The Pusher

Over the last two decades, more than 80 bodies have been pulled from Manchester’s canals - a statistic that has fuelled rumours of a serial killer stalking the waterways at night.

Locals call him The Pusher: an unseen figure lurking in the shadows, shoving unsuspecting victims into the dark, icy water. But is the Pusher a real predator… or a modern urban legend born from fear, tragedy, and unanswered questions?

In this opening episode of Manchester Murders, we delve into a mystery that has gripped Manchester. We explore the cases that sparked the theory, the haunting patterns that refuse to go away, and the experts who insist the truth is far more complicated.

You’ll hear about the victims, the investigations, the controversies - and why the myth persists despite repeated police denials.

Why start a murder podcast with something which might or might not be murder?

Well…I don’t know really. I thought it was interesting and you have to start somewhere, right?

The mystery of The Pusher has been a source of conversation in Manchester for a few years now. Much as the Police continue to deny there is any such villain, one of my friends pointed out that Manchester and Birmingham have a similar length of canals running through them, but Birmingham has nothing like the rate of deaths. And in other ways the cities are similar – nightlife, student population etc.

So that’s one to ponder!