On 7 November, 1974, nanny Sandra Rivett was found murdered in the affluent London neighbourhood of Belgravia. The prime suspect? The father of her young charges, Lord Lucan. But before the aristocrat could be questioned, he vanished, sparking one of the greatest cause célèbres of the 20th century. Author Laura Thompson tells Ellie Cawthorne more about the c ... Show More
Today
Elizabeth I: a woman in a man’s world
By 1559, Elizabeth I had secured the crown – but holding on to power would prove far more challenging. In this second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore Elizabeth’s early reign, from her coro ... Show More
35m 16s
Mar 13
Life on the mean streets of 19th-century London
What can Charlie Chaplin's life tell us about the experiences of poor working-class people in 19th- and early 20th-century London? Quite a lot, it turns out. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, author and historian Jacqueline Riding reveals the world of poverty, tragedy and joy that pl ... Show More
36m 11s
Apr 2025
Episode 396 - Lord Lucan: the Vanishing Earl
When the Countess of Lucan burst into a West London pub drenched head-to-toe in blood, it instantly sparked a national obsession. Lord Lucan – the suave, speedboat-racing, professional-gambling aristocrat – was wanted for the murder of their housekeeper, Sandra Rivett. And he had ... Show More
1h 35m
Jul 2024
893. The Mystery of Lord Lucan (with Alastair Budge)
<p>Talking about the story of Lord Lucan, the British aristocrat who disappeared in 1974 after the murder of his nanny and attempted murder of his wife. Lord Lucan is an infamous name in Britain, and the story of his disappearance is a compelling glimpse into a life of privilege, ... Show More
1h 41m
Oct 2023
The Murder Mystery of the Greystone Mansion
On the night of February 16th, 1929, Lucy Doheny, wife of Ned Doheny (son of the oil baron Edward L. Doheny) heard a gunshot in her home – The Greystone Mansion – at about 11:30 PM. She called the family doctor, and only when he arrived did she go investigate the noise. She and t ... Show More
12m 16s