Watch this full episode of After Dark with Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling where they chat about how Jack the Ripper's name and face became one of legend, even in a Victorian era of no photographs. With guest historian Dr. Bob Nicholson, they explore how the character of Jack the Ripper—the shadowy figure in the top hat—is a complete creation of the 19th-century press. The episode delves into how sensationalist newspapers like the Illustrated Police News and The Star used graphic illustrations and feverish reporting to craft a terrifying narrative, culminating in the infamous "Dear Boss" letter, which may have been a journalistic hoax to sell more papers. This discussion also uncovers the real-world consequences of this media frenzy, from fueling public hysteria and anti-semitic sentiment to wrongfully accusing men like John Piser, known as "Leather Apron." Learn how the public's insatiable appetite for a gory story created a powerful and enduring myth, a myth so profound that it continues to shape our perception of the case over a century later and influences everything from movies to AI-generated images. 0:00 - The Ripper: A Victorian Media Creation 3:54 - Was Jack the Ripper a Real Person? 6:24 - How Newspapers Invented the Ripper's Image 17:18 - The "Dear Boss" Letter Hoax 29:24 - When "Fake News" Had Deadly Consequences 34:51 - The Birth of True Crime Tourism Video edited by Natija Grauzinyte. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #HistoryHitPodcast #AfterDark #JackTheRipper #VictorianHistory