I’m your host, Holly Rivers, and I played school bully Drusilla Paddock on the show — I literally spent three years of my teenage life walking around with my arms crossed and a scowl on my face, pretending that I liked cats! Nearly 30 years since we started filming, most of us Cackles alumni are still really good mates! We’re all in our 40s now, so yes, Mildred et al are approaching perimenopause and we’re are ready to reminisce!

(Yes, this podcast is about the 1990s adaptation of the show. If you’re here hoping to hear the ramblings of Bella Ramsey of Netflix fame, then you’ll be sorely disappointed. I’m sure they’re off posing for Vogue in a beautiful tailored suit, while I am here at my desk in north London!)

Each week I’ll be joined by a magical special guest. I’l be chatting to my fellow cast and members about our time filming, as well as giving you some behind the scenes anecdotes, deep-diving into our favourite episodes, and basically reliving our awkward child-actor moments (and there are many of those!)

I’ll also be talking all things Cackles to people who’ve been inspired by the show and books — children’s authors, historians, musicians and maybe even a real life witch!

Knowing how passionate and dedicated The Worst Witch fandom and community are, I’d also like to get as many super fans and podcast listeners involved to. So watch this space…

Episode one will be going live next week, where I’ll be joined by my pal, Georgina Sherrington, who played the inimitable Mildred Hubble. We’ll be talking about how we both got cast in the show, as well as reliving the earliest episode we filmed, ‘Battle Of The Broomsticks’, and giving you an insight into what it was like on set. Expect irreverence, nostalgia, nonsense and a lot of magic!

Want more Cackles After Dark content? Sign up for a paid Substack subscription to receive exclusive content, behind the scenes podcast photos and videos, competitions, blooper reels, and an opportunity to submit questions to guests.

I am making this podcast on zero budget, so paid subscriptions will help keep the podcast free for everyone to listen to and enable me to pay my guests fairly for their time and expertise.

Thanks for reading and make sure you tune in to episode 1!