HistoryExtra podcast

The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum is set to be the biggest historical event in decades. In conversation with David Musgrove, its curator Michael Lewis gives the lowdown on what the exhibition is all about, and how you should make the most of your trip if you do get a ticket to the show.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

Check out David Musgrove's 6-part Academy series on the Bayeux Tapestry for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/3SWpfYC
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What can DNA tell us about who we are and where we came from?

Professor Turi King – who previously appeared on the podcast to discuss her research into Adolf Hitler’s DNA – returns to explore modern genetics and its role in solving some of history’s biggest mysteries.

Speaking to Jon Bauckham, Turi discusses the surprising origins of DNA fingerprinting, common misconceptions surrounding testing, and her role in the groundbreaking discovery of King Richard III.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

Listen to Turi King discussing her research into Hitler's DNA in an episode of the HistoryExtra podcast from November 2025: https://bit.ly/4gaHcKt
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Did Lucy Worsley have 'the best job in history'? And what did she do when she worked in it? In this episode, Lucy reflects on her career so far, her time as Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and how the job has changed her perspective on some of our favourite monarchs from royal history...

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

To find out more about Lucy Worsley's role in changing our understanding of royal history, then check out this feature which she wrote for HistoryExtra: https://bit.ly/4hNBgtr
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Before Rome's republic and the age of emperors, there were kings… or so the story goes. Beginning with Romulus, and ending with Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, these rulers loomed large in the Roman imagination – but is their narrative fact or fiction? In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by ancient historian Christopher Smith, as they sift myth from memory, and uncover how seven legendary figures shaped Rome’s ideas of power and identity.
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King Philip Augustus of France was the Plantagenets’ ultimate enemy. A ruler with an iron fist and sharp political instincts, he consistently exploited the squabbles of the English dynasty, all while transforming France into a dominant power in Western Europe. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian and author Catherine Hanley reveals the cunning and ruthless tactics he employed against the English kings to become medieval England’s most formidable foe.

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GO BEYOND THE PODCAST

1217 is not one of the most famous years in English history. But with a major French invasion looming and a brutal war that wracked both towns and the countryside, this was a year that could have altered the nation's history beyond recognition. Hear from Catherine Hanley as she discusses Prince of Louis of France's invasion of England: https://bit.ly/4bQ8Yuk
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