The Tudor Chest Podcast

The Wars of the Roses produced some of England’s most ruthless and intriguing figures, but few have left behind a darker mystery than Sir James Tyrell. A trusted servant of Richard III, Tyrell rose through the ranks to become a powerful and influential figure at the Yorkist court. Yet his name, thanks to the writings of Sir Thomas More, would become forever associated with one of English history’s greatest unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. But who was the man behind the legend? Was he a loyal soldier, a political opportunist, or a ruthless killer? And how did a man who survived the downfall of Richard III ultimately find himself on the scaffold under Henry VII? Well to discuss all of this and more, I am pleased to welcome back historian Richard Anderton onto the podcast, whose upcoming book, The Boar and the Peacock, The Rise and Fall of Sir James Tyrell acts as the basis for our conversation.

What happens when two of the most powerful women of sixteenth-century Europe meet across the political and religious divides of their age? Elizabeth I of England and Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother of France, never had a simple relationship. Separated by borders, faith, and competing political interests. In this episode, I’m joined by historian Dr Estelle Paranque to explore the fascinating relationship between these two formidable figures. What did Elizabeth and Catherine think of one another and what can their encounters tell us about the ways women could exercise political influence in Renaissance Europe?

Across nearly five centuries, Richard Rich has acquired a reputation as the consummate opportunist: a man who appeared to possess few genuine principles beyond his own advancement, who accumulated immense wealth through the destruction of the monasteries, and who played pivotal roles in sending two of England's most revered martyrs—Bishop John Fisher and Sir Thomas More—to the scaffold. To many historians, Rich epitomises the darker side of Tudor government, where ambition eclipsed conscience and political expediency routinely trumped morality, so, what was his actual story?

Today, I'm delighted to be joined by one of Britain's most acclaimed historians, indeed I would say she’s my biggest guest yet, Professor Kate Williams. A bestselling author, broadcaster, and expert on royal history, Kate has spent years bringing the lives of monarchs to vivid life for readers and audiences alike. Her latest book, Regina, A New History of Women and Power takes us on a fascinating journey through the stories of history's female rulers—women who wielded power in worlds often designed to deny it to them. In this conversation, we'll discuss the lives of these remarkable queens, the myths and misconceptions that surround them, and what their stories can tell us about leadership, power, and the place of women in history.

From the chaos of the Norman Conquest to the power struggles of the Plantagenets, the princesses of medieval England lived lives shaped by politics, ambition, and survival. In this episode, I am pleased to welcome historian Sharon Bennett Connolly onto the podcast for the first time, as we explore the women born into royal households between 1066 and the reign of King John: daughters promised in marriage treaties, sisters caught in dynastic rivalries, and queens-in-waiting whose influence stretched across Europe.

Tudor artefacts are sadly very rare, which is why new discoveries are always so exciting! Recently, a chair came to light which very likely belonged, or more accurately, was created for, Anne Boleyn. Historian Sandra Vasoli has been really involved in the discovery of this chair, working alongside Paul Fitzsimmons to piece together its story. Sandi joins me today to discuss what they have discovered, what the theories are around why this item was created, and fascinatingly, what it can tell us about the role Anne Boleyn played during her time serving at the French royal court.

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.