From his turn as Shakespeare in Upstart Crow to his historical sketches with Robert Webb, comedian and actor David Mitchell’s work has often touched on the past. Now he’s written his first history book, Unruly, charting England’s monarchy from its earliest days to the reign of Elizabeth I. David tells Matt Elton about this storied history.
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Yesterday
The devastating Jewish revolt against the Roman empire
It was under the rule of the infamous emperor Nero that the Great Revolt, the first of the Jewish-Roman wars, began, sparking many decades of continuous conflict. Speaking to James Osborne, historian and author Barry Strauss traces the story, following the the fate of the Jewish ... Show More
47m 37s
Mar 16
How Rasputin helped doom the Romanovs
The life of Grigori Rasputin, the Siberian peasant healer who wielded influence over the family of Russia’s last tsar, has fascinated the world for more than a century. Historian Antony Beevor speaks to Danny Bird about the man behind the myth and rumour, charting Rasputin’s humb ... Show More
44m 3s
Aug 2023
Æthelstan: First King of the English
<p>The grandson of Alfred the Great, Æthelstan the Glorious was the first King of England, reigning from 924 to 939. Æthelstan inherited the title King of Mercia from his father Edward the Elder, but was not immediately accepted as King of England. Shortly after his cro ... Show More
26m 49s
Apr 2024
Queen of Bohemia: Elizabeth Stuart
<p>Today we revisit the time I was joined by Prof. Dr. Nadine Akkerman, literary historian, author and educator. </p>
<p>Nadine’s access to Elizabeth Stuart’s original letters makes her the foremost authority on Elizabeth Stuart, and the perfect guest for to day’s show.</p>
<p><e ... Show More
38m 2s