Suranne Jones is shocked by a grisly discovery in new Channel 4 series Investigating Witch Trials.

Suranne Jones has revealed a shocking and horrifying discovery which came to light during the filming of her new Channel 4 documentary, Investigating Witch Trials.

The two-part documentary, fronted by the 45-year-old actress, looks at history’s most infamous witch trials, with Suranne on a mission to discover why so many women were accused and what their stories mean Today.

However, there was one horrific event that shocked the Doctor Foster star more than most, as she was in Bamberg, Germany – where nearly 20,000 women were tortured and killed as witches.

She told the Mirror: “I was shocked to learn about the ‘witch ovens’ which were built to get into people’s bodies quicker… they could put four or five people in at a time.”

The Bamberg witch trials of 1627–1632 were one of the largest mass trials and executions ever seen in Europe, as well as one of the largest witch trials in history.

The two-part documentary looks at history’s most infamous witch trials, with the 45-year-old actress on a mission to discover why so many women were accused.

TeamAkers, the production company Suranne owns with her husband Laurence Akers, 50, made the documentary because the actress has always been interested in witches.

During a series of discussions with folklorists and academics, she learned the story of the Pendle witches, eight women and two men from Lancashire executed in 1612, after the intervention of King James I.

She also visits Salem, Massachusetts, where in 1692, 14 women and five men were hanged as witches after young girls began convulsing as if possessed by demons.

The star was shocked to learn that the trials weren’t really left in the past and had instead moved to social media, where women face misogyny and threats.

Suranne made the connection between bullying and victimization of women centuries ago and today. “Women have been silenced,” she said. “It’s still a big problem.”

Feminist activist Laura Bates told the actress: “The witch trials took place online. There are so many parallels to what women experienced at the time. There was a horrible form of torture called “poking the witch.”

“(Today) women are tortured all night long by the 24/7 bombardment of social media.”

Suranne also realized that certain moments in the past resonated with her own life, such as when she “had an opinion” during her career which caused “the atmosphere to change” and she was called “too noisy” or “too impetuous”.

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The actress rose to fame on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, but is best known and loved for her roles as feisty police officer Rachel Bailey and the vengeful Doctor Foster, making her no stranger to playing strong female characters.

Suranne now plans to spend more time behind the camera, rather than in front of it.

She said in December: “My husband and I started our production company and made (new drama) Maryland and we just made our first documentary.”

“We just got two orders that will go into production next year. I love it. I hope to eventually do some projects that I’m not in. I can have some tea and relax.

“It would be nice not to do everything. But I’m very excited about our plans for next year.”

It comes after Suranne admitted she was “constantly trying to balance life and being a mother”.

The star recently spoke about how she and her character DCI Amy Silva in the BBC’s Vigil are two women who are constantly striving to achieve more.

Suranne said she and Amy were also both women trying to “balance” their lives and careers, and detailed how she too had struggled with “anxiety”.

She said: “Being a woman who is constantly trying to prove herself and feeling like a responsibility to a lot of people, when we’re filming and the crews are doing a lot for us – I think Amy and I share that.”

“I have a child. I share this (with Amy). I’m constantly trying to balance my life and career. I share this.

Investigating Witch Trials is available to stream now on Channel 4 All4