Present History Podcast

The year 1066 is etched deeply into the English imagination. Hastings, Harold, and William the Conqueror are familiar names, tied to a story of ambition, betrayal, and the seismic shift that followed the Norman Conquest. Recently, the television series King & Conqueror has attempted to dramatise this defining moment. But how well does it succeed? Is it faithful to the facts of history, or does it distort them for spectacle? And what does the real story of 1066 actually look like when stripped of its modern embellishments?King & Conqueror is a series with sweeping ambition. It presents itself as a gritty, dramatic, and character-driven retelling of the rivalry between Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, and William of Normandy, the duke who would cross the Channel and claim the throne. The show foregrounds personal drama: Harold’s conflicted loyalties, William’s ruthless ambition, and the political intrigue surrounding the throne of Edward the Confessor. Cinematically, it leans into stark visuals—mud, blood, and candlelit chambers—stylistically reminiscent of Game of Thrones or The Last Kingdom. The music and costuming further attempt to immerse the audience in a dark, quasi-medieval atmosphere that prioritises mood over meticulous accuracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright Disclaimer:This video contains copyrighted material from the television series Peaky Blinders. All rights to Peaky Blinders, including its footage, characters, and music, are owned by Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd and Tiger Aspect Productions, and are distributed by BBC Studios.The use of this material is for educational and commentary purposes only and is used under the principles of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended.All footage remains the property of its respective owners.----When Peaky Blinders introduced Oswald Mosley in Season 5, viewers were treated to a new kind of antagonist—one not born of the underworld but of Parliament. Played with menacing charisma by Sam Claflin, Mosley brought an aura of unsettling confidence, mixing aristocratic entitlement with fascist fervour. His black-shirted presence disrupted the Shelby empire not with gangland violence, but with ideological warfare and political manoeuvring.But how close was this portrayal to the real-life Oswald Mosley? Did Peaky Blinders stay true to the historical figure, or did it take creative liberties in service of its stylish noir-drama? As with much in this brilliantly brooding series, the answer lies somewhere between history and myth.Who Was the Real Oswald Mosley? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the legend of St George lies a real man - an elite Roman soldier, a bold Christian martyr, and a symbol of resistance that echoed through the Crusades to modern England. In this gripping dive into history, we uncover the truth behind the dragon, the myths, and the man who became a national icon. Was there ever a real dragon? Why did a Middle Eastern martyr become England’s patron saint? The answers will surprise you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From his early days as a brilliant sportsman and scholar in Northern Ireland to his rise as one of the most decorated and feared special forces leaders of the Second World War, Lieutenant Colonel Robert ‘Paddy’ Mayne embodied a rare blend of raw physicality, intellectual depth, and unbreakable spirit. His journey from rugby pitches to battlefields, from courtrooms to clandestine raids deep behind enemy lines, forged a legacy that transcends mere heroism. Mayne was more than a soldier; he was a force of nature — a man whose audacity, leadership, and sheer willpower reshaped the Special Air Service (SAS) and left an indelible mark on the history of unconventional warfare. This is the extraordinary story of Paddy Mayne: sportsman, scholar, warrior, and legend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you win a world war? How do you liberate a city overrun with an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers? How do you take out a fortress perching on a cliff-edge, behind enemy lines? How do you escape a prisoner of war camp? How do you stop a fleet of enemy planes before they take to the skies?Sometimes, it takes those we might call ‘crazy’. That rare-breed of people with low risk aversion, a willingness to run headlong at the enemy’s lines, and an ability to do anything it takes to achieve their objectives. Those that might be called, ‘Rogue Heroes’. This is the story of the Special Air Service, the most elite unit in the British Military. They have become intertwined with legend and myth. They are, the SAS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the story of the little island of the coast of England: Britain's little companion. From its earliest geographical formation, to the Second World War, this island has seen occupations and invasions, kings and queens, uprisings, bombings, war and peace; saints and sinners, devils and angels. This is a short history of the Isle of Wight: Britain's little friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did our cultural identity come about? How were myths, legends and stories of British history used to form, impact, and, in many ways, control British cultural identity? By looking at the myths of King Arthur and St George, Zachary Peatling explores the construction of British Cultural Identity, and how it was weaponised during the First World War. Recorded live at Chalke History Festival 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singing Hymns Until Death: The Joy of the British Martyrs | Zachary Peatling | Live at Chalke Valley History Festival 2023In this talk, recorded live at Chalke Valley History Festival 2023, Zachary Peatling investigates the stories of some of Britain's protestant martyrs, getting to the core of how, why, they could go to their deaths with a sense of joy and hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Zachary Peatling had the opportunity to sit down with Philip K. Allan, a critically acclaimed naval historian and author. Check out Philip:http://philipkallan.com https://twitter.com/PhilipKAllanFollow Zachary:Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacharypeatling Website: https://www.presenthistory.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Zachary Peatling had the chance to sit down with Grace Beattie, a public historian and podcaster, to chat about her podcast, Wicked Women. It also includes a very exciting announcement: Wicked Women: The Podcast is joining the Present History network!They were adulterers, murderers, mistresses, religious zealots, thieves, and traitors. They were queens, wives, mothers, young, and old. What binds the women together in this podcast is their legacies. These are women who were known during their lifetimes or reinvented after their deaths as wicked women. The lenses of history are often gendered, damning women for some of the same actions that men have been lauded for. The nuances surrounding the women in this podcast were removed in exchange for a one-sided portrayal. Within Wicked Women: The Podcast, I do not attempt to excuse or condone the wrongs committed by these women, instead, the podcast looks at their overarching story and examines the origin of their negative legacy. Alongside a brief biographical overview of the woman, I will be incorporating interviews I have held with experts on the subject to provide multiple and diverse perspectives.Check out Wicked Women: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U2SOrNMs6hEVQYj31gEff?si=1082191cb2944e56https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzaB7mlO3sWTK3nRfAZGeINRIE5g_UhEB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whisky has been a staple of Scottish culture for hundreds of years. And, to the Scottish people, whisky is more than just a drink. As literary historian David Daiches once wrote: “The proper drinking of Scotch whisky is more than indulgence: it is a toast to civilisation, a tribute to the continuity of culture, a manifesto of man’s determination to use the resources of nature to refresh mind and body and enjoy to the full the senses with which he has been endowed.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II has passed away. With the end of the longest reign in British history, comes the end of an era. She had become more than just a queen. In many ways, she had become the figurehead for Britain itself. She encapsulated many of the things that represent ‘Britishness’. She was was a stalwart believer in duty, responsibility and faith. She was guided by her sense of service and inheritance. Whatever you may think of her politically or the institution historically, no one can escape the influence and impact she had on Britain and the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.