It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and so it was for the Tudors as well. Yes, its Christmas, and so I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to examine how the Tudors spent the most festive time of year. To join me, I am pleased to welcome back Tudor food and gardening historian, Brigitte Webster onto the podcast. She and I examine how the Tudors decorated the home, from the poorest of subjects right up to the royal family, we look into some of the major foods popular across the Tudor period, explore some traditions and also delve into what aspects of Tudor Christmas are still very much part of the way we celebrate today!

Most of us can agree that Anne Boleyn was perhaps the most controversial woman to ever sit on the throne of England, but, her life has rarely been examined through a legal lens, until now. Today, historian Heather explains why religious reform and the break from Rome not only predate Anne Boleyn but the Tudors all together, why and how Anne Boleyn regularly broke the law and, perhaps most interestingly of all, why Heather firmly believes that even if Anne Boleyn had given birth to a son, that Henry would still have got rid of her, and that it would have been death. Controversial I know, but carry on listening to find out why.

Reginald Pole started out as a man who Henry VIII sponsored and celebrated, but soon turned on the king, becoming an outright and vocal critic of his all too bloody reign. To discuss Reginald with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Helen Hyde onto the podcast for a discussion based around her recent book, The King’s Traitor, Reginald Pole and the Tudors. We explore Reginald's early life, his position as an arch enemy of Henry VIII, his very close bond to Queen Mary I and even his friendship with none other than Michelangelo himself!

The de la Pole family were one of the great noble houses of Tudor England, who awkwardly possessed a big dollop of York royal blood, tracing direct descent from Elizabeth of York, a sister of Kings Edward IV and Richard III. It was the de la Pole family whom Richard III intended to be his successors, and would in turn become figureheads of rebellion against the Tudors. Today, I am pleased to welcome historian and author Richard Anderton, onto the podcast, for a discussion based on his latest book, The Last Yorkists, Edmund and Richard de la Pole. We discuss these two brothers lives, early days, their connections to the other noble houses, their roles in rebellion against the Tudors and of course, how this would, inevitably, lead to their destruction.

The rule of the Plantagenets saw an unbroken line of fourteen kings reign over 300 years, but while these kings are undeniably interesting, often it is their wives, the queens of the medieval period who command the attention, I'm talking of histories she wolves, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou, and as such, I am thrilled to welcome back the woman who wrote the book and fronted the series dedicated to histories she wolves, Dr Helen Castor, who joins me to discuss these three remarkable queens.

An aspect of Tudor history seldom discussed or, perhaps more accurately, all but ignored, is the role black people living and working in England across the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, to unpick the stories of some of Tudor England’s African population, I am pleased to welcome Dr Miranda Kaufmann onto the podcast for a discussion based around her book, Black Tudors, The Untold Story. We look at the stories of several figures from the time, including John Blanke, a black trumpeter for whom a contemporary image exists, to Diego the Circumnavigator, who helped Sir Francis Drake explore the globe, to Cattelena of Almondsbury, who livid in the Tudor countryside and made her way in the world owing to her most prized possession, a cow!

I was due to be speaking to Dr Helen Castor this week, but sadly that episode is being delayed by a couple of weeks. A follower wrote to me recently asking me whether I would do an episode telling people about my own story. How I came to do what I do now, what are my own historical opinions etc., and so I thought, well, why not! So, here it is, your chance to get to know me, the man behind the podcast, a bit better.

Hans Holbein was undoubtedly our window into the court of King Henry VIII. His remarkable portrait collection allows us to see who the figures of the Tudor court were, from Henry VIII’s queens to his political enemies, lawyers, churchmen and much more. To discuss this remarkable man with me, I am pleased to welcome Dr Elizabeth Goldring back onto the podcast for a discussion based around her upcoming book, Holbein, Renaissance Master. From Holbein's early life to the methods he used, to symbolism in his imagery, all will be discussed, so settle in as Elizabeth and I explore the life of the 16th centuries greatest artist.