Speech of the Month, February 2025 - Danny Robins

There’s a lot of good telly on at the start of the year, so while January was dominated by Traitors in Taylor Towers, February has been governed by Uncanny.  

From The Turn of the Screw to The Others, ghost stories are incredibly compelling, so it’s little wonder that Uncanny – a show that investigates everyday Joes’ skirmishes with the paranormal – is massively popular. However, I’m not sure it would be as popular if it wasn’t presented by the quirky, impish Danny Robins. Here he is in Uncanny action:

Here’s why Danny makes the show a hit: 

His passion is off the scale

Whether reacting to a guest’s creepy testimony (“Bloody hell, Ken!”) or challenging the experts (the Sceptic, Ciarán O'Keeffe, and the Believer, Evelyn Hollow) about their theories, Danny is riveted by the subject matter. His passion couldn’t be more ardent. And his passion is infectious. His reactions ramp up our curiosity. 

This is something we must remember to do when hosting panels or leading meetings. If you appear fascinated or stunned by a speaker, then the audience or other participants are more likely to feel that way too, which is a good thing. Your reaction will prompt them to listen. But if your interaction is subdued; if you receive the information like the speaker had run off the village bus’s timetable, then listeners are less likely to tune in. Your demeanour can boost attentiveness, as Danny’s does. 

His passion is also evident in the way he throws himself into the various ghost-busting experiments that O’Keeffe gets him to carry out. If you need a good laugh, then check out the first episode of series 2, when Danny has a scrape with convection currents.  

He’s got the look (He’s got the hook)

‘He sho'nuf do be cookin' in my book.’ I never actually knew what that Prince lyric was till I looked it up for this post. I’m still not sure I know now. 

So, the Danny look - the red anorak, the blue or red jumper and, yes, the haircut, all add to his appeal. 

There’s much debate around the haircut. Does it look like that because he just doesn’t care (a brunette Boris Johnson) or does it look like that because he cares too much and spends hours of strategic ‘messy’ styling? Either way, it’s quirky and unique and makes him stand out. 

A striking look is important when you’re leading a panel discussion or giving a talk. Why blend in wearing another grey suit at the finance conference or a Breton top and Adidas Sambas on the marketing panel? Wear something different or in an unusual hue that will stand out but suits you. 

With his dark hair and brown eyes, Danny pulls off true primary colours like blue and red brilliantly, but if you’ve got fair hair and green eyes, say, then you might look dreadful in those colours. Anyway, if you haven’t already discovered the colours that work well on you – usually through trial and error or a harsh best mate - then do check out this channel. I love this mother / daughter team. 

He makes Uncanny interactive

At the end of an Uncanny episode, five to 10 minutes are put aside where Danny gives updates on earlier investigations. So people who also worked in the allegedly haunted charity shop tell Danny about their ghoulish experiences there while other members of the public get in touch and give reasons why it could sound like an army is running down a flight of stairs although nobody is there. These updates are great because they mean more detail is added to earlier stories, thereby keeping them ‘live’ but it also means that the viewing and / or listening public can get involved. 

This is something we all need to consider when we’re giving a talk. How can we get the audience involved? It’s something I know I should do more of. The reason I don’t is down to control; once you take the focus of yourself and give the floor to others, then you’re taking a risk. But generally, the risk pays off because the audience appreciates having an in.