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.

Queen Mary I is the first undoubted queen regnant in English, later British history, but four hundred years before the crown was placed on her head, another woman attempted to get there first, she was Empress Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I of England, who had been named by her father as the rightful heir to the throne. Upon Henry’s death, Matilda was robbed of her throne when her cousin, Stephen snatched it from right beneath her feet. To discuss this utterly remarkable woman with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Catherine Hanley onto the podcast for the first time. Catherine's biography of Matilda, Matilda, Empress, Warrior, Queen, acts as the basis for our conversation, so settle in, and get comfy, as we explore the life of the woman who should have been Queen Matilda

As Elizabeth I approached the end of her life, the constant topic of conversation was who would be her successor. Her ministers all had their own opinions, often varying, while Elizabeth herself never truly confirmed who her own preferred candidate was, but, in the end, it was the Scottish king, King James VI, who was selected to follow in her footsteps, so how did this come about? To discuss this, I am pleased to welcome historian Leanda de Lisle back onto the podcast for a discussion based around her book, after Elizabeth, the death of Elizabeth and the coming of King James. From those final few months of Elizabeth’s life to the journey James made through England, join Leanda and I as we examine the moment when the Tudor dynasty reached its conclusion.