Best Blown To Bits Podcasts (2025)

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A Duchess’s Cry for Help 7:43

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27m ago7:43

7:43

Content note: This video discusses historical allegations of domestic abuse. Imagine being one of the highest-ranking women in England, then writing that you were locked away, stripped of your jewels, pinned until you spat blood, and dragged from bed by your hair. Those are the claims of Elizabeth Howard, Duchess of Norfolk, set down in letters to …

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From “Looking for Richard” to Writing Richard III — Wendy Johnson Interview 48:33

1h ago48:33

48:33

Villain or maligned? In this interview, historical novelist Wendy Johnson—a founding member of Philippa Langley’s “Looking for Richard” project—joins me to discuss her debut novel, The Traitor’s Son, which traces Richard III’s formative decade (1461–1471). We explore: What being close to the 2012 discovery in Leicester changed for her as a writer a…

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Katherine Willoughby: Duchess, Exile, Survivor 5:09

9m ago5:09

5:09

On this day in Tudor history, 19 September 1580, Katherine Willoughby (Katherine Brandon, later Katherine Bertie), Duchess of Suffolk, died after a long illness and was laid to rest at Spilsby, Lincolnshire. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today I’m telling the story of one of my favourite Tudor women, a brilliant, resilient figure who…

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Heir, Hostage, Court Favourite… Dead at 15 - Henry Brandon’s Story 5:14

15m ago5:14

5:14

On this day in Tudor history, 18 September 1535, Henry Brandon, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, was born at Chartley in Staffordshire. The eldest son of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and Catherine Willoughby, Henry’s life was full of promise, until it was heartbreakingly cut short. Educated alongside Prince Edward (the future Edward VI), Henry thrived at …

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The Quiet Power Behind the Reformation: Bullinger 5:07

27m ago5:07

5:07

On 17 September 1575, Zurich lost one of its great reformers: Heinrich (Henry) Bullinger. While Luther thundered, Calvin systematised, and Zwingli fought and died, Bullinger quietly anchored the Swiss Reformation, and his writings reached far beyond Switzerland, shaping the faith of Tudor England. In this episode, I explore: Bullinger’s rise from B…

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Walter Devereux: Poison Plot or Tragic Misfortune 4:51

22h ago4:51

4:51

On 16 September 1539, Walter Devereux was born at Chartley in Staffordshire. Nobleman, soldier, coloniser—and father to Robert Devereux, Elizabeth I’s brilliant but doomed favourite—Walter’s life was full of ambition, controversy, and whispers that outlived him. From his meteoric rise at Elizabeth’s court to his brutal and ill-fated campaign in Ire…

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What did Henry VIII REALLY look like? 4:47

1h ago4:47

4:47

When you picture Henry VIII, do you see Holbein’s towering figure in furs and jewels—broad, bearded, and imposing? That image is iconic... but it’s not the full story. In this video, I’m going back to the start of Henry’s reign to ask: What did Henry VIII really look like when he took the throne in 1509? Before the tyranny, before the weight gain, …

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Tudor Quiz - 75 THOUSAND Youtube Subscribers - Play Along! 5:19

35m ago5:19

5:19

I can't believe that I've got over 75,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel, and to celebrate it, my lovely husband, Tim, put together a "mastermind" style expert round quiz to test my knowledge on the Tudors and especially the Boleyn family. There's a quick-fire round of two minutes where I have to answer as many questions correctly as I can, and …

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Was Henry VIII Really Protestant? 7:38

17m ago7:38

7:38

The Truth About His Faith and the English Reformation He broke from Rome. He dissolved the monasteries. He declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England… So that makes Henry VIII Protestant, right? Not quite. In this video, we explore: Why Henry VIII broke with the Pope (spoiler: it wasn’t about theology) His 1521 book defending the Cathol…

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130 - Ste Brotherstone - A Third Person Video Game With Colin Bennett 1:33:15

1h ago1:33:15

1:33:15

Looks Unfamiliar is a podcast in which writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington talks to a guest about some of the things that they remember that nobody else ever seems to. Joining Tim this time is writer and illustrator Ste Brotherstone, who's trying to collect a full set of picture cards for World Of The Vorgans, Rebecca's World by Terry…

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Who was Marten Micron? 5:33

36m ago5:33

5:33

We rarely hear about Marten Micron, a young Dutch pastor who came to London as a refugee, and helped organise one of the most radical experiments of Edward VI’s reign: the Stranger Church at Austin Friars. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s video I’ll be sharing the remarkable story of Marten Micron: his ministry among London’s…

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The Pope Who Celebrated a Massacre 4:13

3m ago4:13

4:13

A medal for a massacre. A Te Deum for thousands of deaths. A celebration that still shocks centuries later. On this day in history—11 September 1572—Pope Gregory XIII ordered Rome to give thanks for not one, but two "victories": the Catholic triumph over the Ottomans at Lepanto and the mass slaughter of French Protestants during the St Bartholomew’…

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She Faced the Flames Cheerfully – The Martyrdom of Joyce Lewis 4:12

1h ago4:12

4:12

On this day in Tudor history—10 September 1557—Joyce Lewis was led to the stake at Lichfield for her Protestant faith. Eyewitnesses said she faced the flames with cheerfulness. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s episode, I share the powerful and heartbreaking story of a Tudor gentlewoman who chose faith and conscience over comp…

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“Near to Heaven by Sea”: Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s Last Voyage 7:23

8h ago7:23

7:23

We are as near to Heaven by sea as by land.” On this day, 9 September 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s tiny ship, the Squirrel, disappeared in an Atlantic storm, and an audacious Elizabethan life ended in a flash of foam and darkness. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and today we follow Gilbert’s extraordinary arc: Devon gentleman and half-brot…

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The Boleyn Grandson Who Backed Shakespeare 4:12

9d ago4:12

4:12

Grandson of Mary Boleyn. Cousin to Elizabeth I. Patron to Shakespeare’s company. On 8 September 1603, George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon, died, leaving a legacy that runs from court politics to the playhouse. Some even whispered he was Henry VIII’s grandson. Rumour or not, Carey stood right behind the stage that gave us Hamlet, Henry V and more. I’m h…

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Who was Anne Boleyn REALLY? 17:29

2d ago17:29

17:29

Who was Anne Boleyn...really? In this fast, source-based overview I cover her debated birth year, French education, rise to queenship, real influence on religion and politics, the 1536 downfall, and the biggest myths to bin (no, not a sixth finger). Perfect for newcomers and Tudor die-hards. What you’ll learn • How Mechelen & France shaped her poli…

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Mary Tudor’s Hidden Influence + How Tudors Learned - Claire Ridgway Interviews Amy McElroy 52:53

3d ago52:53

52:53

Join me for a lively deep-dive with historian and author Amy McElroy—whose books include Educating the Tudors and Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era, with Mary Tudor, Queen of France out next and a new project on Desiderius Erasmus underway. We talk Tudor education, women’s real power at home and court, Mary Tudor’s overlooked influence, and why Erasmu…

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Could You Really Get Away with Murder at Henry VIII's Court? - Tudor True Crime 11:07

4d ago11:07

11:07

In April 1532, Sir William Pennington was cut down on the very edge of Westminster sanctuary—and his killers walked away with a manslaughter verdict, a £1,000 pardon, and glittering careers. In this Tudor true-crime deep dive, I unpack the fight, the politics, and the legal loopholes that made it possible. What’s inside: The argument and fight, fro…

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From Paston Letters to Power 5:01

5d ago5:01

5:01

On this day in Tudor history, 4 September 1550, Sir Thomas Paston, a gentleman of the privy chamber under Henry VIII and Edward VI, died. If the name Paston rings a bell, it should: the Paston Letters gave us one of the richest pictures of late-medieval/early-Tudor gentry life. But Thomas Paston wasn’t just part of a famous family, he carved out hi…

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31. Thinning the Herd: which arcade games make the cut when collection space is at a premium? 2:09:57

6d ago2:09:57

2:09:57

Wait, Charlie actually got *rid* of some games?! Welcome to The Coin Jam Podcast, a show about repairing, restoring, and collecting classic coin-operated amusement machines. We cover everything from #arcade video games and #pinball machines, to jukeboxes, redemption games, and more. If you've ever wanted to listen to a group of guys ramble on about…

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From Prison to Power to Poison? The Rise and Fall of Edward Courtenay 5:46

10d ago5:46

5:46

On this day in Tudor history, 3rd September 1553, Edward Courtenay was created Earl of Devon by Queen Mary I. It was a stunning reversal of fortune for a man who had spent 15 years imprisoned in the Tower of London after his father, the Marquess of Exeter, was executed for treason. In this podcast, I trace the extraordinary life of Edward Courtenay…

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Priest, Diplomat, Powerbroker: The Life of Archbishop Thomas Savage 4:45

7d ago4:45

4:45

On 2nd or 3rd September 1507, Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York, died at Cawood Castle in Yorkshire. Savage wasn’t just a churchman — he was one of Henry VII’s most trusted servants, a skilled diplomat, and a powerful royal official in the turbulent north of England. In this video, I uncover his remarkable story: - His family connections to the inf…

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Not Just a Lord Mayor’s Wife: Dorcas Martin’s Story 5:11

8d ago5:11

5:11

On 1st September 1599, Dorcas Martin — translator, bookseller, Puritan, and wife of Sir Richard Martin, twice Lord Mayor of London — was laid to rest at All Hallows, Tottenham. Though she lived much of her life in her husband’s shadow, Dorcas carved out a place of her own in Elizabethan London. She acted as a bookseller during the fierce “pulpit wa…

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What If Arthur Tudor Had Lived? | Interview with Leah Toole, Author of The Rose and The Pomegranate 28:25

9d ago28:25

28:25

What if Prince Arthur, Henry VIII’s elder brother, had survived? In this special interview, I sit down with novelist Leah Toole to talk about her fascinating book "The Rose and The Pomegranate" — an alternative history novel that asks one of Tudor history’s biggest “what ifs.” In Leah’s world, Arthur Tudor doesn’t die in 1502 — and the ripple effec…

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Henry VIII’s “Stolen Mistress” Scandal: Adultery, Gossip… or Something Darker? 12:55

10d ago12:55

12:55

In 1537, Cromwell had to investigate a sordid rumour about William Webbe's "pretty wench" and Henry VIII. It claimed the king had not only been unfaithful to his new queen, Jane Seymour, but had stolen another man’s mistress and kept her for himself. The story spread so widely it ended up in Alison Weir’s modern-day "Henry VIII: King and Court" and…

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The Forgotten Tudor Adventurer Who Went Down With His Ship - Maurice Browne 4:00

11d ago4:00

4:00

When we think of Elizabethan adventurers, names like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh usually come to mind. But on 29th August 1583, another Tudor mariner met a tragic fate — one whose name history has largely forgotten. His name was Maurice Browne. Browne wasn’t just an adventurer — he was a well-connected courtier who worked for Elizabeth…

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Tortured, Defiant, and Just 21 5:35

12d ago5:35

5:35

On 28th August 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada, a young Franciscan friar named Thomas Felton was hanged near Brentford, Middlesex. Felton’s “crime”? His Catholic faith, and his refusal to acknowledge Elizabeth I as head of the Church. The son of Blessed John Felton (executed in 1570 for posting the papal bull of Elizabeth’s excommunication), y…

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Lady Anne Bacon - A Remarkable Tudor Woman 4:19

21d ago4:19

4:19

When you hear the name Bacon, you probably think of Sir Francis Bacon — philosopher, scientist, genius. But behind him stood an equally remarkable woman: his mother, Lady Anne Bacon (née Cooke). Born in the 1520s, Anne was one of the famous Cooke sisters of Gidea Hall, all of them classically educated at a level most Tudor men could only dream of. …

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A Tudor Bishop Whose Recorder Playing Annoyed a Martyr 5:03

25d ago5:03

5:03

Imagine being remembered not just as a bishop, diplomat, and court insider… but also as the student who annoyed a future martyr with your recorder practice! That was Thomas Thirlby, a man whose life saw the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. He supported Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, helped …

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The Forgotten Tudor Powerhouse Behind William Cecil 5:19

15d ago5:19

5:19

When you hear the name Cecil in Tudor history, you probably think of William Cecil, Elizabeth I’s right-hand man. But behind him was his wife, Mildred Cecil, born Mildred Cooke on 25th August 1526 — a woman every bit as remarkable, and one of the most learned women of her age. In this video, I uncover the fascinating life of Mildred Cecil: - Her ex…

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Where Is Anne Boleyn REALLY Buried? 20:07

16d ago20:07

20:07

On 19th May 1536, Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I, was executed within the Tower of London. Contemporary sources say she was laid to rest in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, but legends place her hundreds of miles away, in Norfolk or Suffolk… and some even claim her heart was buried elsewhere. In this podcast, I, …

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Elizabeth Boleyn Revealed: Interview with Sophie Bacchus-Waterman on Anne Boleyn's Mother 56:16

17d ago56:16

56:16

What do we really know about Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire and mother of Anne Boleyn? Until now, she’s been little more than a shadow in history — remembered only as the wife of Thomas Boleyn and the mother of Anne, Mary, and George. But in a groundbreaking new biography, historian Sophie Bacchus-Waterman uncovers Elizabeth’s real story: …

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Charles Brandon: A Tudor Survivor with a Tangled Love-life 7:18

19d ago7:18

7:18

On 22nd August 1545, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, died — ending the life of one of the most colourful and daring figures of Henry VIII’s reign. He was the king’s jousting companion, his most loyal friend, and the man bold enough to secretly marry Henry’s sister, Mary Tudor, in Paris… without royal permission. How did Brandon risk everything, p…

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Tudor Survivor You've Never Heard of 6:36

19d ago6:36

6:36

What does it take to survive the deadly world of Tudor politics? Sir Thomas Heneage seems to have known the answer. He began his career in Cardinal Wolsey’s household, slipped seamlessly into Henry VIII’s privy chamber, witnessed the king’s secret wedding to Anne Boleyn, replaced an executed groom of the stool, worked with Thomas Cromwell… and stil…

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The Loyal Knight Who Defended Barnard Castle 4:57

20d ago4:57

4:57

Not every Tudor story ends in scandal, downfall, or execution. Some are about loyalty, courage, and quiet strength. On this day in Tudor history, 20th August 1580, Sir George Bowes—a loyal soldier, administrator, and one of Elizabeth I’s most dependable northern men—died peacefully at his home in Streatlam, County Durham. Bowes may not be a househo…

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The Reluctant Martyr: Thomas Bilney’s Tragic End at the Stake 5:40

1M ago5:40

5:40

What happens when one of England’s earliest reformers loses his nerve—yet dies for it anyway? On this day in Tudor history, 19th August 1531, Thomas Bilney, priest and preacher from Norfolk, was burned at the stake in Norwich’s infamous Lollards’ Pit. Bilney had once been a fiery voice for reform—distributing William Tyndale’s books, preaching agai…

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A Wedding and a Massacre 5:07

22d ago5:07

5:07

A royal wedding meant to bring peace… instead ended in one of the bloodiest massacres of the 16th century. On 18th August 1572, Henry of Navarre—leader of the French Huguenots and future King Henry IV—married Margaret of Valois, daughter of King Henry II and Catherine de’ Medici, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This marriage was supposed to heal …

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Meet the 13-Year-Old Bringing Henry VIII to YouTube 43:53

23d ago43:53

43:53

What inspires a 13-year-old to dress as Henry VIII and teach Tudor history on YouTube? Meet Mason Thomas, the brilliant young creator of "King Henry’s Royal Court", a channel blending comedy, satire, dramatic reenactments, and historical insight — all told through Henry VIII’s eyes. In this interview, Mason shares how his passion for history began,…

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Murder Behind Bars in Tudor England – A Shocking True Story 8:44

24d ago8:44

8:44

In 1590, Catholic gentleman John Hocknell — imprisoned in Chester Castle for his faith — didn’t die of plague, hunger, or age. He was murdered… by his own gaoler. The weapon? A pitchfork. The killer? The castle’s underkeeper, i.e. Hocknell's gaoler. In this episode of Tudor True Crime, I, historian and author Claire Ridgway, uncover the shocking st…

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The Forgotten Genius Behind the Spanish Tragedy and Hamlet 4:29

25d ago4:29

4:29

Before Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there may have been another… Written by a man history almost erased. On this day in Tudor history—15th August 1594—playwright Thomas Kyd was buried in London, aged just 36. In his short life, he wrote The Spanish Tragedy, one of the biggest theatrical hits of the Elizabethan age—performed 29 times at the Rose Theatre an…

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The Princess Who Lived in the Shadows of Kings 5:23

28d ago5:23

5:23

Today I’m telling the often forgotten story of Katherine of York, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, sister to Elizabeth of York and the Princes in the Tower, and aunt to Henry VIII. Katherine’s life began in splendour—once betrothed to a Spanish prince, raised at the glittering Yorkist court—but her future was derailed by scandal, poli…

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The Knight Who Wept for a Princess 4:11

27d ago4:11

4:11

He was knighted at Henry VIII’s third wedding, carried Queen Jane Seymour’s coffin, and greeted Anne of Cleves on her arrival in England. He fought in France, jousted at Edward VI’s coronation, served as MP under Mary and Elizabeth, and—most heartbreakingly—wept as he escorted Elizabeth I to the Tower during Wyatt’s Rebellion. On this day in Tudor …

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The Sheep Farmer’s Son Who Helped Shape Tudor England 8:18

28d ago8:18

8:18

He reformed how we pronounce Greek, helped dissolve the old Church, negotiated for Elizabeth I… and somehow survived every Tudor monarch from Henry VIII’s reign onward. On this day in Tudor history, 12th August 1577, Sir Thomas Smith—a scholar, diplomat, and political survivor—died quietly at his home in Essex. But his life was anything but quiet. …

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From Cromwell’s Ally to Mary’s Pardon 6:26

1M ago6:26

6:26

On this day in Tudor history, 11th August 1556, Sir John Kingsmill died—quietly, naturally, and with his head still on his shoulders. That might not sound remarkable… but in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I, it absolutely was. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in today’s video I’m introducing you to a lesser-known but fas…

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Richard III Like You’ve Never Seen Him – Behind the Scenes of "A Taste of Loyalty" 1:18:19

1M ago1:18:19

1:18:19

Was Richard III really the monster Shakespeare painted him to be? Or have centuries of myth and propaganda hidden the man he truly was? In this exclusive interview, I (Claire Ridgway, historian and author) sit down with the creative team behind "A Taste of Loyalty"—a powerful new short film (inspired by Matthew Lewis’s novel "Loyalty"), which explo…

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Poisoned Cakes, Flea Traps… and Dead Hedgehogs?! Pest Control Tudor-style 8:58

1M ago8:58

8:58

Wormwood-strewn floors. Poisoned rat cakes. Bounties on hedgehogs. No, it’s not a dark fairy tale—it’s real Tudor pest control. In a world without bug spray or exterminators, how did the Tudors tackle fleas, flies, rats, mice… and even moths? Let’s just say… they got creative. And ruthless. I'm Claire Ridgway, historian and author—and in today’s vi…

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She Was 13. He Was 30. This Royal Wedding Changed British History Forever 8:06

1M ago8:06

8:06

A teenage English princess. A powerful Scottish king nearly two decades older. A lavish wedding that would shape the future of the British Isles. On this day in Tudor history, 8th August 1503, Princess Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII, married James IV of Scotland in a glittering ceremony filled with royal pageantry, political strategy—and sec…

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Lovechild and bigamist – Sir Robert Dudley, son of Elizabeth I’s favourite 8:31

1M ago8:31

8:31

He was born a lovechild, died an exiled nobleman—and in between, he explored the West Indies, built ships for Italian dukes, and underwent a bigamous marriage. On this day in Tudor history, 7th August 1574, Sir Robert Dudley was born—the illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and Lady Douglas Sheffield.…

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Tudor True Crime: The Baron, the Grudge, and the Double Murder 11:19

1M ago11:19

11:19

Welcome to another chilling instalment of Tudor True Crime with me, historian and author Claire Ridgway. Today, we uncover the dark story of Charles Stourton, 8th Baron Stourton—a nobleman whose pride and rage ended in cold-blooded murder… and a very public hanging. What started as a bitter land feud Escalated into a siege at a church Ended with tw…

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The Man Who Helped Make Henry VII King 4:43

1M ago4:43

4:43

The Untold Story of Sir Reginald Bray - He wasn’t a king… but he helped make one. Sir Reginald Bray may not be a household name, but this quiet powerhouse of the Tudor court knew Henry VII from boyhood, helped plan the invasion that toppled Richard III, and then served as one of the most powerful men in England. - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancast…