A new podcast exploring Bristol’s hidden history of pirates, crime and punishment launches this month - revealing the extraordinary true stories behind the city’s past.
Image: Gerard Cooke and Sheila Hannon
Bristol: It's Criminal, created by award-winning theatre company Show of Strength, brings together historical research, expert guests and Bristol storytelling to uncover the real events that inspire the company’s popular theatre walks across the city.
Hosted by Show of Strength’s Creative Producer Sheila Hannon, the podcast dives into the people, myths and mysteries that shaped Bristol, from notorious pirates to grisly courtroom dramas.
The podcast launch comes as Hannon herself celebrates national recognition after being shortlisted as a finalist in the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Award, which recognises people who go the extra mile to create memorable visitor experiences. Voting is live at https://visitenglandawards.secure-platform.com/tourismsuperstar/gallery?roundId=454 until this Sunday 22 March 2026.
The first episode explores one of the city’s most enduring legends: whether the infamous pirate Blackbeard was actually a Bristol man. Joined by Bristol actor and long-time Show of Strength performer Gerard Cooke, Hannon investigates the evidence linking Edward Teach - better known as Blackbeard - to Redcliffe and Bristol’s maritime past.
Future episodes take listeners deeper into Bristol’s criminal history, including the story of John Horwood, the first person executed at Bristol’s New Gaol in 1821. In a two-part episode titled The Skeleton in the Cupboard, Hannon is joined by social historian Dr Rose Wallis to explore the controversial case involving love, jealousy, public spectacle and the role of the medical profession in the aftermath of execution.
Sheila Hannon said: “Bristol is full of extraordinary stories - some heroic, some shocking and some deeply human. With this podcast we wanted to take listeners behind the myths and explore the real lives behind the headlines.
“Many of these stories appear in our theatre walks, so the podcast gives people a chance to dive deeper into the history that’s hidden in plain sight around the city.”
Show of Strength has spent nearly four decades bringing Bristol and Bath’s history to life through theatre, performance and storytelling, with productions and theatre walks uncovering hidden histories across neighbourhoods and communities.
This year is the organisation’s 40th anniversary and there will be a celebration taking place next month at The PIT in Totterdown.
On Sheila’s nomination, Kathryn Davis, CEO of Visit West, said: “Sheila’s creativity, her passion for the region and her ability to lead Show of Strength Theatre walks in such an engaging way really sets her apart. Her theatre walks highlight lesser-known people and places in and around Bristol and Bath and are enormously fun and fabulous. Sheila is a credit to the region and we urge people to vote for her to win this prestigious award.”
Listen to the podcast now at: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/bristol-its-criminal/id1883110062.
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