logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
47m 22s

Seducing James I: Mary & George

History Hit
About this episode

The major new TV series, Mary & George tells the scandalous story of George Villiers, who rose - thanks to his mother Mary’s machinations - from minor gentry to enrapture King James VI & I, Britain’s first Stuart king. For a decade, George Villiers was at James’s side – at court, on state occasions and in bed, right up to James’s death in March 1625.


In this episode of Not Just the Tudors, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Dr. Benjamin Wooley, acclaimed author of The King’s Assassin, a compelling portrait of a royal favourite whose charisma overwhelmed those around him and, ultimately, himself.


This episode was edited by Ella Blaxill and produced by Rob Weinberg.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code TUDORS - sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
How to Survive Henry VIII
How did one man survive serving Henry VIII as principal secretary when others lost their heads? Why is the mastermind behind the King’s final, most turbulent decade so often forgotten?Rising through sheer intellect and royal favour, William Paget navigated bitter religious confli ... Show More
54m 33s
Oct 8
Britain's Slave Traders
How did a risky 16th-century venture evolve into a national enterprise that fuelled the rise of the British Empire? How did a vast network of royalty, politicians, cultural figures, and ordinary citizens finance human exploitation to expand British wealth and naval power?Professo ... Show More
53m 11s
Oct 5
John Dudley, The 'Wicked' Duke
How did the son of an executed traitor rise to become the power behind young Edward VI? Was John Dudley a visionary patriot saving England from crisis or a ruthless opportunist who risked everything for ultimate power?Following the death of Henry VIII, Dudley seized control of th ... Show More
44m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Sex & Scandal in King James' Court
King James I was a man whose sexuality was known by people in France, let alone (the newly formed) Britain of the early 17th century.So it may come as no surprise that men, such as the handsome George Villiers, might use their sexuality to their advantage and gain status, money a ... Show More
1h 1m
Apr 2024
Mary & George Villiers - The King’s Gay Lover & His Mom
The story of George Villiers and King James I & VI reads like a stylish, sexy and scandalous historic drama series. It probably hasn’t been made into one before because, until recently, Hollywood wasn’t too keen on portraying homosexual characters and relationships, authentically ... Show More
31m 50s
Mar 2024
James VI and I: life of the week
James Stuart became king of Scotland at just 13 months old, and has since been known as 'the cradle king'. So, what was his childhood like? How did he come to the throne of England? And how much is known about his relationships with his famed favourites, as portrayed in new histo ... Show More
47m 54s
Sep 2022
Bad King James VI & I
You might know him best as the longest reigning Scottish king, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, the father of Charles I, or the eponymous poster of the translation of the bible into English.But King James VI of Scotland, and I of England, had some very questionable traits and got ... Show More
38m 43s
Jul 2025
Is James I an Underrated King?
<p>We dive into the reign of the first Stuart monarch of England, his political savvy, and the controversies that shaped his rule. From the Gunpowder Plot to the King James Bible, we ask whether history has judged him too harshly - or not harshly enough.</p><br><p>Historian, auth ... Show More
36m 12s
Nov 2024
George Villiers Part 2: George on Top | 49
In part one, George Villiers joins King James’ Royal Bedchamber and quickly becomes the king’s Favorite – and his lover. But George is desperate to prove that he’s more than just a pretty face, so he starts a new career in politics. In the end, he’ll have to make some hard choice ... Show More
42m 43s
Jan 2023
293: Lady Jane Grey: The Nine Days' Queen (Part 1)
Edward VI is dead - but who will succeed him on the throne?  In the first of two episodes, Tom and Dominic discuss the succession question that surrounded the reign of Edward VI, the sole male heir of Henry VIII - and how a 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey ended up Queen of England an ... Show More
51m 33s
Mar 2024
Queen Elizabeth I and Her V Card
This week is for the true history girlies! We are taking you through the life and reign of the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. From her tumultuous upbringing as the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to her rise to become one of England's most notable monarchs. We talk sister figh ... Show More
1h 14m
Jul 2023
Scottish Kings' Sex Lives
One thing royal families strive for is the common touch. Whilst some have struggled with it, King James IV and V in the 15th and 16th centuries excelled in it. It could be said, however, they took the term ‘common touch’ too literally, as it wasn’t uncommon for them to have sexua ... Show More
47m 17s