Best Blown To Bits Podcasts (2025)

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Blown to Bits in Battle: The Tudor Rogue Who Might’ve Been Henry VIII’s Son 7:01

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25d ago7:01

7:01

He dreamt of invading Ireland with Spanish gold and papal blessing… Instead, he died in a Moroccan ditch, his legs blown off by cannon fire. This is the incredible, tragic, and chaotic story of Thomas Stukeley—Tudor adventurer, mercenary, spy, and the man rumoured to be King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son. I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, a…

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

23m 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

12h 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

1d 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

3d 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

4d 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

5d 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

6d 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

7d ago7:18

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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

8d 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

9d ago4:57

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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

10d 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

11d 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

12d 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

13d 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

14d 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

15d 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

16d 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

17d 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

18d 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

19d ago1:18:19

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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

20d 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

21d 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

22d 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

23d 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

24d 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…

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The Fairest Church in England 3:35

26d ago3:35

3:35

You’re walking through a busy modern city—and then a towering Gothic church stops you in your tracks. That’s exactly what happened to me in Bristol, when I stumbled upon St Mary Redcliffe, a church Queen Elizabeth I herself called “the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England.” I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in thi…

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What links Kate Bush and Anne Boleyn 53:57

27d ago53:57

53:57

What connects legendary singer Kate Bush and Tudor queen Anne Boleyn? In this fascinating and inspiring interview, I chat with novelist Natalia Richards, author of The Falcon’s Rise and The Falcon’s Flight—two beautifully written novels exploring Anne Boleyn’s early life and rise to power. Natalia shares how she transitioned from the world of music…

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Still Fighting the Dead: Germain Gardiner’s Scathing Attack on Martyr John Frith 5:59

28d ago5:59

5:59

On this day in Tudor history, 1st August 1534, Catholic gentleman Germain Gardiner published a scathing posthumous attack on Protestant martyr John Frith—over a year after Frith had been burned at the stake. But who was Frith? Why did Gardiner care enough to write such a fiery rebuttal after his death? And how did both men end up executed for their…

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Killed by a Butcher 4:28

29d ago4:28

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The Shocking End of a Tudor Baron - Edmund Sheffield’s Fall He was a baron, courtier, soldier, and poet... with powerful patrons like Thomas Cromwell and George Boleyn. But on 31st July 1549, during the chaos of Kett’s Rebellion, 28-year-old Edmund Sheffield met a shocking and brutal end—not on a battlefield, but in a muddy ditch at the hands of a …

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30. Canadian Arcade got cancelled?! 🇨🇦 We'll have to come up with another topic before showtime... 2:15:13

29d ago2:15:13

2:15:13

Our co-host Chance will share a recap of how everything went down with the 8-bit Roundup at the 2025 Calgary Stampede. And I'm fairly confident we'll figure out other stuff to chat about too! Welcome to The Coin Jam Podcast, a show about repairing, restoring, and collecting classic coin-operated amusement machines. We cover everything from #arcade …

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29. LIVE from the 8-bit Roundup at the 2025 Calgary Stampede... with special guest Josh! 2:07:17

29d ago2:07:17

2:07:17

Our co-host Chance (together with Josh from The Canadian Arcade) will be joining us this time live on location from the 8-bit Roundup at the 2025 Calgary Stampede. This pop-up classic video game & pinball arcade is turning back the clock with a collection of classic arcade games from the early ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s - featuring a mix of both modern …

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The Wind That Saved England: How the Spanish Armada Was Scattered 3:26

30d ago3:26

3:26

Storms at sea. Panic at court. And a queen under guard. On this day in Tudor history — 30th July 1588 — England’s fate shifted with the wind. The once-mighty Spanish Armada, already damaged by the Battle of Gravelines, was now scattered and driven northwards by violent storms. Many in England saw it as divine intervention — a “Protestant Wind” sent…

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The Stepfather Who May Have Changed History 5:21

1M ago5:21

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He didn’t wear a crown… but his choice may have changed the course of English history. On 29th July 1504, Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, died quietly at his manor in Lancashire. But nearly two decades earlier, at the bloody Battle of Bosworth, his decision to support his stepson — Henry Tudor — was a turning point in English history, ending cen…

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The Forgotten Tudor Wife Who Drank Her Own Urine to Survive - TUDOR TRUE CRIME 6:23

1M ago6:23

6:23

Starved. Poisoned. Locked in a castle tower. In Tudor England, one woman endured unthinkable cruelty at the hands of her noble husband—imprisoned in a tower, reduced to drinking her own urine to survive, and desperate enough to smuggle a secret letter to Thomas Cromwell begging for rescue. Her name was Elizabeth Hungerford. Her husband? Walter Hung…

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The Tiny Tudor Ship That Crossed the Atlantic 8:07

1M ago8:07

8:07

What if I told you that England’s very first official voyage of exploration to the New World didn’t begin in London—or even under an Englishman’s command? Join me, Claire Ridgway, historian and author, as I tell you about "The Matthew", the tiny replica ship moored in Bristol that once carried explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) across the Atlant…

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The Colour of Darkness - Claire Interviews author Toni Mount 40:04

1M ago40:04

40:04

Join me, Claire Ridgway, as I sit down with historian and bestselling author Toni Mount to celebrate the release of The Colour of Darkness — book 13 in the gripping Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery series. In this fascinating interview, Toni Mount takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, research into 15th-century London, and the creatio…

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How a Tudor Courtroom Became a Death Trap 5:50

1M ago5:50

5:50

Imagine stepping into court expecting justice… and instead walking into a death sentence. On this day in Tudor history, 25th July 1577, Queen Elizabeth I’s top lawyer, Nicholas Barham, died in Oxford—not by blade or betrayal, but from a silent, invisible killer: gaol fever. Within weeks, over 500 people were dead, including judges, jurors, sheriffs…

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The Best Of Looks Unfamiliar: It Was Very Rare To See Something Like A Chocolate Biscuit Acknowledged By Children's Television 2:05:09

1M ago2:05:09

2:05:09

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. This is a collection of highlights from Looks Unfamiliar featuring Joanne Sheppard on Fax, Mitch Benn on The Deceivers, Mark Thompson on Your Party Needs You, Donna Ree…

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The Priest They Tried to Silence 6:08

1M ago6:08

6:08

The Tragic Martyrdom of John Boste - They wouldn’t even let him speak. On this day in Tudor history, 24th July 1594, Catholic priest John Boste stood on the scaffold in Durham, condemned for treason simply for doing his job — ministering in secret during Elizabeth I’s reign. When guards silenced his final words, Boste prayed Psalm 116 in Latin inst…

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The Tudor Lord with 9 Lives 5:25

1M ago5:25

5:25

John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton This Tudor baron backed the losing side again and again… and still kept his head. Today, I’m exploring the incredible life of John Scrope, 5th Baron Scrope of Bolton — a nobleman who seemed to have nine lives. He fought at Towton, rebelled against Edward IV, supported Richard III, backed the pretender Lambert…

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Tudor Money Explained – Elizabeth I’s Bold Coin Reform & Tower Mint Secrets 6:51

1M ago6:51

6:51

What if your everyday coins could get you executed? On this day in Tudor history, 10th July 1561, Queen Elizabeth I visited the Tower of London’s Mint — not just for ceremony, but to tackle an economic disaster left by her father and brother. In this deep dive, I explore: - The shocking chaos of debased Tudor currency - How Elizabeth I’s smart reco…

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When Spain Came to England: Philip of Spain’s Grand Arrival 11:33

1M ago11:33

11:33

12,000 soldiers. 300+ servants. Fireworks. Tapestries. Jewels.* On this day in Tudor history, 20th July 1554, Prince Philip of Spain landed in England to marry Queen Mary I — and he didn’t exactly travel light! I’m Claire Ridgway, historian and author, and in today’s video I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the most politically charged roya…

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Mark Smeaton - the Queen's Musician - Claire Interviews Martha Johnson 41:10

1M ago41:10

41:10

What if Mark Smeaton—the lowly court musician caught up in the deadly fall of Anne Boleyn—had a voice of his own? In this special interview, I chat with historical fiction author Martha Jean Johnson, whose novel "The Queen’s Musician" retells the tragic final months of Anne Boleyn’s life through the eyes of the man history forgot. We talk about wha…

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Tudor True Crime – The Shocking Murder of Thomas Arden 8:23

1M ago8:23

8:23

Poisoned Milk, a Pressing Iron… and Murder in the Parlour? Welcome to the very first episode of Tudor True Crime – where real historical crimes are darker than fiction. In 1551, respected businessman Thomas Arden of Faversham was brutally murdered. But the killer wasn’t a stranger… It was his own wife, Alice Arden, along with her lover and a gang o…

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Royal Revenge? Why Lady Glamis Was Really Burnt at the Stake 5:23

1M ago5:23

5:23

On this day in Tudor history — 17th July 1537 — Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis, was dragged to Castle Hill in Edinburgh and burned at the stake. The charge? Treason. The truth? Far more sinister. She was a noblewoman. A widow. A Douglas. And that last detail may have sealed her fate. Accused of plotting to poison King James V of Scotland, Lady Glamis w…

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The Maligned Mother of Lady Jane Grey – Victim or Villain? 6:37

1M ago6:37

6:37

Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk, is often reduced to a footnote in history — simply the mother of the tragic Lady Jane Grey. But who was she really? In this episode, I dive into the life of Frances Brandon, born on 16th July 1517 — niece of Henry VIII, daughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and a woman maligned by centuries of misrepresentation.…

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The Tudor Courtier Who Tried to Make Himself Invisible 4:44

2M ago4:44

4:44

What do you get when you mix Tudor poetry, court politics, and an invisibility cloak? Meet William Neville — born on this day in Tudor history, 15th July 1497. A respected courtier and poet... who later found himself accused of something out of a fantasy novel: trying to make himself invisible! In this episode of On This Day in Tudor History, I unc…

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The Queen Who Quietly Changed Scotland Forever 7:11

2M ago7:11

7:11

In today’s podcast, we’re heading slightly beyond the Tudor world — north to Scotland — to uncover the story of a young queen who deserves far more recognition than she gets. On this day in 1486, Queen Margaret of Denmark, consort of James III of Scotland, died at just 30 years old. But her brief life left a permanent mark on British history. Becau…

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Monarchs, Lego & History: How One Man Is Retelling 1200 Years of British History in Bricks 29:44

2M ago29:44

29:44

What happens when centuries of British history meet thousands of Lego bricks? In this special interview, I’m joined by author Andrew Redfern, the creator of "Minifigure Monarchs: A History of Great Brits in Little Bricks" — an exciting new book that tells the story of British monarchs through brilliant Lego creations. We chat about Andy’s love of h…