British History Podcast

Rogues, scallywags, fraudsters and criminals have all trodden the corridors of the UK Houses of Parliament. In this conversation with Philippa Lacey, Debbie Kilroy discusses the themes of her new book ‘Members Behaving Badly.’
The discussion covers political misbehaviour over the past 4 centuries, exploring various scandals, notorious figures, and the evolution of public perception regarding politicians. We talked about the patterns of corruption and sexual scandal seen throughout all the periods of history covered by Debbie in her book, as well as the importance of engaging with politics, and what happens when people feel disillusioned with their leaders.
The discussion highlights the need for understanding historical context and the human nature of politicians, emphasising that while many have committed egregious acts, they can also possess redeeming qualities.

Buy 'Members Behaving Badly' - click here

Find Debbie on Instagram 'debbiekilroyauthor' and her website debbiekilroy.com and gethistory.co.uk

Chapters
00:00 The Book's Inspiration and Themes
08:24 Historical Figures and Their Misdeeds
14:20 Patterns of Political Misbehaviour
20:23 Cultural Reflections in Political Behaviour
24:46 The Legacy of Lord Thomas Cochrane
29:18 Understanding Historical Morality
31:29 The Nature of Political Power
36:14 Public Tolerance for Political Scandals
43:12 The Evolution of Political Systems
49:12 Engaging with Political Discourse

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more historian interviews here for you to enjoy including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

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

In my conversation with historian Dr. Lauren Johnson we discussed her biography of Margaret Beaufort, exploring Margaret’s complex life, maternal relationships, and political influence during the Wars of the Roses. We delved into Margaret's nurturing nature, her traumatic experiences as a mother, and her significant role in the Tudor dynasty. Lauren also addressed misconceptions about Margaret, highlighting her intelligence and agency in a male-dominated society.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Lady Margaret Beaufort
03:27 Introduction and Technical Difficulties
05:17 Margaret Beaufort's Relationships and Networks
08:11 Maternal Instincts and Early Life of Henry Tudor
11:06 Margaret's Role in Political Alliances
14:22 The Secret Marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
16:59 Margaret Beaufort's Image and Vowess Attire
32:17 The Complexity of Margaret's Wardrobe
33:05 Contrasting Appearances: External vs. Internal
34:53 Health Implications of Fasting and Mortification
36:15 Margaret's Views on Henry's Governance
40:04 The Cycle of Joy and Hardship
40:56 Margaret's Emotional State in Her Final Years
46:52 Challenging Misconceptions about Margaret
48:26 A Pivotal Decision: Margaret's Choice Against Richard III
51:24 Margaret's Conversation with Richard III

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more historian interviews for you to enjoy including interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.

You can also watch all the interviews on Youtube.com/@BritishHistory

Join Patreon.com/BritishHistory to watch the ad-free, extended edit with bonus content, and for your opportunity to ask future guests your own questions.

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

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

I LOVED this conversation with Dr. Chris Laoutaris when I was able to ask him about the significance of Shakespeare's First Folio, the individuals involved in its creation, and the financial and legal challenges faced during its publication. Chris also talked about the role of John Hemmings and Henry Condal, the professionalisation of playwriting, and the impact of published plays on society. The discussion also touches on the controversial use of the term 'works' in the context of Shakespeare's plays, the mystery of the False Folio, and Shakespeare's potential intentions for publishing his works during his lifetime.

This episode was recorded at the Harvington History Festival 2025, at Harvington Hall in Worcestershire. Tickets for the 2026 festival will be on sale at the end of February 2026 from HarvingtonHall.co.uk - and I will be back there too, bringing you more interviews with these fascinating historians.

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. You can also watch this interview on my Youtube channel - click here.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Chris Littaris and the Shakespeare Institute
00:59 The Significance of the First Folio
02:48 The Role of Hemmings and Condal in Shakespeare's Legacy
06:10 The Financial Backing Behind the First Folio
08:51 Target Audience and Professionalization of Playwriting
12:11 The Challenges of Copyright and Rights Negotiation
14:51 The Controversial Use of 'Works' in the First Folio
17:58 The Mystery of the False Folio
20:56 The Impact of Published Plays on Society
23:49 Shakespeare's Intentions for His Works
26:00 Conclusion and Further Resources

Join my Patreon - click here and enjoy ad-free extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more for all for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can support me for free by commenting on this episode and subscribing to the channel.

Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.

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About Philippa
Philippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.

Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

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

In this episode Amy Jeffs and I delve into the themes of Amy's book 'Old Songs', exploring the intricate relationship between traditional ballads and social history. We discussed the unique structure of the book, which combines fiction and nonfiction, and the role of illustrations and music in storytelling. The conversation also touches on the origins and evolution of ballads, the impact of historical context, and the recurring themes of voyeurism and gender dynamics. We also discussed the modern resonance of these ancient tales and the connection between landscape and storytelling, encouraging readers to appreciate the depth and complexity of traditional narratives.

You can watch this interview on Youtube on the 'British History' channel. Click Here

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more.
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

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

In this interview, Tracy Borman delves into the complexities surrounding the succession of the English crown from Elizabeth I to James VI of Scotland. She reveals how the story was manipulated through political spin and deceit. Philippa and Tracy talked about the various claimants to the throne, the challenges James faced during his reign, and the implications of Elizabeth's decisions regarding her succession.

If you've enjoyed this please follow and rate this podcast.

For over 10 minutes of BONUS CONTENT go to Patreon.com/BritishHistory where members also get to submit their own questions for my guests, as well as many other history lover perks.

Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more.

Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - click here (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

Join my Patreon - click here and enjoy ad-free extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more for all for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can support me for free by commenting and rating this episode.

Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
About Philippa
Philippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.

Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

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