Monster: BTK Episode Special – “Do Not Turn On the Lights: Introducing Wisecrack”

Date: September 6, 2025
Podcast: Monster: BTK
Production: iHeartPodcasts & Tenderfoot TV

Overview

This episode diverts from the main “Monster: BTK” series to introduce listeners to “Wisecrack,” a new true-crime podcast from Tenderfoot TV. Through a gripping live storytelling performance and chilling true-crime reenactments, the episode teases the suspenseful, personal, and darkly comic tone of “Wisecrack.” The centerpiece is British comedian Ed Hedges recounting the most terrifying night of his life—a night tangled up with a brutal murder, a threatening stranger, and a small village’s secrets.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live Storytelling with Ed Hedges

• The episode opens with Ed Hedges on stage before a live audience.
• He sets a rural, quirky backdrop:
  “My dad is a farmer and my mum is a cousin. So like it's not like not loads going on.” (B, 00:08)
• The tone shifts quickly from light-hearted to unsettling as Ed recounts a real-life nightmare from July 22, 2015.

2. The Crime Night – Tension and Horror

• Ed recalls being awakened by an “incredibly loud noise” at his front door:
  “That was the loudest thing I've ever heard in my life.” (B, 00:44)
• He describes seeing a terrified woman at his window, who warns him in a chilling voice:
  “Whatever you do, do not turn on the lights.” (B, 00:52)
• This sets off a cascade of fear, confusion, and suspense—a stranger's warning in the dead of night.

3. Graphic Murders in a Quiet Village

• The narration interrupts the live storytelling to overlay actual details of a gruesome double murder:
  “Inquests into the death of a woman and a man…” (A, 01:14)
  “41 stab wounds to the head, neck and TOR plus 14 blunt force injuries…” (A, 01:20)
• Ed reveals:
  “On 22 July 2015, between 11 and 12 o’clock at night, a 23 year old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house.” (B, 01:32)
• The blend of personal account and clinical facts amplifies the horror and mystery.

4. The Mystery Deepens and Expands

• The host, shaken and curious, resolves to unravel what happened, venturing into the small village’s secrets:
  “This can't be true. But I had to find out more. The mystery would take me to a small village outside of London. And the murders, they didn't stop there.” (A, 01:51)

5. The Promise of “Wisecrack”

• Ed teases his forthcoming show:
  “Well, it's a story and it's about the scariest night of my life.” (B, 02:09)
• The host announces:
  “From Tenderfoot TV, this is Wisecrack coming September 2nd—listen for free on Apple Podcasts.” (A, 02:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Whatever you do, do not turn on the lights.” (Woman via Ed Hedges, 00:52) – This chilling command anchors the episode and sets a haunting tone.
• “On 22 July 2015, between 11 and 12 o'clock at night, a 23 year old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house.” (Ed Hedges, 01:32) – The immediacy and danger escalate rapidly.
• “The mystery would take me to a small village outside of London. And the murders, they didn't stop there.” (Host/Narration, 01:51) – A promise of further intrigue and darkness in the new series.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:08 – Ed Hedges introduces himself, light rural humor.
• 00:44 – The night of terror begins; Ed describes the door noise and the stranger’s warning.
• 01:16–01:20 – Narration of the forensic facts and brutality of the murders.
• 01:32 – Ed reveals the killer came to his house after killing his own family.
• 01:51 – Host resolves to investigate; teases ongoing mysteries and further murders.
• 02:09 – Ed introduces the personal nature of “Wisecrack.”
• 02:22 – Announcement of the new podcast’s launch.

Summary & Listener Value

For “Monster: BTK” listeners, this episode provides a taste of “Wisecrack”: weaving personal narrative with true-crime reporting, and balancing gallows humor with genuine terror. Ed Hedges’ storytelling is both intimate and chilling, making the upcoming show compelling for fans of narrative-driven true crime wrapped in the unexpected.

If you’re hooked on gripping, bizarre real-life stories, “Wisecrack” promises to blend dark comedy, suspense, and in-depth mystery, launching September 2nd.