Delving into gripping Scottish mysteries for spooky new documentary series

Posted on 28 October 2026 • Arts, TV and radio

Familiar Scottish myths are unravelled to reveal unsettling mysteries, brutal histories and underlying questions in a new swirling cauldron of a documentary series.

Mythland is a double bill weekly documentary series, co-produced by the BBC and The Open University, starting on Halloween, Saturday 31st October, at 21:00 on BBC Scotland and also accessible on BBC iPlayer.

Through historical records, local testimony and expert insight, presenters Evelyn Hollow and Dr Zara Gladman explore famous stories of Scotland’s people and past and discover why so many stay drawn to the possibility that something extraordinary lies just beyond explanation.

From the nation’s persecuted witches to the Falkirk Triangle’s UFOs and Skye’s Fairy Flag, to Mary Queen of Scots and the elusive Loch Morar monster, Hollow and Gladman follow the evidence and ask why these stories retain such a powerful pull on the imagination.

Mythland’s five 30-minute episodes take viewers on a tour of these tales spanning the country. In the Falkirk Triangle, they investigate the extraordinary UFO stories surrounding Bonnybridge, a village often called the UK’s UFO capital. Up in Skye they find the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan, one of Clan MacLeod’s most treasured possessions to discover a world where folklore and family history intertwine. While over in Fife, the haunting case of Lilias Adie takes our sleuths beyond the fantasy of witchcraft and into the devastating reality of female persecution, complete with a robbed grave and missing skull.

OU academic consultants for the series are Dr Joanne Reardon, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing and Dr Francesca Benatti, Senior Research Fellow in Digital Humanities.

They said they have found it fascinating to discover the untold stories behind these myths and legends:

“We’ve been surprised by the way these myths continue to evolve and resonate throughout history shaping the way we think and tell our own stories today.

“We both write and research in the field of fantastical fiction, but what we’ve enjoyed most is the way the programme explores some less familiar myths and uncovered the personal stories behind them.

“Mythland brings these stories to life, offering a fresh perspective to the way we see and understand them.”

Find out more about the authors who kept other mythical legends alive in an interactive map on OU Connect. Exclusive video interviews with Mythland presenters Evelyn Hollow and Dr Zara Gladman are also available together with full profiles our OU academic consultants: click on the link here to find out more https://connect.open.ac.uk/mythland

The programme was supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), with particular relevance to R14 BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities, Q39 BA (Honours) English Language and Literature, Q66 BA (Honours) and Q86 BA (Honours) English Literature and Creative Writing.

Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships

• Academic Consultant: Dr Francesca Benatti and Dr Joanne Reardon

• Media Fellow: Dr Emily Bullock

• Broadcast Project Manager: Jo Shipp

• Supporting Online Content: Matthew Ray

Main image: Presenters Evelyn and Zara. Credit: Rogan Productions