A model and agent from Liverpool who bonded over a shared love of true crime have launched a new podcast, covering the creepiest cases from Merseyside and beyond.
The pair, both from South Liverpool, met when when Kate Mitchell worked as the social media agent of model Hannah Elizabeth.
Brought together by an interest in ' true crime and red wine' they decided to hop on the true crime genre wave, which has exploded in popularity in recent years, and start their own show called Don't Talk To Strangers.
READ MORE : Man battered, dumped on the street and then run over by taxi
The show, now four episodes deep, has so far covered American serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer, who killed 17 men and boys in Wisconsin in the 1970s-90s and The Ripper crew, an organised gang that terrorised Chicago in the 1980s.
The latest episode hits closer to home, with the pair tackling the bizarre 2004 case of Brian Blackwell, a teenager that killed both his parents in a hammer and knife attack in at their home in Melling in 2004 before jetting off on a spending spree in New York with his unsuspecting girlfriend.
Social media agent, Kate, 28, said: "The response from the Brian Blackwell case was amazing! So many people were interested in hearing about a local case that shocked many."
On her introduction to crime media, Hannah, 31 said: "My Auntie Esther has always been into all things true crime and serial killers, she introduced me to this when I was young and we used to watch horror films and read true crime books together.
"I am also fascinated with the occult and anything spiritual."
Kate said: "My interest started from watching [the fictional TV show] CSI at a young age. I found it fascinating and from then on my love for all things true crime, serial killers and gore grew.
"I went on to study criminology at university and secured work experience at Liverpool Coroners Court and Liverpool Royal Morgue."
On the idea for the show, Kate, 28 said: "We want [the podcast] to be a factual story telling experience but with also the chemistry and banter between friends."
So what separates Don't Talk To Strangers from other true crime podcast?
Kate said: "Hannah would say it is because we are Scousers. I would say our chemistry."
Despite an explosion of popularity in recent years in the form of podcasts, books and Netflix documentaries such as Making a Murderer, the genre of true crime has its critics, some believing it to be distasteful or exploitative of victims.
Kate believes 'morbid curiosity' is natural as is keen to tell the stories of victims as well as the perpetrators of crime.
She said: "We don't think there is anything wrong with the morbid curiosity of true crime.
"It's something that exists in the world and it is okay to want to learn about these things and discuss them."
The pair say they are aiming to spread awareness of subjects such as violence against women, domestic violence and mental health issues.
Kate said: "For us it is more about why these things happen, what causes the perpetrator to commit these acts and the psychology behind it."
Don't Talk To Strangers: A True Crime Podcast is available on Spotify.
