Tattoos

In this episode, we explore the dramatic love story between King Edward VIII and the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson - a romance that shook the British monarchy to its core. Set against the backdrop of rising tensions in 1930s Europe, the scandal divided the gove ...  Show more

In the sands of North Africa, Erwin Rommel became a battlefield legend. His bold manoeuvres and audacious tactics captured the imagination of friend and foe alike. But how did he become that commander? Does he deserve his reputation for tactical brilliance, and how should we thin ...  Show more

“As ancient as time, as modern as tomorrow.’ Why have tattoos been reinvented in so many cultures - and with so many different meanings - throughout history? And yet, tattooing is constantly portrayed as a new ‘thing’, when tattoos were just for criminals or sailors. Far from tru ...  Show more

Throughout history, people have got tattooed for a huge range of reasons, whether religious devotion, artistic expression, or to demonstrate cultural belonging – or cultural difference. Dr Matt Lodder talks to Charlotte Hodgman about 5,000 years of tattooing history, exploring ev ...  Show more

George V, Otzi the Iceman, possibly Winston Churchill and … Kate Lister. What do all these people have in common?

They have tattoos. As do a fifth of the population of the United Kingdom.

In this episode, Kate speaks to tattoo historian Matt Lodder about th ...

Most of us present ourselves with some form of cosmetic, so it’s strange that historically there’s been so much judgement around the use of it.

It’s something that’s been there from the Ancient world to the present day, and speaks to so much of the human experience.< ...