Hansel & Gretel - A Very Dark Beginning To 2026 - Season 5 (Ep 6)

Welcome back to The Freakin’ Shack and to our very first episode of 2026! The fire’s crackling, the oak trees are whispering outside… and Mortimer Witherblight has - unbelievably, lost his voice. The silence is positively glorious (don’t tell him we said that). To launch the new year, we dive into one of the darkest fairy tales ever told: Hansel & Gretel. But be warned — the origins are grim in every sense. This episode explores:  • The historical realities of child abandonment during periods of famine  • The disturbing theme of child cannibalism woven into early versions  • The often-forgotten context of elderly starvation and why this cruel choice appeared in the tale  • How this story shifted over centuries to become the “sweetened,” house-made-of-sweets tale we know today It’s eerie, it’s fascinating, and it’s definitely one of the bleakest journeys we’ve taken in the Shack — but told with our usual warmth, humour, and just a sprinkle of spooky chaos. Mort, meanwhile, communicates his outrage through silent dramatic gestures.. He insists his voice will return “when the world is ready once more for my brilliance.” We can’t wait. How You Can Support the Show Kick off the new year by helping The Freakin’ Shack grow! You can support us by:  • Leaving a rating or review  • Subscribing so you never miss an episode  • Sharing the podcast with fellow folklore fans  • Sending your stories, questions, or ideas to: [email protected]   Every little bit helps our tiny Shack in the woods reach new listeners — and it greatly annoys Mort when people love us more than him. © Copyright All stories, characters (including Mortimer Witherblight), narration, and original creative content in The Freakin’ Shack are the intellectual property of the creators. © Petrina & Steph Missons & The Freakin’ Shack, 2026. No reproduction, adaptation, or distribution is permitted without written consent.