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British History Podcast
Unraveling Tudor History: The Year 1533 and Holbein's Masterpiece: The Ambassadors
I caught up with Dr Tracy Borman OBE at Harvington History Festival to talk to her about Holbein's fascinating painting, 'The Ambassadors,' and how it captures the political intrigue of the time through its rich symbolism and hidden messages.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tudor England's Pivotal Year
02:52 The Significance of Holbein's Painting
05:56 Decoding the Messages in the Painting
08:52 The Relationship Between the Ambassadors
12:04 The Journey of the Painting to the National Gallery
Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.
Thank you for listening. You can watch this video here.
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About Philippa
Philippa is a Historian and History Event Organiser
Philippa Lacey Brewell lives in Central England and is well respected in her field as a historian and tour guide. She is the owner and founder of British History Tours, a tour company for those who love British History.
Philippa entertains thousands each week with her videos and stories from across the UK and British History. This ability to engage an audience, as well as being an expert in traveling the historical sites of the UK, makes her your perfect guide.
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey
Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com
More episodes
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4. MPs have been behaving badly for over 400 years!
57:13||Season 2026, Ep. 4Rogues, scallywags, fraudsters and criminals have all trodden the corridors of the UK Houses of Parliament. In this conversation with Philippa Lacey, Debbie Kilroy discusses the themes of her new book ‘Members Behaving Badly.’ The discussion covers political misbehaviour over the past 4 centuries, exploring various scandals, notorious figures, and the evolution of public perception regarding politicians. We talked about the patterns of corruption and sexual scandal seen throughout all the periods of history covered by Debbie in her book, as well as the importance of engaging with politics, and what happens when people feel disillusioned with their leaders. The discussion highlights the need for understanding historical context and the human nature of politicians, emphasising that while many have committed egregious acts, they can also possess redeeming qualities.Buy 'Members Behaving Badly' - click hereFind Debbie on Instagram 'debbiekilroyauthor' and her website debbiekilroy.com and gethistory.co.ukChapters00:00 The Book's Inspiration and Themes08:24 Historical Figures and Their Misdeeds14:20 Patterns of Political Misbehaviour20:23 Cultural Reflections in Political Behaviour24:46 The Legacy of Lord Thomas Cochrane29:18 Understanding Historical Morality31:29 The Nature of Political Power36:14 Public Tolerance for Political Scandals43:12 The Evolution of Political Systems49:12 Engaging with Political DiscourseThank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more historian interviews here for you to enjoy including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.
3. Margaret Beaufort - challenging the narrative!
51:44||Season 2026, Ep. 3In my conversation with historian Dr. Lauren Johnson we discussed her biography of Margaret Beaufort, exploring Margaret’s complex life, maternal relationships, and political influence during the Wars of the Roses. We delved into Margaret's nurturing nature, her traumatic experiences as a mother, and her significant role in the Tudor dynasty. Lauren also addressed misconceptions about Margaret, highlighting her intelligence and agency in a male-dominated society.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Lady Margaret Beaufort03:27 Introduction and Technical Difficulties05:17 Margaret Beaufort's Relationships and Networks08:11 Maternal Instincts and Early Life of Henry Tudor11:06 Margaret's Role in Political Alliances14:22 The Secret Marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York16:59 Margaret Beaufort's Image and Vowess Attire32:17 The Complexity of Margaret's Wardrobe33:05 Contrasting Appearances: External vs. Internal34:53 Health Implications of Fasting and Mortification36:15 Margaret's Views on Henry's Governance40:04 The Cycle of Joy and Hardship40:56 Margaret's Emotional State in Her Final Years46:52 Challenging Misconceptions about Margaret48:26 A Pivotal Decision: Margaret's Choice Against Richard III51:24 Margaret's Conversation with Richard IIIThank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more historian interviews for you to enjoy including interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more. You can also watch all the interviews on Youtube.com/@BritishHistory Join Patreon.com/BritishHistory to watch the ad-free, extended edit with bonus content, and for your opportunity to ask future guests your own questions.
2. THIS is why we know about Shakespeare!
26:40||Season 2026, Ep. 2I LOVED this conversation with Dr. Chris Laoutaris when I was able to ask him about the significance of Shakespeare's First Folio, the individuals involved in its creation, and the financial and legal challenges faced during its publication. Chris also talked about the role of John Hemmings and Henry Condal, the professionalisation of playwriting, and the impact of published plays on society. The discussion also touches on the controversial use of the term 'works' in the context of Shakespeare's plays, the mystery of the False Folio, and Shakespeare's potential intentions for publishing his works during his lifetime.This episode was recorded at the Harvington History Festival 2025, at Harvington Hall in Worcestershire. Tickets for the 2026 festival will be on sale at the end of February 2026 from HarvingtonHall.co.uk - and I will be back there too, bringing you more interviews with these fascinating historians. Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. You can also watch this interview on my Youtube channel - click here.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Chris Littaris and the Shakespeare Institute00:59 The Significance of the First Folio02:48 The Role of Hemmings and Condal in Shakespeare's Legacy06:10 The Financial Backing Behind the First Folio08:51 Target Audience and Professionalization of Playwriting12:11 The Challenges of Copyright and Rights Negotiation14:51 The Controversial Use of 'Works' in the First Folio17:58 The Mystery of the False Folio20:56 The Impact of Published Plays on Society23:49 Shakespeare's Intentions for His Works26:00 Conclusion and Further ResourcesJoin my Patreon - click here and enjoy ad-free extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more for all for £5/month.You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/PhilippaYou can support me for free by commenting on this episode and subscribing to the channel. Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️About PhilippaPhilippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack
1. What Forgotten Ballads Reveal About Britain's Past
56:21||Season 2026, Ep. 1In this episode Amy Jeffs and I delve into the themes of Amy's book 'Old Songs', exploring the intricate relationship between traditional ballads and social history. We discussed the unique structure of the book, which combines fiction and nonfiction, and the role of illustrations and music in storytelling. The conversation also touches on the origins and evolution of ballads, the impact of historical context, and the recurring themes of voyeurism and gender dynamics. We also discussed the modern resonance of these ancient tales and the connection between landscape and storytelling, encouraging readers to appreciate the depth and complexity of traditional narratives.You can watch this interview on Youtube on the 'British History' channel. Click HereThank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more.
41. The Tudor Succession: A 400 year old lie!
30:44||Season 2025, Ep. 41In this interview, Tracy Borman delves into the complexities surrounding the succession of the English crown from Elizabeth I to James VI of Scotland. She reveals how the story was manipulated through political spin and deceit. Philippa and Tracy talked about the various claimants to the throne, the challenges James faced during his reign, and the implications of Elizabeth's decisions regarding her succession. If you've enjoyed this please follow and rate this podcast.For over 10 minutes of BONUS CONTENT go to Patreon.com/BritishHistory where members also get to submit their own questions for my guests, as well as many other history lover perks. Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel. Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - click here (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).Join my Patreon - click here and enjoy ad-free extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more for all for £5/month.You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/PhilippaYou can support me for free by commenting and rating this episode. Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️About PhilippaPhilippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack
40. Margaret Thatcher. "She was a very divisive figure"
19:31||Season 2025, Ep. 40In my conversation with Iain Dale, recorded at the Warwick Words History Festival, we explore the life and legacy of Margaret Thatcher, focusing on her impact on British politics, her foreign policy, and the challenges she faced as a female leader. The discussion highlights the myths surrounding her leadership and aims to provide a nuanced understanding of her political strategies and decisions.Iain is an author, podcast host, and presenter on LBC. Chapters00:00 The Legacy of Margaret Thatcher02:52 Understanding Thatcher's Impact on Modern Politics05:51 Thatcher's Foreign Policy and Global Influence08:53 Challenges of Leadership: Misogyny and Political Dynamics11:36 The Iron Lady: Image and Perception14:42 Dispelling Myths: The Pragmatic PoliticianHi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.
39. Maria of Modena: Scandal, Faith, and Legacy
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38. Hidden Women Codebreakers of WW2 - revealed!
20:42||Season 2025, Ep. 38It's been long revealed that women worked at Bletchley Park, the top-secret codebreaking British intelligence service Head Quarters during World War II, but up until now it was thought that they were in menial administration roles, or tea makers! Dermot Turing's investigative work shows that many actually played a pivotal role in the codebreaking efforts of World War II and that this has long been overlooked!You can watch this episode on Youtube - click hereBuy Dermot's book (shipped worldwide) - Click Here for BlackwellsJoin Philippa's 'British History' Patreon to access ad-free, extended historian interviews and to submit your own questions for future guests - click here.
37. Women Who Ruled
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