Welcome
I am a folklore researcher, author and broadcaster. I began my career as a journalist at the Sheffield Star and spent four years working as a Press Officer. But my passion was always for folklore and in 1999 I completed a PhD in Folklore at the National Centre for English Cultural Tradition, University of Sheffield. I moved to Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 where for two decades I taught journalism and media law before I was promoted to Associate Professor. Working with colleagues who shared my interest in folklore, I co-founded the Centre for Contemporary Legend research group at SHU in 2018. I was Project Lead the AHRC-funded National Folklore Survey for England until I left the university in 2026 to return to full-time writing and broadcasting. My books include The Angel of Mons, How UFOs Conquered the World and Space Age Folklore that will be published by Reaktion in 2027. Contact me by email at furnival.news at googlemail.com
Tag Archives: aliens
Won’t Get Fooled Again?
The Alien Autopsy Scandal (Sky Documentaries) Read my Substack preview of this excellent three part series, directed by John Dower of Mindhouse productions, that premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival in Sheffield on 11 July. In the series I … Continue reading
‘Fraught with Perils’: Jimmy Carter and NASA’s last strange trip into UFO territory
A number of US Presidents have expressed an interest in UFOs and extraterrestrials but only one has ever reported a sighting: Jimmy Carter. The 39th President held office from 1977 until 1981 during a period of intense public interest in … Continue reading
Aliens prefer Brummies to Irish, poll finds
Just when you thought the alien abduction craze was history along comes a survey, commissioned by ITV, that claims 3% of Britons say they have been space-napped. And if the findings are to be believed, the extra-terrestrials much prefer to … Continue reading