So, what is it about the darkest side of humanity that so fascinates?
An authority best placed to explain the phenomenon is Bury’s own Emma Kenny, who is often seen on TV and now on the stage as part of a nationwide tour.
“It’s not about voyeurism, enjoying other people’s pain or being titillated by horror, it’s about going on that journey with the victim who had a right to life but had that stolen,” she says.
“I spent a lot of time researching the public appetite for true crime. The primordial brain is wired to be alert to threat and danger, it’s an almost unconscious reaction.
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“Demographically, 80 per cent of those drawn to true crime are females in the 32-55 age group – the mothers, the new grandmothers.
Emma Kenny (Image: Emma Kenny) “Statistically, women are more vulnerable, so exploring true crime gives them the emotional vocabulary, the ‘rehearsal experience’ and ‘what would I do’ preparedness to avoid becoming a victim. They can empathise, but from a place of safety.”
Having lost her father to suicide, Emma (52) understands raw grief and despair. It’s part of what helps her relate to others and be relatable to them.
Reflecting on her interest in the human condition, she says she was always ‘nosy.’
“From an early age I was always interested in the deeper issues of the human psyche. Small talk isn’t for me. I’m much more interested in someone’s story.”
During her childhood, she grew up in Summerseat, and attended Bury Grammar Girls School.
(Image: Emma Kenny)
“I wasn’t from a rich family – my dad was a sales rep, and my mum was a stay-at-home parent and then worked in a shop. I was only able to go to the school because I got assisted place funding.
“There were some inspirational teachers and the girls were nice, but I didn’t feel like I was in the right space or place.”
As a teenager she ended up seeing psychologists across a two-year period.
“It was mainly because I didn’t go into school as often as I should.”
Ironically, it was this that was to alter the course of her life.
“I thought the psychologists I was seeing weren’t very good and so I decided that I could do a better job and resolved to study psychology to help others.”
Her passion for the subject resulted in a BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, an Advanced Diploma in Counselling and an MA Counselling Postgraduate Degree.
For a time, she was a volunteer pupil liaison officer for Bury Council’s educational welfare unit, where she worked with young people who were struggling.
“I was more of a peer to them than an older professional, and that and my own experiences meant the empathy came naturally.”
She went on to work with young offenders to help try to get them back into education and expand their horizons and later worked with young people who had experienced horrendous trauma.
Specialising in true crime was not a planned career path. It was through her work as a counsellor and psychotherapist that she was asked to be involved in the 2007 BBC series, The People Watchers.
“I thought I’d give it a go and I was never out of work after that.”
Her reputation grew and led to an increasing amount of television work. She was a regular on GMTV and one of the main commentators on such shows as Britain’s Darkest Taboos.
“I describe myself as a psychological practitioner who is a broadcaster, writer Facebooker YouTuber and podcaster.”
Emma’s busy career is something of a family affair. Husband, Pete, has a media company and oversees Emma’s output, while her elder son, Tyde, is her “miracle marketer.” She also has a younger son, Evan, and 18-month-old Etta-Blue.
Despite being recognised as one of the UK’s leading psychological experts, Emma treasures family above all.
“My family is what I value most in the world. It keeps me grounded, as do the small group of long-standing friends I have, and I love the north and living in Tottington. I’ve been offered work in America, but I’m happy enough being a small-town girl.”
People automatically gravitate toward Emma, and she has slowly acclimatised to being recognised in public.
“They always used to ask me what Philip Schofield was like, but now they come up to me in the street and ask, ‘Is it you?’ and want to talk about crime,” she laughs.
“They tell me they go to bed listening to my voice. I assumed they were talking about my relaxation channel, but it’s not, it’s my murder podcasts!”
Her celebrity still surprises her.
“On a book signing tour I saw Ewan McGregor. I presumed he was doing something promotional himself, and I was desperate, but too embarrassed to ask for a selfie with him. It turned out that he was only there because his daughter is a big fan of mine and wanted to meet me. It was unbelievable!” she said.
In 2023, Emma engaged on a series of nationwide tours. Her first was with The Serial Killer Next Door, which evolved from her bestselling book of the same name.
The Killer Cults tour followed, and Emma says: “That was inspired by the social experience of lockdown and how governments employed cult psychology to create a huge shift in behaviour incredibly quickly.”
In her latest nationwide show, Killer Couples, which takes in 53 venues s across the UK – Emma investigates and explains what motivates them, how the connection begins, and what keeps them together.
“I then move on to individual cases, like Fred and Rose West, and look at the typology of the killers.
“Obviously, its scary content, but I don’t want people to feel devastated. I want them to be fully equipped and to go home with information they didn’t know previously.
“A lot of audience members work in this field already, so they are coming to learn more. I try to make it a crossover between education and entertainment. I’m not pandering to ghouls or thrill seekers. I don’t want to send them home depressed; I want to send them home with a level of hope, and with that legacy of justice for the victim always at the centre.”
Spending such much time focusing on the very worst aspect of human behaviour could affect Emma’s outlook on life, so she is fortunate to be an optimist.
“I genuinely believe most people are good. There is a lot of bad in the world, but horrific murders still shock us. If they were happening all the time, they wouldn’t be remarkable, they wouldn’t make the headlines and everyone would be desensitised.”
For further details about Emma’s tours, books, and broadcasts, visit www.emmakenny.tv.com
Dates include Burnley Mechanics Theatre on May 14
