Our final guest for season 1 is Ian Dunt, a British political journalist. He hosts Origin Story with Dorian Lynskey and is the author of “How to be a Liberal”, “Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now?” and “How Westminster Works…And Why it Doesn’t”.

The plaque he chose is at 18 Kensington Square, South Kensington and reads: John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873, philosopher, lived here. We spoke about Mill's difficult childhood; why his ideas on politics, society, ethics and philosophy remain influential; his career at the British East India Company; and the impact his wife had on his ideas and work.

The Blue Plaque Pod is brought to you by Kassia St. Clair, author, cultural historian and commemorative plaque fancier. I would love to know what you think, whether you have a favourite plaque, or if there's someone you think would make a great guest. Get in touch at blueplaquepod.com.

Irenosen Okojie is the Nigerian-British author of Butterfly Fish and the short story collections, Speak Gigantular and Nudibranch. She co-presented the BBC's Turn Up for The Books podcast, she’s vice chair of the Royal Society of Literature and was a judge for the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction.

The plaque she chose is on Lands Lane in Leeds and reads: "Pablo Fanque. Born William Darby, he was the first Black circus owner in Britain. He regularly performed in Leeds. On 18th March 1848, near to this location in King Charles’ Croft, his circus building collapsed causing the death of his wife Susannah. Both are now buried in the Leeds General Cemetery. 1810-1871". We spoke about the cultural power of the circus during the 19th century, Fanque's entry into the circus and equestrian talent and how and why he appeared in a Beatles song lyric.

The Blue Plaque Pod is brought to you by Kassia St. Clair, author, cultural historian and commemorative plaque fancier. I would love to know what you think, whether you have a favourite plaque, or if there's someone you think would make a great guest. Get in touch at blueplaquepod.com.

Andrew Cotter has been working as a sports broadcaster - primarily for the BBC - for over 20 years. He is also known for his two very good dogs, Olive and Mabel, whose antics he filmed and commentated on during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The plaque he chose is at 82 Waldegrave Road in Teddington and reads: Edward Whymper 1840-1911, mountaineer, lived here 1907-1911. Whymper was the first person to scale the Matterhorn, a feat he achieved in 1865 on his eighth attempt. We discussed this notorious ascent, in which four of his teammates died, the character and drive of sportsmen, the lure of the mountains and how Cotter feels about Whymper and his blue plaque.

The Blue Plaque Pod is brought to you by Kassia St. Clair, author, cultural historian and commemorative plaque fancier. I would love to know what you think, whether you have a favourite plaque, or if there's someone you think would make a great guest. Get in touch at blueplaquepod.com.