What is Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials about? C4 doc about mass executions in Lancashire & Germany explained
SURANNE Jones is back on our screens with a brand new Channel 4 documentary.
The Doctor Foster star looks to uncover the haunting history of witches and exposes how age-old prejudices still affect women today.
What is Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials about?
Actress Suranne Jones delves into the history of witch trials in the new documentary.
Jones explores the stories of those accused of witchcraft, the societal and political contexts of the witch hunts, and the impact these trials had on communities.
By combining historical research, expert interviews, and trips to key locations, the series aims to uncover the real stories and myths behind one of history’s most notorious periods of persecution.
For Suranne, this is a big change from her usual intense drama roles but the Doctor Foster star is excited to try something new.
A TV insider told The Sun: “Suranne is fortunate enough to pick and choose her work because she’s so box office.
“She’s always been keen to make documentaries so what better way to start than delve in a subject she’s always been interested in.
“Suranne knows she’s not alone and believes there’s a huge viewership ready to lap up this kind of content.”
The former Coronation Street star has previously admitted her obsession with books about fantasy and the supernatural.
She explained: “Give me witches, wizards and vampires any day. My husband bought me the first Harry Potter the other day.
“He said, ‘I can’t believe you read all these fantasy books and you’ve never read Harry Potter.’”
Where was Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials filmed?
The documentary was filmed in both the UK and US.
Lancashire
Some filming took place in the town of Pendle, known for the most famous witch trials in English history.
In the 17th century, twelve people were accused of witchcraft there; one died in custody, and eleven went to trial.
One was tried and found guilty in York, while the other ten were tried in Lancaster – with only one found not guilty.
Over three centuries, around 500 people were executed for witchcraft in England.
This series of trials in the summer of 1612 accounts for 2% of all witches executed.
Massachusetts
Filming also took place in the coastal city of Salem, known for its infamous witch trials.
It all began in the spring of 1692 when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft.
As panic spread, a special court convened in Salem to hear the cases with the first convicted witch, Bridget Bishop, hanged in June.
Eighteen others followed her to Gallows Hill, and around 150 men, women, and children were accused over the next few months.
By September 1692, the hysteria started dying, and public opinion turned against the trials.
Germany
Filming also took place in Bambergy, north Germany.
Around 1,000 people were executed after being accused of witchcraft in Bamberg.
900 of them were executed in 1626–1632.
People of all ages, sexes and classes, were burned at the stake, sometimes after having been beheaded and sometimes alive.
How to watch Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials?
Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials lands on the box on Sunday, June 23, and June 30.
Both episodes will air on Channel 4 at 9 pm.
Who is Suranne Jones?
Suranne Jones is an English actress from Chadderton, Oldham.
In 1997 she took a small role in Coronation Street, before returning to the soap full-time as Karen McDonald in 2000.
From here she has starred in BBC dramas and become a familiar face on TV screens.
She bagged a part in Doctor Who in 2011 and in the same year appeared as a joint lead in the detective series Scott & Bailey.
In 2015, she nabbed the biggest role of her career so far in Doctor Foster, in which she played the lead role.
She then went on to star in HBO drama Gentleman Jack in 2019 and returned for season 2 in April 2022.
In 2021, she took on another big role when she starred in the BBC drama Vigil.