Episodes

  • Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Women
    Dec 27 2024

    What was life really like for women in the medieval period? How did they think about sex, death and God? Could they live independent lives? And how can we hear their stories?


    Lucky for us, Hetta Howes has asked all these questions and come up with some pretty compelling answers, all neatly told in her new book Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife.


    In this special episode, Charlie Higson chats with Hetta about the lives of four incredible women from this period, Marie de France, a poet; Julian of Norwich, a mystic and anchoress; Christine de Pizan, a widow and court writer; and Margery Kempe, a "no-good wife".


    It's a fabulous listen!


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    51 mins
  • Thomas Becket
    Dec 20 2024

    Thomas Becket. Lord High Chancellor, Archbishop Of Canterbury and close friend of Henry II. What could possibly go wrong??


    Well, enough to get him chopped up by four of Henry's knights, that's what!


    The question Charlie Higson wants to know the answer to though is 'how'? What precipitated his spectacular fall from grace? Why was he killed? And who stuck the 'A' in the middle of his name?


    Luckily, Nicholas Vincent from the University Of East Anglia is on hand to provide answers.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    49 mins
  • The Crusades
    Dec 13 2024

    In this second episode of Willy Willy Harry Stee - Series 3, Charlie Higson takes a deep dive into the religious wars of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.

    Helping Charlie to navigate this complex period is Professor Jonathan Phillips, Professor Of Crusading History at the Royal Holloway University Of London and author of many books on this subject including The Crusades: 1095 - 1204.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    55 mins
  • NEW SERIES: Hereward The Wake
    Dec 6 2024

    In this Brand New Series of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson examines in more detail some of the characters surrounding our monarchs.


    In this first episode, Charlie welcomes regular guest Marc Morris back to get under the skin of the leader of the Norman resistance, Hereward The Wake and to find out how strong this resistance to William I really was.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    41 mins
  • The Anglo Saxon Period with Michael Wood OBE
    Nov 29 2024

    In this special, final episode in Series 2, Charlie Higson chats to a legendary TV Historian, Michael Wood OBE. From epic TV series like Michael Wood's Story of China, to books including In Search Of The Dark Ages, Michael has made history more accessible and made over 120 TV documentaries.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    48 mins
  • The Invention of British Art
    Nov 22 2024

    In this special episode, Charlie Higson indulges his fascination with British art. His guest is Bendor Grosvenor, the art historian, writer and former art dealer.

    As well as his sleuthing work discovering lost art treasures, he's also published a book called The Invention Of British Art.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    48 mins
  • Harald Hardrada
    Nov 15 2024

    To round off Series 2 and our delve into our Anglo-Saxon past, Charlie Higson looks at the extraordinary life of Harald Hardrada. King of Norway and if things had gone differently, he may have been King of England, but, as you will hear, he didn't quite make it.


    Helping Charlie to look into this fascinating character is Don Hollway, author of The Last Viking and Battle For The Island Kingdom


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    55 mins
  • Edward The Confessor
    Nov 8 2024

    In this episode of Charlie Higson's canter through Anglo-Saxon England, he reaches the end of the Wessex dynasty.


    Edward The Confessor. He died without an heir, which triggered a real life Game of Thrones, although it was more like Musical Chairs.


    Ably assisting Charlie in understanding Edward's motives is David Woodman, author of the Penguin Monarch's edition on Edward The Confessor.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    56 mins