History Now

Even today, there are pubs and a horse race named after John of Gaunt, a 14th century prince and warrior who rose to become one of the most powerful men in England, and whose son would return from exile to claim the throne, and found the House of Lancaster. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to Helen Carr, author of The Red Prince, on how John of Gaunt schemed his way through a real-world game of thrones, becoming the forefather of all English kings and queens.

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From half a billion buried in a Polish palace to submarines full of glittering loot, ‘lost Nazi gold’ is an urban myth which refuses to die - but there IS one place where there genuinely is a huge amount of Nazi treasure still waiting to be discovered. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to World War 2 expert James Holland on why most hoards of Nazi treasure are never found - and where the thugs of the Third Reich REALLY hid their loot (so safely that it’s still there today).

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Alan Turing was the oddball genius who single-handledly broke the Enigma code, ended World War II, and was hounded to death by the ungrateful authorities over his homosexuality… right? Wrong, says his nephew Dermot Turing, who tells author and historian Guy Walters that his uncle’s story has been seriously distorted to fit in with modern-day obsessions - and that the story told in films such as The Imitation Game risks masking many of Alan Turing’s real achievements in the field of computer science. 

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In the year 937, the idea of Englishness came close to being wiped off the face of the Earth as four armies faced off against the shield wall of the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan in a brutal battle which left thousands dead. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to author Michael Livingston about why the Battle of Brunanburh was so pivotal for the English - and why the battle arouses such strong passions today that Livingstone had death threats after suggesting a location where it may have taken place. (Photo: Richard Cutts)

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From its origins in Mesopotamia in 3,000 BC, the history of Britain’s favourite tea-time snack takes many surprising turns - from biscuit recipes made by alchemists, to sponge fingers dipped in wine by aristocrats. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to biscuit guru Elizabeth Collingham about the history of a treat which Britain eats more of than any country on Earth (and how eating Custard Creams was once seen as daringly cutting-edge).

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It was one of World War II’s most daring escapes, where dozens of POWs attempted to crawl to freedom down tunnels built under the noses of their German guards - and the 1963 Steve McQueen film became a cherished Bank Holiday favourite in Britain. But what was the real story? Author and historian Guy Walters reveals why the reality of the escape from Stalag Luft III was VERY different (and why not everyone in the camp wanted to escape in the first place). 

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A small reddish-orange bead unearthed in a Viking grave in Derbyshire reveals that the Scandinavian sailors were far more than brutal warriors who loved raiding British monasteries. Author and historian Guy Walters talks to bioarchaeologist Dr Cat Jarman, who reveals how the bead helped her unravel how the Vikings engaged with the East just as much as the West, sailing across Russia by river boat and even travelling to Baghdad. 

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A new film tells the story of a villa in Bexhill-on-Sea which played host to an extraordinary finishing school, where the children of elite Nazis such as Himmler and von Ribbentrop learned English (while doing Nazi salutes and celebrating the Fuhrer’s birthday). Author and historian Guy Walters talks to author Adrian Weale on why the school existed at all - and the inglorious history of British believers who supported Hitler and the Third Reich.

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Wallis Simpson became the most hated woman in Britain after King Edward VIII gave up his throne for her and left the country (in a move with echoes in today’s Royal Family). Author and historian Guy Walters asks biographer Anne Sebba how alike Wallis and Meghan Markle really are - and whether we can learn any lessons from the 1936 abdication crisis as the Royal family is once again rocked by the arrival of an American woman.

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As America tested the first hydrogen bomb - capable of flattening entire cities - the Cold War entered a new and deadly phase, with the Soviets, America and Britain racing to build weapons of mass destruction (including secret tests of deadly nerve agents) - and the Doomsday Clock set to two minutes to midnight for the first time. Guy Walters talks to author Roger Hermiston about why 1953 could have spelt the end of the human race.

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