Fetch the Smelling Salts

This week Kim and Alice have been locked in the cupboard with the Christmas decorations to bring you Tudor drama series, Wolf Hall. We’re talking about Hans Holbein: portrait artist / historical catfisher and Henry VIII never getting to just enjoy a joust. Also kittens!Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

Hide your necks, we’re entering our Tudor Era! In this Fainting Couch episode Kim and Alice are joined by Kirsty Whyte for an overview of period drama dynastic darlings, the Tudors. We discuss what’s been done, if there’s anything left to be adapted, and why we can’t get enough of these messy monarchs.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

Ciao a tutti! This week Kim and Alice are discussing the fun, Italian crime drama series, The Law According to Lidia Poët. We’re talking about the real-life multi-lingual lady lawyer, solving crimes with your sibling, and asking how much responsibility filmmakers have when depicting real historical figures?Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

We have a special episode this week for Podcasthon 2025; Alice speaks to Christopher Clannachan from Equality Network about their incredible work for LGBTI rights and equality in Scotland, and the emotionally devastating 2022 movie, My Policeman.Find out more about Equality Network and how you can help support them at https://www.equality-network.org/support-us/To find out more about Podcasthon, please visit our participant page at https://podcasthon.org/podcaster/fetch-the-smelling-saltsSound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

Join Kim and Alice as we travel back to India circa 1857 courtesy of epic historical legend, Mangal Pandey: The Rising. Back when companies had armies, dogs ate gunpowder and real men sang plot points whilst sitting on elephants.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen HamiltonSourcesMangal Pandey: Film and History; Author(s): Rochona Majumdar and Dipesh Chakrabarty; Source: Economic and Political Weekly , May 12-18, 2007, Vol. 42, No. 19 (May 12-18,2007), pp. 1771-1778Mangal Pandey: Drug-crazed Fanatic Or Canny Revolutionary?; Author: Richard Forster; University of Hawai’i at MānoaMangal Pandey: Is 'History' Important?; Author(s): Sharmistha Gooptu; Source: Economic and Political Weekly , Aug. 27 - Sep. 2, 2005, Vol. 40, No. 35 (Aug. 27 -Sep. 2, 2005), pp. 3797+3799-3800; Published by: Economic and Political Weeklyhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/29/reel-historyhttps://www.thecollector.com/mangal-pandey-sepoy-mutiny/https://web.archive.org/web/20160829022829/http://thevoiceofnation.com/politics/chapati-movement-mysterious-chain-british-officials-1857-mutiny-rising/

It’s time to convene the ‘We Hate Rolf’ club and sexily tear down some flags - this week Kim and Alice are yodelling their way through the Sound of Music. We learn that while Edelweiss might be fake, the Von Trapp family singers were very real.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

We’re floating about in our nightgowns this week as Kim and Alice discuss the literature and lunacy behind The Woman in White. Everyone in the story might be deeply traumatised, but trust us, the dog is fiiiiine. Also - happy Galentine’s Day; dump your toxic partner.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

Send us a textIn this Fainting Couch special, Alice is off to the cinema with friend of the podcast Hugh Turpin to experience 2024’s saddest Christmas movie: Small Things Like These. We’re discussing national trauma, Ireland’s evolving relationship to the past, and why you should beware the Coal Hole.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton

Send us a textThis week Kim and Alice are (re)watching the ‘délicieux’ Agatha Christie classic: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. We’re talking about locked-room mysteries, glove snobbery and the haunting wail of a dying pig toy.Sound Engineer: Keith NagleEditor: Helen Hamilton / Keith NagleProducer: Helen Hamilton