Fanny and Stella: The Men Who Shocked Victorian Society

In 1870, two young women were arrested after leaving a theatre in London. These women, so-called Fanny and Stella, were in fact Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park, and they were charged with ‘buggery’.


So who were Boulton and Park? What was the evidence against them? And why did this create such a stir across the front pages and the world?


Neil McKenna joins Kate Betwixt the Sheets to share Stella and Fanny’s extraordinary life stories and trial.


*WARNING: There are adult themes, explicit descriptions of sex and suicide references in this episode*


Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Thomas Ntinas.


Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.


This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound.