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Willy Willy Harry Stee...
Saint Scholastica’s Day Riots
When you think of Oxford University, what springs to mind. A serious yet peaceful seat of learning, full of people in robes with nothing more on their minds than the study of Latin or Theology.
Certainly not a place of murder, of people being thrown into wells or drowned in privies!??!?
Well, that’s just what Charlie Higson thought of it too, until that is, he studied the life of John Wycliffe in a previous episode, because that’s when he discovered the Saint Scholastica’s Day Riots.
On the 10th February 1355 there was indeed a mass riot in Oxford which led to three days of rioting in which 63 students and about 30 townspeople were killed!
Charlie welcomes Professor Rory Cox back to talk about this amazing incident which put Oxford on the murder map over 600 years before Inspector Morse came along.
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80. Book Companion - James II
01:08:00||Season 3, Ep. 80Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again.......In this episode, Charlie Higson examines a reign that could be filed under 'Not Very Successful', lasting only 3 years and being ended by his daughter and son-in-law.Helping Charlie understand our last catholic king is 'proper' historian Rebecca Rideal, author of 1666 Plague War and Hellfire Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is now available in Paperback, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050
79. Book Companion - Charles II
01:29:07||Season 3, Ep. 79Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie.....And so, after an 11 year gap, Britain goes from puritan republic to the land of randy rakes, headed up by Charles II.Charlie Higson regales us with the story of a man who loved ladies, laziness and.....well, that was about it really.And, to make it a triplet of Charles', Lord Charles Spencer author of 'Blenheim' and 'To Catch A King' joins as this episodes 'Proper' Historian.Speaking of books, Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Big ones, small ones, even those that online ones!
78. Book Companion - Oliver Cromwell
01:32:14||Season 3, Ep. 78Willy Willy, Harry......er.....no. This one doesn't fit into the rhyme, BUT, after lopping Charles I's head off, Oliver Cromwell abolished the Monarchy and led the country himself, so he's a worthy inclusion.In this episode Charlie Higson unpicks Cromwell's life and the reasons why we had 11 years without a King or Queen.His 'proper historian' is Dr Jonathan Healey, author of 'Blazing World - A New History of Revolutionary England'The book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now, the perfect feast for your eyes as this podcast is a feast for your ears.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050
77. Book Companion - Charles I
01:15:15||Season 1, Ep. 77Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie......Charles The 1st, a king so bad he got himself executed and almost finished the Monarchy off for good.But, of course, the story isn't that simple. Luckily for us, Charlie Higson unpicks his life with the help of Leanda De Lisle, historian and author of Henrietta Maria, Conspirator, Warrior, Phoenix Queen. Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050
76. Book Companion - James I
01:23:23||Season 3, Ep. 76Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain.......As we wave goodbye to the Tudors, we usher in the Stuarts for an episode of plotting, gunpowder or otherwise.In the 'proper historians' chair this week, we welcome Clare Jackson, author of Devil-land - England Under Siege - 1588 to 1688 and who is currently writing a book on James VI & I Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050
75. Mary, Queen Of Scots
01:06:10||Season 3, Ep. 75Once again, the 'Willy Willy' rhyme takes a back seat as Charlie Higson digs into the extraordinary life of Mary, Queen Of Scots.Crowned Queen at 18 months old, made Queen Consort of France before being widowed at 18, her 2nd husband was murdered, her 3rd was one of the murderers! Oh and then she was imprisoned for 20 years before being executed.No wonder so much has been written about her, including the book that spawned a Hollywood movie, 'My Heart Is My Own' by Charlie's guest John Guy. Speaking of books, Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Big ones, small ones, even those online ones!
74. Book Companion - Elizabeth I - Part 2
01:12:47||Season 3, Ep. 74Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie......It's part 2 of the story of Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth I and there's a lot to fit in. Plots, suitors, even an Armada and she survives them all.Joining Charlie Higson as he navigates her life is Tracy Borman, self confessed Elizabeth I super-fan and author of Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin QueenSpeaking of books, Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Big ones, small ones, even those that online ones!
73. Book Companion - Elizabeth I - Part 1
01:04:38||Season 3, Ep. 73Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie......Yes, in this episode, Charlie Higson uncovers the life of one of the best known of all the Monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I. And it's a long life, so long in fact that it requires 2 episodes to fit it all in.In Part 1, Charlie takes us from her birth through to taking the throne, helped along by the welcome return of Tracy Borman author of Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen and do remember that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Yes! All of them!
72. Book Companion - Queen Mary
01:15:32||Season 3, Ep. 72Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary.......Welcome to our first official Queen as Charlie Higson uncovers the life of Mary I, who, as we saw last episode, quickly saw off Lady Jane Grey before equally quickly seeing off the protestant reformation......for a while at least.But was she really that 'bloody'? To help Charlie find out is his 'proper historian', Alexander Samson, author of Mary & Philip - The Marriage Of Tudor England & Hapsburg Spain Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050