Victorian Bodybuilding

Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Darren Harriot to learn about the bodybuilding boom of the 19th and 20th centuries. The latter part of the 19th century saw the beginning of a fitness craze where the seeds of the modern-day gym and fitness culture were sown. But physical fitness also tapped into other parts of the psyche of British society at the time. From concerns over the fighting fitness of the British army to the racist pseudoscience of eugenics, this novel leisure activity tells us a surprising amount about the societal and intellectual currents that existed in this period. Research by Caitlín Rankin-McCabe

Written by Emma Nagouse, Caitlín Rankin-McCabe and Greg Jenner

Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner

Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow

Project Management: Isla Matthews

Audio Producer: Steve Hankey You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.