How did a child written off by the Tudor court rise to become one of England's most iconic monarchs?Before she became queen, Elizabeth Tudor was surrounded by scandal, suspicion and deadly intrigue. Born to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, Elizabeth was a princess by birth, until her ...Show more
Captain Cook: The Voyage that Changed the World
How did Captain James Cook's scientific voyage of 1768 become a mission for the British empire?While expanding knowledge of Pacific geography and natural history, Captain Cook was under secret orders to claim lands for Britain.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr Sarah Easterby-Smi ...Show more
Manhattan’s Most Notorious Couple
Who were the scandalous, defiant couple on the margins of Dutch society who became part of the founding story of New York?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Alan Mikhail to uncover the extraordinary lives of Anthony “the Turk” and Grietje Reyniers, who arrived in ...Show more
James V: Scotland's Ambitious Renaissance King
Was James V of Scotland a beleaguered child king or a brilliant Renaissance ruler who mastered the performance of power?Crowned before his second birthday, James curbed powerful magnates, strengthened royal authority and secured Scotland’s place in Europe, holding together a king ...Show more
True Crime: Mass Murderering Artist Cellini
How did a murderous, swaggering, wildly unreliable goldsmith become one of the most celebrated artists of the 16th century? Does genius excuse monstrous behaviour?Benvenuto Cellini's story is as shocking as it is dazzling, taking him from the bloody streets of Florence to the Sac ...Show more