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Outlook Mixtape: Master keys

Three stories of how keys unlocked fame: the archaeologists who uncovered a vampire mystery, a performance on the ivories goes viral and how a locksmith plays cupid in Colombia.

Archaeologists Dariusz Polinski and Magdalena Zagrodska are drawn to a remote hill in Poland. Dariusz is searching for a medieval castle and Magda is searching for the bones of a bird associated with mythical powers. But instead, a series of strange events leads them to discover an unmarked grave containing the body of a young woman held down by a padlock and a sickle. This leads them to investigate the life of a supposed 350-year-old ‘vampire’, and the padlock becomes an important emblem of their experience. They spoke to Asya Fouks in January 2025.

Pianist Chloe Flower went from playing Bach to performing with Cardi B, one of rap music's biggest stars. She told Outlook's Nawal Al-Maghafi in April 2019 about their show-stopping performance at the 61st Grammy Awards that year.

Humberto Restrepo from Medellin in Colombia was a locksmith by day but outside his working hours he played Cupid by writing love letters for other couples. As Outlook's Clayton Conn heard in November 2018, Humberto has saved many relationships in trouble.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Hetal Bapodra
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape on a white background with a white label with the words: The Outlook Mixtape. Credit: Getty Images)

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