Willy Willy Harry Stee...

So here it is. Another chance to hear series two of Willy Willy Harry Stee and Charlie Higson is going to start by going back and looking at the pre-Norman Kings of England, the Saxons and the Vikings.

In this introductory episode, Charlie lays the groundwork for the appearance of Alfred The Great, to come in the next podcast.

It has all the thrills and excitement of a Hollywood blockbuster!

And do remember that Charlie's book of the first series of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Yes! All of them! And now in Paperback form too!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 42 monarchs and 66 episodes, Charlie Higson reached the end of the rhyme that he learned in school and in this special overview episode, Charlie discusses the winners, the losers, whether it's changed his view of the monarchy and the startling similarity between the Royals and the Corleones.

And do remember that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Yes! All of them! And now in Paperback form too! Perfect for the beach!, or the pool, or the rain soaked bus shelter in Cleethorpes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, then Edward, George and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicat’th...Then Comes George and Lizzie II....and Charlie Next To See Us Through......

And so, just over a year after he began, Charlie Higson reaches the end of his rhyme, though not the end of the podcast as you'll hear.

This is the story of Charles III, a man who had to wait 73 years before he succeeded as King.

Joining Charlie to discuss Charles is Stephen Bates, once royal correspondent for the Guardian, now author of The Shortest History Of The Crown.

Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now in Paperback, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, then Edward, George and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicat’th...Then Comes George....and Lizzie II

This episode is a first in that it deals with a Queen that some of us might actually have met. Charlie Higson did, albeit briefly and here, he brings us the story of a long and, for the most part, expertly handled reign.

Joining Charlie to discuss Elizabeth II is Dominic Sandbrook an author and himself a king.....sort of. King of historical podcasts as one half of the very successful series 'The Rest Is History'.

And do remember that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Yes! All of them! And now in Paperback form too! Perfect for the beach!, or the pool, or the rain soaked bus shelter in Whitby.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, then Edward, George and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicat’th...Then Comes George

We're up to our final George....King George VI. A man who, though never destined to be the monarch, actually turned out to be the right man for the job....and what a massive job it was as World War II dominated his reign.

Helping Charlie Higson to unpick this member of the 'Good King Club' is James Holland, celebrated World War II historian and co-founder of the Chalke History Festival.

Oh, and do note that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops, in Paperback!.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, Edward, George.....and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicath...

Charlie Higson's monarchical quest moves one step closer to the present day as he reached Edward VIII, the only King to have given up the throne voluntarily.

Was this due to his chivalric love and devotion to Wallace Simpson?...or was he just a selfish git?

Helping Charlie answer this question is Alexander Larman, author of The Crown In Crisis and The Power & The Glory.

Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now in Paperback, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, Edward, George.....

Yes, we're up to George V, a man who didn't expect to be King, but ended up being quite good at it, in fact his actions saved the monarchy when all around Europe, others fell.

Alex Churchill makes a welcome return to not only help Charlie Higson understand George, but also to understand the reasons behind the devastating First World War.

Also don't forget that Charlie's book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now in Paperback, with illustrations by Jim Moir, or Vic Reeves as you may know him.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, Then Comes Edward.....

King Edward VII to be precise, though you may call him Bertie. A man who, as Prince Edward, loved the good things in life but, as we'll hear, matured into a decent King, though, like our current monarch, had to wait a while before taking the throne.

Helping Charlie Higson to dig a little deeper into this fascinating man is Professor Jane Ridley, author of Bertie, A Life Of Edward VII,and do remember that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Yes! All of them! And now in Paperback form too! Perfect for the beach!, or the pool, or the rain soaked bus shelter in Tiverton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria!

We're starting to move into familiar territory here as Charlie Higson looks at a Queen we all think we know. Victoria, but as we'll hear, we probably don't know anywhere near as much as we think.

Helping Charlie this episode is proper historian Alex Churchill, podcaster, sub-stacker and author of Victoria's story in Iain Dale's epic, Kings & Queens.

Speaking of Books, Charlie's book, WIllie WIllie Harry Stee is available to buy, read, enjoy and other things you might use books for. In paperback too!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William.....

After the extravagance of George IV, his more austere son King William IV is pushed into the spotlight. A latecomer to the throne, here was a man who would much rather have been on a battleship than in Buckingham Palace.

Helping Charlie Higson to make sense of this complex man is Roger Knight, author of 'William IV: A King At Sea' in the Penguin Monarchs series and do remember that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Yes! All of them! And now in Paperback form too! Perfect for the beach!, or the pool, or the rain soaked bus shelter in Cleethorpes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.