This week we're heading for the coast to discover the story behind the birth of modern weather forecasting. We're also off to learn about the world's first lighthouse: the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria. Elis will be bringing some coals to Newcastle. And there's also a 4th part to this one (explain that in a second!) which is the real 4th emergency service: THE COASTGUARD. As we mention in the show, we've launched a subscription! With a subscription you'll get the 4th part of every episode, ad-f...
Nov 27, 2023•54 min•Ep. 20
This week we're scanning the historic horizon to look at wondrous landmarks from down the ages. We'll be travelling to Peru to discuss Machu Picchu, you can expect a visit to the east coast of America to study the Brooklyn Bridge and finally, we're off to north-west London to hear about the creation of the British Empire Exhibition Stadium aka Wembley Stadium. And why not drop us an email on any of the following: Interesting relatives? Prove an interesting fact to someone in 500AD? Historic jobs...
Nov 20, 2023•55 min•Ep. 19
This week we're taking a look through history at the BIG THREE emergency services: Police, Fire Brigade and the Ambulance service (with all due respect to the Coastguard and to a lesser extent The AA). We'll talk through the origins of the police and fire brigade in Ancient Rome, plus how the ambulance developed across Europe's battlefields. All the usual features are back and ONE DAY TIME MACHINE has a twist this week: what three buttons are you choosing for your time machine? Can you better El...
Nov 13, 2023•49 min•Ep. 18
To mark the 418th anniversary of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot we thought we'd bring you a Plots episode! We've got Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators of course and joining them Catherine The Great and Washington Irving. And there's so many features for you to email us about: Interesting relatives? Prove an interesting fact to someone in 500AD? Historic jobs that are easy? ONE DAY TIME MACHINE? Send us your thoughts by emailing: [email protected] Aaannnd if you like it, why not drop us...
Nov 06, 2023•52 min•Ep. 17
This week we're taking a look at great (and not so great) inventions through the ages. We've got the Player Piano (that piano that looks like it's being played by a ghost), Tamagotchi (the virtual pet that was huge in the 90s) and the Paternoster Lift (that constantly revolving lift that looks absolutely terrifying). Plus there's naturally a mention for Sir Clive Sinclair. And there's so many features for you to email us about: Interesting relatives? Prove an interesting fact to someone in 500AD...
Oct 30, 2023•54 min•Ep. 16
As the 20th century poet Des'ree once said: "Money don't make my world go round, I'm reaching out for a higher ground". Sadly, for the rest of us, the acquisition of money is a necessity. So this week we're back into the history books to analyse a series of money making ventures; from the Dutch Tulip craze of the 1600s to the 'Black Gold' of the Rhondda Valley and we wind the clock back to the 2000s and the infamous dot-com bubble. A listener suggested this week's episode, so do you have an epis...
Oct 22, 2023•50 min•Ep. 15
As regular listeners will note, over the past few weeks we have invented many of the world's greatest podcasting features: ONE DAY TIME MACHINE, HOW WOULD YOU IMPRESS SOMEONE IN 500AD and of course DO YOU HAVE A RELATIVE OF NOTE? And given the fact our inbox has been so full of good stuff, we decided that this week we'd dedicate a whole episode to these HOT NEW PODCASTING FORMATS. And guess what, we're back every Monday at the moment; so got an episode idea? Want to contribute to any of our INCR...
Oct 15, 2023•41 min•Ep. 14
This week we're dipping back through time to spend some time with the Victorians; those in the working class eating jellied eels from dirty cups, the middle classes and all their lovely spare time and the upper classes who, frankly, are having a whale of a time. Elsewhere, there's more ONE DAY TIME MACHINE with one listener choosing to go back in time to witness possibly the greatest guitar duel ever. And there's even more facts that would mark you out in 500AD as an absolute genius. If you’ve g...
Oct 08, 2023•41 min•Ep. 13
Pop some chicken soup on the hob and check out this week’s episode which is: Healthcare. From how the common cold has been cured down the years, to how our ancestors diagnosed diabetes via a good old look at urine, right through to the worst headache cure you have ever heard in your life. And ONE DAY TIME MACHINE is back once again and would you believe it? Someone has finally taken up Elis’ once scorned ‘coffee table’ option. If you’ve got a one day time machine or anything else, drop us an ema...
Oct 01, 2023•58 min•Ep. 12
This week we're discussing Adventurers; each with varying levels of success, to put it mildly. From the race to the South Pole, to Maurice Wilson's somewhat bizarre plan to scale Everest, right through to that know-it-all William Morris and his trip to Iceland. There's more ONE DAY TIME MACHINE once again and if you've got anything else you'd like to share, you know what to do! (Email: [email protected]) Aaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice? (Thus ta...
Sep 24, 2023•54 min•Ep. 11
Up this week we're looking a collection of absolutely random jobs from history. From the folk who sang the news, to professional knocker uppers plus we take a look at the people paid to clap the arts in 19th century France. And ONE DAY TIME MACHINE is back; is there somewhere in history you'd like to go for a day? You can let us know here: [email protected] This first series will contain 12 episodes that we’ll be releasing weekly. If there's an episode you'd like to hear, please let us know!...
Sep 17, 2023•44 min•Ep. 10
Let's have a historical laugh shall we? This week we're analysing what has registered as 'humour' through the ages. We'll be taking a look at the kind of gags you might see chiselled on the walls of ancient Egypt, why the ancient Greek's found flatulence so amusing plus we trawl through the kind of jokes doing the rounds in the Soviet Union. And the world's greatest feature ONE DAY TIME MACHINE returns! Let us know where in history you'd like to go for one day and also please fill us in on your ...
Sep 10, 2023•47 min•Ep. 9
This week we're taking a look at how different societies have dealt with the rearing of children through the ages. From the militaristic upbringing offered by Sparta to coming of age ceremonies from all corners of the globe, plus we check in with 16th century England's version of NHS Direct; “The Boke of Chyldren” by author Thomas Phaer. Our new feature ONE DAY TIME MACHINE has had our inbox red hot this week. Listener Jo wants to travel back to smash up a certain wet market in 2019, while Steph...
Sep 03, 2023•54 min•Ep. 8
This week on the podcast we're turning our attention to the animals humans have befriended throughout history; from the animals beloved by Mayans and Aztecs, to the most famous horse in ancient Rome, to pigeon racing in South Wales (no prizes for figuring out which of your three presenters has tackled that one). We've got a new feature: ONE DAY TIME MACHINE. Let us know where in history you'd like to go for one day and also please fill us in on your time travel rules: [email protected] This ...
Aug 27, 2023•49 min•Ep. 7
This week we're taking heed of our love for sport and taking a look at various ancient contests through the ages. From the incredibly popular (and dangerous) chariot races in ancient Rome, to the medieval origins of Shrovetide football via the history of the 'running of the bulls' and its most famous incarnation in Pamplona. We're now halfway through our first series which will contain 12 episodes that we’ll be releasing weekly. If there's an episode you'd like to hear, please let us know! And t...
Aug 20, 2023•42 min•Ep. 6
This week we're talking marriage through the ages; from the legally loose nuptials in medieval England, to shacking up with your cousin in ancient Egypt plus we explain why tavern keepers in ancient Rome had such a hard time getting hitched. This first series will contain 12 episodes that we’ll be releasing weekly. If there's an episode you'd like to hear, please let us know! And thank you so much for your support for the podcast since our launch a few weeks ago. If you like it, why not drop us ...
Aug 13, 2023•54 min•Ep. 5
"Ahoy there landlubbers!" this week we're taking a look at seafarers from down the ages. We'll be talking Welsh pirates and the mutiny aboard HMS Bounty plus we'll take a 'deep-dive' into the toilet habits of the Vikings. Shiver me timbers! etc.. This first series will contain 12 episodes that we’ll be releasing weekly. If there's an episode you'd like to hear, please let us know! And thank you so much for your support for the podcast since our launch a few weeks ago. If you like it, why not dro...
Aug 06, 2023•50 min•Ep. 4
As the annual kid's 6-week holiday swings into gear in the UK, we thought this week we'd look at Holidays and Recreation through the ages. This episode's major talking points: have we discovered the cleverest pig in history? Elis brings us a completely legitimate reason for a neighbour to turn up to your house with a dead horses head on a stick. And lastly, the gravestone of Butlin's creator Billy Butlin is described. (In short, holidays in Ancient Rome, the Mari Lwyd, fairgrounds and package ho...
Jul 30, 2023•46 min•Ep. 3
This week we're discussing: Laws. Why did the Qin Dynasty and Ancient Rome have such a problem with crying? Why should you fear the 'Meat Police' in 14th century Britain? And what are the tax implications of being a bearded bachelor throughout history? This first series will contain 12 episodes that we’ll be releasing weekly; you can look forward to topics such as humour, marriage, sport, a life at sea, parenting, partying, pets, and lots more. And thank you so much for your support for the podc...
Jul 23, 2023•41 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Oh What A Time… A history podcast presented by comedians Elis James and Tom Craine along with podcaster Chris Scull. And welcome to our first subject: Fashion. This week we’ll be discussing how to look your best in Ancient Rome, how curly your shoes should be in medieval Britain and we’ll finally clear up why hardly anyone wears a Fez anymore. Our first series will contain 12 episodes that we’ll be releasing weekly; coming soon, you can look forward to topics ...
Jul 16, 2023•49 min•Ep. 1
Hello and welcome to "Oh What A Time…" a brand new comedy history podcast hosted by renowned comedians Elis James and Tom Craine along with award winning podcaster Chris Scull. The podcast launches on Monday 17th July! And if you want to get in touch with the show before then, you can email us at: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...
Jul 10, 2023•2 min
