The Tudor Chest Podcast

Robert Cecil, the younger but highly prodigious son of William Cecil, chief advisor to Elizabeth I, was one of the most complex but intriguing figures of the late 16th and early 17th century. Bookish, awkward and at times rather cold, he was nonetheless a supremely skilled politician who would play a huge role in the succession from the world of the Tudors to the Stuarts. To discuss Robert Cecil with me, I am pleased to welcome author Richard Woulfe onto the podcast for the first time. Richard’s book, Master Secretary, Robert Cecil, A Life in Fiction, is as the name suggests, a piece of historical fiction, but the discussion today is all about the real man himself, so settle in to discover all about the man who all but placed the crown of England on the head of a Scotsman

She is known around the world as the Other Boleyn Girl, but what do we really know about the sister of Anne Boleyn? Characterised as either a dull, less educated version of Anne or a whore who slept her way through much of the French court, in reality what we do know of Mary’s story paints an entirely different woman. To discuss her with me, I am pleased to welcome back historian Sylvia Barbara Soberton onto the podcast for a discussion on her upcoming book, Mary Boleyn, the Queens Slandered Sister.

Sir Thomas More is one of the most famous men of the 16th century. A figure of colossal significance at the court of King Henry VIII, a figure who stood up to the king, always remaining loyal but unable to accept the royal supremacy, a decision which would cost him his life. Today, I am pleased to welcome back onto the podcast historian Dr Joanne Paul for a discussion on Thomas More, following the recent release of Joanne’s incredible book, Thomas More, A Life and Death in Tudor England. From Thomas’s early life to his own involvement in the torture and burning of protestants through to his trial and how he was set up by Richard Rich, all will be discussed, so settle in as we explore the life of the man who's last words were "I die the kings good servant and gods first".

It is undoubtedly the biggest royal mystery of all time - the whereabouts of the two missing princes in the tower, or to be more accurate, the missing king and prince in the tower. The two teenage boys who vanished during the reign of King Richard III, or did they? Well to discuss this story, I am beyond thrilled to welcome historian and broadcaster Matt Lewis onto the podcast for the very first time. Matt is utterly convinced that the princes in the Tower were not killed by their uncle, but instead escaped and went on to challenge King Henry VII for the throne. So, what is the story, what is the evidence and can he convince me to join his side of the argument?

One of the most fascinating but perpetually overlooked figures from the world of the Tudors is Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox. As the sole daughter of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland, Margaret Douglas was a niece of King Henry VIII and first cousin to his three children. Her life was spent in the shadows of the Tudor world, and she found herself getting on the wrong side of her relatives on several occasions, resulting in several stints as a prisoner in the tower of London, so, what was her story? Well to discuss Margaret and her fascinating life, I am pleased to welcome back historian and author Beverley Adams onto the podcast for a discussion inspired by her book, The Forgotten Tudor Royal, Margaret Douglas, Grandmother to King James VI and I

She is known, thanks to Shakespeare as the “She Wolf” of France, an evil queen who bullied the men around her, personally authorised the execution of the duke of York and laughed as a paper crown was nailed to his head. I am speaking of Margaret of Anjou, the wife and queen of King Henry VI. The question is, was Margaret in any way like the infamous caricature Shakespeare created? Well to help answer that question for me, I am pleased to welcome back onto the podcast the amazing Dr Elizabeth Norton, who will share her take on this fascinating woman who has for far too long been unfairly maligned.

Queen Mary I is England’s first true queen regnant, and yet her reign is invariably considered a mere blip in the wider Tudor story, a short lived window in which an intolerant zealot went around burning people alive with undiluted pleasure. The truth is, of course, far more complex. Many misconceptions surround Queen Mary I, and so to unpack them I am pleased to welcome back Dr Peter Stiffell onto the podcast. From his annoyance at the term Mary Tudor, to Mary’s own commitment to the good treatment of her household, to one of the most controversial topics, Mary’s pregnancies, in this episode we will uproot much of what people think they know of Mary’s reign, and so prepare to hopefully have some of your opinions altered!

The Tudors are perhaps our most famous royal dynasty, everyone knows that Henry VIII had six wives and that he had two of them made a head shorter, we all know Lizzie the first loved fashion and spent loads, or did she, was it in fact another queen for whom the term shopaholic would apply? Today, I am pleased to welcome back historian Elizabeth Goff onto the podcast for a discussion based around her very first book, coming out next month, Bloody Brilliant Tudors, 100 tales of gowns, gossip and gory ends. Sadly we can’t cover 100 stories, and so I hand picked 20 to discuss, from the surprising role the groom of the stool performed to two of Jane Seymour's ladies in waiting turning up for work in completely the wrong clothes to Elizabeth I stuffing her cheeks with silk, all will be discussed, so settle in for a thoroughly fun jaunt through some of the more random or overlooked parts of our favourite and often bonkers royal dynasty!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and so it was for the Tudors as well. Yes, its Christmas, and so I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to examine how the Tudors spent the most festive time of year. To join me, I am pleased to welcome back Tudor food and gardening historian, Brigitte Webster onto the podcast. She and I examine how the Tudors decorated the home, from the poorest of subjects right up to the royal family, we look into some of the major foods popular across the Tudor period, explore some traditions and also delve into what aspects of Tudor Christmas are still very much part of the way we celebrate today!

Reginald Pole started out as a man who Henry VIII sponsored and celebrated, but soon turned on the king, becoming an outright and vocal critic of his all too bloody reign. To discuss Reginald with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Helen Hyde onto the podcast for a discussion based around her recent book, The King’s Traitor, Reginald Pole and the Tudors. We explore Reginald's early life, his position as an arch enemy of Henry VIII, his very close bond to Queen Mary I and even his friendship with none other than Michelangelo himself!

The rule of the Plantagenets saw an unbroken line of fourteen kings reign over 300 years, but while these kings are undeniably interesting, often it is their wives, the queens of the medieval period who command the attention, I'm talking of histories she wolves, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou, and as such, I am thrilled to welcome back the woman who wrote the book and fronted the series dedicated to histories she wolves, Dr Helen Castor, who joins me to discuss these three remarkable queens.

I was due to be speaking to Dr Helen Castor this week, but sadly that episode is being delayed by a couple of weeks. A follower wrote to me recently asking me whether I would do an episode telling people about my own story. How I came to do what I do now, what are my own historical opinions etc., and so I thought, well, why not! So, here it is, your chance to get to know me, the man behind the podcast, a bit better.

Queen Mary I is the first undoubted queen regnant in English, later British history, but four hundred years before the crown was placed on her head, another woman attempted to get there first, she was Empress Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I of England, who had been named by her father as the rightful heir to the throne. Upon Henry’s death, Matilda was robbed of her throne when her cousin, Stephen snatched it from right beneath her feet. To discuss this utterly remarkable woman with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Catherine Hanley onto the podcast for the first time. Catherine's biography of Matilda, Matilda, Empress, Warrior, Queen, acts as the basis for our conversation, so settle in, and get comfy, as we explore the life of the woman who should have been Queen Matilda