Who was the worst King and Queen of England? What made a King or Queen successful?

To coincide with the US release of his new book, 'Unruly: A History of England's King and Queens', comedian and author David Mitchell, sits down with historian Dan Snow to explore how England's monarchs, while act...

In Dan Snow's long career as a broadcaster, he's come across all sorts of unexplained phenomena, myths and mysteries- from searching for the Nazi Gold Train in Poland to debunking the mummy's curse in Tutankhamun's tomb and looking for answers about ball lightning.

History is full of the weird ...

The life, reign, and legacy of Rameses II, one of the greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Exploring dynastic history, military exploits, cultural influence, and architectural achievements, Dr. Campbell Price sheds light on Rameses II's mark on Egyptian civilization. From the colossal temple at Ab...

In 1553, Mary Tudor became the first woman to sit on the English throne - a reign of just five years, that history has remembered almost exclusively through the lens of her enemies. But today, we revisit the story of "Bloody Mary" to ask: was she really a ruthless tyrant?

Joining us is Professor...

In 79 AD, life in Pompeii unfolded beneath the shadow of a tremoring Mount Vesuvius. Streets bustled, businesses thrived, and merchants built fortunes, unaware disaster was hours away. But what happened when that disaster struck? How did these ordinary Roman citizens seek to survive the last days...

Yersinia Pestis - the most feared disease in human history - has long been thought to be the Plague of Justinian in 541 AD. But new studies of ancient DNA have revealed traces of Yersinia pestis dating back more than 5000 years.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Laura...

He's known as one of history's most murderous kings, but was he always a monster? Or was he acting in ways expected of a king during his time.

Joining Anthony as special guest co-host is author and historian Gareth Russell, to explore the theories that support the latter.

Did the break from R...

On the night of Saturday, the 9th of March, 1566, a pregnant Mary Queen of Scots was having a dinner party. It was a night that ended in the brutal murder of one of her closest friends, David Rizzio, led by her husband, Lord Darnley. How did this happen? How did Mary handle this traumatic moment?...

In Ancient Mesopotamia, the boundary between the living and the dead was not always fixed... some even believed it could be crossed. But why would the living seek counsel from the dead? How common were these practices? And what answers did people hope the spirits might reveal?

In this episode, A...

He had at least 14 known mistresses and a hoard of illegitimate children; Charles II's private life was as politically charged as it was scandalous. He presided over the Restoration court, a world of excess, intrigue, gambling, gossip and a lot of sex. Dan is joined by the host of the Betwixt the...

An ice axe, a bloody study in Mexico City, and a betrayal years in the making.

In this episode, we uncover the true story behind the brutal assassination of Leon Trotsky. At its centre is Ramón Mercader, a Soviet-trained agent who infiltrated Trotsky’s inner circle and killed him. But this was m...

Adam and Eve: parents of humanity, or characters in a dark Near Eastern myth about wisdom, mortality, and the limits of being human?

Tristan Hughes and Dr Dylan Johnson strip away the Sunday school varnish to re-examine the story of Adam and Eve, starting with the question, Was there really an ...