10. Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know
Lucy Worsley and Dr Rosalind Crone look back at the final four episodes and ask, what made these four women take such extraordinary actions to solve their problems?
In this final episode of Lady Killers, Lucy Worsley and Dr Rosalind Crone look back and discuss the last four cases and the issues and themes they share.
Together they re-examine two of Britain’s most notorious serial killers, Amelia Dyer who’s thought to have killed hundreds of babies and children and Mary Ann Cotton who murdered three of her husbands and numerous children and step-children. Over in the United States they look back at Hannah Mary Tabbs, who killed her lover and back in London delve into the sad case of Esther Lack, the mother who murdered three of her own children.
Lucy and Ros dig deeper into the social issues and circumstances that helped create these murderesses. They look back at an era when newspapers were booming and examine the part the press played in shaping the stories of these women and how they were presented to a scandal hungry public. With that in mind they chat through the new discoveries sweeping through society in terms of toxicology and new understandings around mental health. Finally they scrutinise all eight cases and ask, what has changed today that could have made a difference?
Producer: Alex Baxter
Sound design: Chris Maclean
A StoryHunter production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Lucy Worsley's Crime Collection
Hand-picked programmes on the themes of 19th-century murder and mores.
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A behind the scenes look at the making of the series.
Podcast
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Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley
Lucy Worsley investigates the crimes of Victorian women from a contemporary perspective.
