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Bestselling historian and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts joins us for a wide ranging discussion about her journeys into the past. Following her acclaimed books Crypt and Ancestors, her latest Domination takes us on an enthralling investigation into the spread of Christianity and its complex changing relationship to the Roman Empire. Unearthing archaeological clues and challenging established histories, she takes us from remote Welsh valleys to the shores of Brittany; from the turbulent heart of the Roman Empire to ancient Corinth in the footsteps of the apostle Paul; from Alexandria to Constantinople.

Chaired by Janina Ramirez.

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Frank Skinner is one of Britain’s best-loved comedians, broadcasters and writers. In a unique event he joins forces with Janina Ramirez for a witty, warm and fascinating journey into the past. From Sutton Hoo to Viking swords, ancient coins to amazing ruins they share their passion for history – with plenty of laughs along the way.

Chaired by Janina Ramirez.

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Since 1988 BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet has reported from trouble spots all over the world from Bosnia to Gaza, Ukraine to Iraq. Today she tells the turbulent history of Afghanistan from 1969 to 2021 told through the changing fortunes of Kabul’s Inter-Continental Hotel and its staff who have endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall and rise again of the Taliban. She shares her thoughts on current events in the region.

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‘There’s been more history made over the last 9 months than in the last 70 years.’  David Olusoga.

History is at the very heart of our national identity says bestselling historian and broadcaster David Olusoga. In a powerful event he explores the rising ‘history wars’, the burying of uncomfortable truths and why Western nations are not as immune to the forces of history as we like to believe.

He discusses the challenges of making documentaries like BBC Two’s Empire and the role historians must play in today’s turbulent world, before ending on a lighter note with candid reflections on The Traitors and the unlikely friendships it forged.

In conversation with Janina Ramirez.

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TUDOR AFTERNOON

In her new book, The  Stolen  Crown, leading historian and broadcaster Tracy Borman exposes the shocking truth behind Elizabeth I’s succession revealing a tale of treachery, deceit and dynastic drama at the heart of the Tudor throne. With tales of forged manuscripts and secret plots, her new research rewrites the 1603 handover of power between Elizabeth I and James VI of Scotland and she join us to offer a game-changing new perspective on the Stuart regime.

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TUDOR AFTERNOON

Join acclaimed historian James Clark as he uncovers the dramatic story behind Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, with a vivid spotlight on the friars of Blackfriars Priory and the West of England’s vanished religious houses. Discover intrigue, resistance and unexpected alliances in his “superbly researched and wonderfully told history” of this seismic event  (The Times). His compelling talk offers a gripping tale of faith, ambition and loss that changed Gloucester and the nation forever.

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Join us as Janina Ramirez unveils her new book Legenda which sheds new light on the lives of remarkable medieval women whose achievements have been twisted – often by men – for political ends over the centuries. From Lady Godiva to Isabelle of Castile, Olga of Kiev to Joan of Arc she peels back the layers of time to show how, even today, these iconic women have been weaponised to justify the actions of those in power and she reveals their true stories.

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Join bestselling historian Janina Ramirez and Bayeux Tapestry expert David Musgrove to explore the questions you need answered in advance of the biggest historical exhibition of our times: the loan of the Tapestry to the British Museum in September 2026. They’ll explain all the things we know (and those we don’t) about the great visual record of the events of 1066. Join them to hear why people say it’s ‘coming home’ next year, find out who’s in the tapestry (and who’s not), why there’s much more to it than the battle of Hastings, and why it has some surprisingly rude bits in it.

In partnership with History Extra

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Online premiere of the 2025 Winstone Talk

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump’s second term and current conflicts in the Middle East mark one of the most challenging periods in Europe’s history since WW2. After the collapse of Soviet Communism, the West convinced itself that liberal democracy would be the dominant system of governance. However the rise of Vladimir Putin proves that it’s often unwise to make such predictions. Former BBC Correspondent and leading historian Martin Sixsmith traces the historical forces and myths shaping Putin’s politics, explores Russia’s influence on current global conflicts and reveals how the Kremlin is rekindling the Cold War.

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Israel, Gaza, Iran…conflicts in the Middle East continue to send shockwaves across the globe. But why has political change been so difficult to achieve? And what could the future hold? Join Britain’s top Middle East expert, LSE historian Fawaz Gerges, for a clear, comprehensive guide to the thorny issues. He traces more than a century of the region’s vexed history, from the end of the Ottoman Empire and the European carve-up of the Middle East to the Iranian Revolution, the Arab Spring and Israel’s current conflict with Gaza and Iran. Chaired by Jo Durrant.

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Join award-winning actress Celia Imrie, star of Victoria Wood, Bridget Jones and The Thursday Murder Club, she as she talks about her extraordinary career and her fascination with the resilience and camaraderie of women during World War II.

Together with actress and co-author Fidelis Morgan, she delves into the real life World War II events behind her recent book which explores the courageous lives of women in the London Blitz. As well as discussing her life as an actor, she shares photographs and news reels of the real women of the Home Front who inspire her.

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Sebastian Faulks’s novels often engage with history at a deep level, whether in the First World War classic Birdsong or his brilliant recreation of the behind-the-lines World War Two espionage in Charlotte Gray. His many other acclaimed novels also have a very particular sense of historical place and time and he now turns his attention to his own life in his latest book Fires Which Burned Brightly. He joins Vernon Harwood to discuss his life and writing, and how he puts the past onto the page.

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Join Greg Jenner, Horrible Histories guru, and creator of the smash hit BBC podcast You’re Dead to Me for a lively deep-dive into the Stone Age. Discover how cave paintings were really made, how people cooked, lived and built ritual landscapes, and what the latest archaeological research is revealing about our prehistoric ancestors.

In conversation with historian and broadcaster Janina Ramirez, Greg brings his trademark wit, insight, and storytelling flair to a period that’s often overlooked but bursting with surprises. Expect myth-busting, fascinating facts, and prehistory as you’ve never seen it before.

“Hilarious and brilliantly clever” (The Times).

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Join acclaimed historian Helen Carr, author of the bestselling The Red Prince, as she explores the turbulent 14th century, from the death of Edward II in 1307, when England was torn by war, plague and rebellion. Discover a world shaped by the bloody Hundred Years War with France, the Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt, as powerful monarchs and ordinary people struggled for survival and change. Praised as ‘vivid and compelling’ this is an unmissable journey into one of the most dramatic and transformative centuries in English history. Chaired by Jo Durrant.

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Marking the 1100th anniversary of Aethelstan’s coronation, leading Cambridge historian David Woodman explores the reign of England’s founder king whose achievements of 927, when he conquered the Vikings at York, rival the Norman Conquest in shaping Britain as we know it. Starting in Gloucester, he traces the influence of Aethelflaed on her nephew Aethelstan, the importance of Mercia to the King and the legacy of a visionary ruler. After his talk he’s joined by City Archaeologist Andrew Armstrong who explores the significance of St Oswald’s Priory and chairs your questions.

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Battered by the Vikings, succeeded by King Alfred, the great Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia (AD 630-918) encompassed today’s Gloucestershire and powered the rise of England. Bestselling archaeologist and historian Max Adams explores the golden age of Mercia – its landscapes, peoples, conflicts and power struggles.

He tells the thrilling story of King Offa, described by Alfred as ‘the vigorous king who terrified all neighbouring kings’, explores the building of his great Dyke and reveals the equal status Offa afforded his wife Cynethryth, making them the first real power couple of early Medieval England.

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Trailblazing historian Olivette Otele is a compelling voice reshaping our understanding of the past and its impact today. African Europeans, her acclaimed book, uncovered the long and complex history of people of African descent in Europe. Now in her forthcoming book she tells the story of 15 ports ranging from Amsterdam to Bristol, and the Bight of Biafra to the Virgin Islands, each one closely associated with five centuries of exploration, slave trading and empire building. Britain’s first Black female history professor, now a professor at SOAS, is in conversation with Janina Ramirez.

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Founded by Alexander the Great on the Mediterranean coast, the city that bears his name evolved into one of the most dazzling metropolises in history.  An intoxicating blend of Greek and Egyptian culture, Alexandria was a hub of philosophy, science and history, as well as a city of pleasure, politics and astonishing violence.  A city for exiles that belongs to all.  Leading historian and broadcaster Islam Issa offers a wonderfully entertaining tale of its history from ancient times to the present day.

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Followers of instagram’s @englishpilgrim will know Luke Sherlock’s passion for the hidden stories of England’s most ancient parish churches from Gloucestershire’s Duntisbourne Rouse to the Kent marshlands and Derbyshire hills. From secret symbols carved in stone to centuries-old legends echoing through sacred walls, discover how simple stone churches and ornate gothic abbeys shaped communities and faith. With vivid storytelling and striking images, Luke uncovers the treasures and mysteries waiting in plain sight. Join him for an inspiring pilgrimage into the heart of England’s spiritual heritage. Chaired by Jo Durrant.

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Master stonemason Andrew Ziminski has worked on the greatest Cathedrals in the land from Salisbury to St Paul’s. Church Going, his bestselling handbook to Britain’s glorious medieval parish churches has become a phenomenon, described by Tony Robinson as ‘joyous and Illuminating.’

Grab this rare opportunity as he shares the compelling stories of some of our greatest church art and architecture including the medieval wall paintings at Kempley and the grotesques and gargoyles at Winchcombe.

“Ziminski is a rare and wonderful voice.” – Rory Stewart

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Top historian, BBC Coast presenter and one of Britain’s leading archaeologists Mark Horton made some extraordinary new discoveries last summer which change our view of the activities of Viking settlements in Gloucestershire and beyond.

Join him as he reveals the very latest research and the ground-breaking discovery of a major new Viking Fort on the banks of the Severn.