In this special episode of You’re Dead To Me, recorded in front of a live audience, Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Catherine Fletcher and comedian Dara Ó Briain to learn about Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo lived from 1452 to 1519 during an era of plague and warfare across Western Europe. It was also the height of the Italian Renaissance. From mathematics to military maps, and some paintings which you may have heard of, Leonardo da Vinci did it all. But was he a generational genius or an "ideas...
May 12, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Darren Harriot to learn about the bodybuilding boom of the 19th and 20th centuries. The latter part of the 19th century saw the beginning of a fitness craze where the seeds of the modern-day gym and fitness culture were sown. But physical fitness also tapped into other parts of the psyche of British society at the time. From concerns over the fighting fitness of the British army to the racist pseudoscience of eugenics, this novel leisure ac...
May 05, 2023•55 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Adam Chapman and comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean to learn about the rise of the Tudor dynasty. The Tudors are probably the most famous ruling dynasty in British and English history. But where and when did the Tudor family actually originate? The answer lies in 13th-century Anglesey with a collection of modest landowners, who wouldn’t have called themselves Tudor at all. So how did this titanic royal dynasty spring from these minor Welsh beginnings? Correction: In this ...
Apr 28, 2023•56 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Shushma Malik and comedian Thanyia Moore to learn about Cleopatra. Cleopatra, the seventh Ancient Egyptian Queen to bear that name, was born around 69 BCE and she’s seen by many historians as the final ruler of dynastic Egypt; a lineage that stretched back 3,000 years. From marrying and murdering her siblings to liaisons of love and political pragmatism with top Romans Julius Caesar and Mark Antony; Cleopatra led a very turbulent life. But when we strip back the moder...
Apr 21, 2023•58 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Prof Amira Bennison and comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri to learn about Al Andalus. From 711 to 1492, a significant amount of the Iberian peninsula – modern day Spain and Portugal – was ruled by a succession of Islamic rulers. This era was a golden age as people and customs were imported from as far away as Iraq and North Africa to mix with what already existed on the Iberian peninsula. The short distance between North Africa and Western Europe at the Strait of Gibraltar has me...
Apr 14, 2023•56 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Jeremy Filet and comedian Eleanor Morton to learn about the Jacobites. During the 17th and 18th centuries, across Britain and Ireland, the Jacobite movement was at its height. The Jacobites were mainly, but not exclusively, Irish or Scottish and most, but not all, were Catholic. They wanted the restoration to the British throne of the Stuart line that began with James VI of Scotland who was also James I of England and Ireland. If you’re thinking it’s complicated, you ...
Apr 07, 2023•52 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Stephen Kershaw and comedian Sophie Duker to dive into the myth of Atlantis. The Atlantean story has its origins in the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. And literally nowhere else. Yet the enduring appeal of this mythical city and a sophisticated civilisation lost beneath the waves has lasted for thousands of years. It has inspired a huge number of stories and some very ropey documentaries. The myth also has a darker side, as the allegory of Atlantis h...
Mar 31, 2023•57 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Prof Sharon Marcus and comedian Isy Suttie to learn about the actor Sarah Bernhardt, a global icon in the 19th and 20th centuries who died a century ago. Bernhardt was one of the most famous people on the planet, coming from humble beginnings as the daughter of a sex worker to dominate theatreland first in France and then across the Atlantic. Sarah’s life was almost as dramatic as her profession, with a love life that included marrying a soldier who may have inspired Dra...
Mar 24, 2023•1 hr
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Caroline Dodds Pennock and comedian Desiree Burch in the 15th century to learn all about the Columbian Exchange, which is often described as the start of globalisation. We go beyond the expeditions of Christopher Columbus to share the bigger story of a monumental exchange of plants, foods, animals, materials, people and culture across the continents. It’s also a life lesson on why you shouldn't set sail with a couple of cougars aboard your ship! Research by Roxy Moore...
Mar 17, 2023•56 min
Greg Jenner is joined by special guests Prof Emily Bernard and comedian Toussaint Douglass in 19th-century America to meet Frederick Douglass. Born into an enslaved family, Frederick fought against all odds to secure his freedom and went on to become a famed abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4 Research by Anna-Nadine Pike and Jess White Written by Emma Nagouse, Anna-Nadine Pike and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and ...
Mar 10, 2023•49 min
Greg Jenner is joined by guests Prof Iwan Rhys Morus and comedian Olga Koch in the 17th century to learn all about "vital electricity". From elaborate party tricks to questionable medicinal claims, we’ll explore the downright bizarre ways that the force of electricity has been harnessed and developed throughout the years. Research by Roxy Moore Written by Emma Nagouse, Roxy Moore and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Project Mana...
Mar 03, 2023•56 min
Greg Jenner is joined by guests Dr Danika Parikh and comedian Ahir Shah in the Bronze Age to explore the ancient Indus civilisation. They take a close look at the terracotta, toilets and even the unicorns of this vast civilisation which was in existence some 2,000 years before Pompeii. You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. Research by: Aimee Hinds Sco...
Feb 24, 2023•55 min
Greg Jenner is joined by guests Prof Brett Whalen and comedian Alison Spittle in 9th-century Rome to explore the early medieval papacy. As the political heart of the papacy is plunged into chaos, we step into a world consumed by debauchery and a thirst for power and hear about perhaps the most unhinged courtroom trial of all time. Research by Jessica Honey Written by Emma Nagouse, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose ...
Feb 17, 2023•56 min
Greg Jenner is joined by guests Dr Sally Holloway and comedian Cariad Lloyd in the long 18th century to explore Georgian love and courtship. Forget Bridgerton and Jane Austen – this is a historical how-to guide to finding a spouse in Georgian England. This episode takes you through a typical courtship in the era, from where to meet a potential partner, what gifts to buy them, and how much involvement your parents might have in the whole affair. This was a time when penning a love letter was a se...
Feb 10, 2023•58 min
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr Gillian Kenny and comedian Catherine Bohart in 16th-century Ireland to look at the life of pirate queen Grainne O’Malley. Against the backdrop of the changing legal landscape of Ireland as it faced brutality from incoming English administrators, we look at the difficult decisions Grainne was forced to make to ensure her family's survival. From bold changes to her appearance as a teenager to ensure her place on her father's ship, to aggressive actions against...
Jan 21, 2023•29 min
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr Kristi Upson-Saia and comedian Stu Goldsmith to explore the strange world of Ancient Greek and Roman medicine. Welcome to a world where health was fleeting and water could be dangerous. The team will take you through a variety of common ailments from tight atoms to wandering wombs and provide startling cures in the form of electric eels and beaver anuses. For the full-length version of this episode, please look further back in the feed. Produced by Cornelius...
Jan 14, 2023•28 min
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr Augustus Casely-Hayford OBE and comedian Sophie Duker to explore the incredible Asante Empire. We learn the roots of Ghanian heritage - from storytelling, fabric, food, music and rhythm as communication, to how centuries of traditions across the empire came together to protect the most sacred symbol of power in the Asante Kingdom from the hands of the British during the War of the Golden Stool. For the full-length version of this episode, please look further...
Jan 07, 2023•28 min
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Prof Sarah Churchwell and comedian Kemah Bob in 1920s USA to follow the implementation and after-effects of Prohibition. They take a look at the origins of the Prohibition laws and hear how a movement designed to encourage temperance backfired on the nation. For the full-length version of this episode, please look further back in the feed. Produced by Cornelius Mendez Script by Greg Jenner and Emma Nagouse Research by Tim Galsworthy A production by The Athletic...
Dec 31, 2022•28 min
Greg Jenner and his guests Miles Jupp and Dr Eleanor Janega go back to the medieval Christmas for this one-off festive special. They look at the history and traditions that have thankfully continued through the ages, like gift-giving and stuffed wild boars (although numbers on stuffed wild boar we're told are down from previous years) and some that have mysteriously fallen off the radar completely, like masked carol singers and jellied eels. For the full-length version of this episode, please lo...
Dec 09, 2022•29 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Emily Bell and Mike Wozniak to find out what Christmas was like with Charles Dickens. We take a walk through the many Christmases of the renowned Victorian author. From elephants walking on ice to the family Christmas punch recipe, we take a closer look at the factors that may have influenced some of his most famous works and unpick what the phrase Dickensian has come to mean over the years. Written by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jen...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Greg Jenner and fellow historian Lucy Worsley discuss Lucy’s Radio 4 podcast, Lady Killers, which is about Victorian murderesses. Lucy explains why she wanted to examine these historical cases and what these women's stories tell us about life and society in 19th-century Britain. The pair also discuss some of the fascinating and extraordinary murder cases which are investigated in the podcast. You can listen to Lady Killers on BBC Sounds.
Nov 11, 2022•16 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Prof Marlene Daut and comedian Athena Kugblenu to examine the events and aftermath of the 18th century revolution in Haiti, the first nation to abolish slavery. They look at the life of revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture, confront the atrocities committed against the people of Haiti and the literal price they were forced to pay for their freedom.
Oct 22, 2022•29 min
You may have learned about Richard the Lionheart in school (or from Disney’s Robin Hood), but how much do you know about his opponent, the legendary Saladin? Why does Saladin have such an enduring reputation as a good guy? Host Greg Jenner is joined by comedian Maria Shehata and historian Prof Jonathan Phillips. Produced by Dan Morelle Scripted and researched by Emma Nagouse, assisted by Emily Greenwell.
Oct 22, 2022•29 min
Greg Jenner is joined by literary expert Dr Corin Throsby and comedian Lauren Pattison to explore the often turbulent life of literary icon Mary Shelley. Join them as we all question our life achievements while discussing the groundbreaking work Mary produced by the age of just 20, how far she was prepared to walk for love, and arguably the most gothic first date in history. For the full-length verion of this episode, please look further back in the feed.
Oct 14, 2022•29 min
Greg Jenner and his guests Prof Michael Scott and comedian Shaparak Khorsandi limber up for a trip to the ancient Olympics. Discover the drastic measures taken to prevent women watching the action. Hear how the gruelling challenges brought a whole new meaning to the term "leaving it all on the field" and how even death couldn’t stop you winning. For the full-length verion of this episode, please look further back in the feed.
Oct 14, 2022•29 min
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Prof Tineke D’Haeseleer and comedian Evelyn Mok in medieval China to explore the Tang Dynasty. Known as the Golden Age of China, it was the time of China’s Emperor Wu, the only woman to hold power in her own right, and Emperor Xuanzong who became so bored with austerity he came up with a unique way to have fun. For the full-length verion of this episode, please look further back in the feed.
Oct 07, 2022•29 min
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Gabby Storey and comedian Rachel Parris to take a look at the action-packed life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. She was the only woman ever to be queen of both England and France. She took to the seas on a crusade and packed her entire household with her. She bore ten children and defended a castle, yet most of her life was spent clearing up her offsprings' mess. So just why is this badass queen’s legacy eclipsed by that of her sons? For the full-length verion of thi...
Oct 07, 2022•28 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Corin Throsby and Stuart Goldsmith to look at early cultural fandom in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although many consider Beatlemania to be the start of what is now considered fan culture, Greg and his guests consider some much earlier and often hilarious examples of the birth of fandom. This episode was recorded live at the 2022 Hay Festival. You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4. Research by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Written by Emma Na...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Tim Wingard and Kiri Pritchard-McLean to look at what we know about animals in medieval Europe. From hunting and farming to companionship and entertainment, animals have long been a part of our culture but how did the beliefs and treatment of animals by our medieval ancestors inform our societal values today? And just how do you lick a bear into shape?! You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4. Research by Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Written b...
Sep 10, 2022•59 min
Greg Jenner is joined by Prof Amira Bennison and Nabil Abdulrashid in medieval Morocco to meet the globetrotter Ibn Battuta. This 14th-century traveller covered a mind-boggling 73,000 miles and is the author of arguably one of the world’s most famous travel logs. You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4. Research by Jon Mason Written by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner with Jon Mason Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Pro...
Sep 02, 2022•56 min
