Single Malt History with Gareth Russell

In a Single Malt History exclusive, the first chapter of my book "Queen James" - narrated by me - is shared here on UK publication date.

From the dreams of a religious pharaoh and the ambitions of Cleopatra, to Britain's first anti-technology movement, Single Malt History takes a look at three of History's lost causes.

In 1922, a murder happened in Belfast that was so horrific that everyone - from Winston Churchill to Michael Collins - condemned its savagery. Yet, the killers were never brought to justice. A century later, I'm joined by historian Dr. Edward Burke, author of the new book “Ghosts of a Family,” who set out to solve the mystery of Ireland's greatest unsolved cold case.

Author AJ West visits Single Malt History to discuss his new Sunday Times best-selling novel “The Betrayal of Thomas True,” and the world, hidden in plain sight in Georgian London, that inspired his book. CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Single Malt History contains discussions of sexual behaviour. Listener discretion is advised.

New York Times bestselling author Doug Brunt joins Single Malt History to discuss his hit new book "The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War One."

In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret attended a glamorous all-night ball. To celebrate the US and Canadian paperback release of my book "The Palace," I'm taking you into the night when Elizabeth II partied at Hampton Court.

From working in a Victorian mansion, to a murder that rocked a working-class community, and a society that enriched another, join me for these tales from 19th-century Ulster.

From a childhood on an Irish mountainside to the banquets of Hampton Court Palace, Barnaby Fitzpatrick lived a remarkable life. Best friends to the Tudor boy-king, he dazzled the court of Catherine de Medici, rescued a relative from kidnapping, fought an emperor, impressed Philip II, and charmed Elizabeth I.

From the mysterious death of a marquess to one of the largest anti-independence rallies in Irish history, join me for a trip to 19th century Belfast.

Dan Jones returns to Single Malt History to discuss his new biography, "Henry V: The astonishing rise of England's greatest warrior king."

From the downfall of Anne Boleyn to the reign of her daughter, Elizabeth I, join us in part 2 of "The House of Tudor."

They are one of Europe's most famous royal families, but are they worth their modern hype? Join me in part 1 of 2 on the House of Tudor, chronicling their extraordinary rise - from a handsome Welsh servant to a controversial English queen.

England's last Catholic queen, Mary-Beatrice of Modena, was detested by many of her husband's subjects, who accused her of orchestrating one of the greatest political cons in history. In later years, she was considered saintly by many who knew her. What was the truth behind Mary-Beatrice's remarkable career?

The shocking childhood of Germany's last emperor, Wilhelm II. CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Single Malt History contains details of medical experiments, which some may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised.

24 mini-stories from the Boiler Rooms to the Grand Staircase onboard history's most famous ship. With Jake Douglas (Lawrence Beesley), Joanne Doody (Kate Buss), and Ashley Montgomery (Mary Sloan).

I'm joined from the University of Cambridge by Caroline Burt and Richard Partington, authors of the new critically acclaimed history "Arise, England: Six kings and the making of the English State," for a fascinating discussion on six individuals, two centuries, and the transformation of a country.

Single Malt History is back with a new episode on how Queen Catherine Howard's reputation was shaped by Tudor merchants, Victorian professors, feminist revisionists, French novelists, the Me Too movement, and the silver screen.

I am joined by internationally best-selling author Dr Philippa Gregory, author of the new play "Richard, My Richard" and two of its stars, Richard III (Kyle Rowe) and Margaret Beaufort (Laura Smithers), for an exclusive interview about the new royal play garnering rave reviews in England.

Jay Britton is setting the world of immersive history alight and I'm thrilled she's joining me here for the Christmas - and season finale - of Single Malt History.

I'm joined by the Marquess of Anglesey to discuss his fascinating new book "The Great Survivor of the Tudor Age," about his ancestor Sir William Paget. Paget was Jane Seymour's secretary, and Anne of Cleves', an adviser to Henry VIII, Edward VI made him a baron, he supported Lady Jane Grey but then served Mary I, and died in the reign of Elizabeth. 

I am joined this week by Robert Child, author of “Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II,” to discuss his acclaimed research into the remarkable story of the seven African American soldiers who were awarded the World War II Medal of Honor – and the 50-year campaign by some to deny them the heroes' recognition.

PUBLICATION DAY EPISODE - to celebrate the American release of my new book, "The Palace," I am reading an exclusive extract from the book - the prologue, describing the 1953 coronation ball of Queen Elizabeth II.

Nestled in the English countryside, Harvington Hall is an extraordinarily well-preserved Elizabethan manor house, with many secrets - some, quite literally, hidden within its walls. I'm joined by Phil Downing, Harvington Hall's manager, to explore the role Harvington played in a dark yet fascinating chapter of English history.

This week, I'm joined by two guests: Kleio CEO, Siobhán O'Shaughnessy, to talk about how she created her new Catherine Howard and Hampton Court candles, and counter-terrorism expert Anthony Tucker-Jones, who's here to discuss his book, "Churchill: Master and Commander". 

In the Middle Ages, the Mongols created one of the world's largest empire, fuelled by their religious belief that they had been given the Mandate of Heaven to rule the world. I'm joined in this episode by Dr Nicholas Morton, author of an exciting study of this staggeringly large empire, "The Mongol Storm".

Dame Penelope Wilton is beloved by millions for her role as Isobel Crawley in "Downton Abbey". Now, she is playing a very different kind of matriarch - Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother - opposite Luke Evans in the new West End play, "Backstairs Billy." Ahead of opening night, Penelope stops by Single Malt History to talk about her latest role with Queen Mother biographer, and Single Malt host, Gareth Russell.

I'm joined by Sunday Times bestselling historian, TV presenter, and author Dan Jones to talk about his new novel, the medieval warfare epic "Wolves of Winter" - its real-life inspirations and its role as a sequel to his hit book, "Essex Dogs".

Berengaria of Navarre was said to be the only queen of England who never set foot in the country. Explore the life of the princess who married Richard the Lionheart, travelled Europe with Eleanor of Aquitaine, and was held hostage in the Mediterranean. 

Hampton Court had a history before Henry VIII. Join us to discover his father Henry VII's visit to the estate on a crisp autumn evening in 1500.

Vienna, 1917: As snow storms pummel the city, spies and princes in disguise carry documents with secrets that could topple an empire. ACTOR/S Paul Storrs as Edward Lisle-Strutt

In 1534, what drove the best-dressed man in Ireland to parade through the streets of Dublin and denounce Henry VIII? This episode of Single Malt History with Gareth Russell covers the remarkable actions of 'Silken Thomas' Fitzgerald, an earl suspected of witchcraft, a countess who nursed her husband in prison, and how Tudor Ireland reveals what Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell thought of one another long before the dramatic events of her downfall.

I sit down with expert Bob Sheard to chat about what advice he'd give to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the royals in the 21st century. And I discuss what's gone wrong at previous coronations - from Anne Boleyn's re-think on the dress, Queen Adelaide's invocation of Marie-Antoinette, a burst appendix, chatty dukes, tripping barons, and how trophy hunters nearly injured Elizabeth I's ladies in waiting.

In 1066, England had three kings and, by the end of the year, a new queen. Pious and beautiful Matilda of Flanders followed her brutal husband's victory at the Battle of Hastings to become England's queen consort in the age of the Norman conquest.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's cousin Charles was involved in one of the forgotten - and harrowing - shipping disasters of the 20th century.

The remarkable and dramatic life of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.

‘Nine Tales from Victorian Belfast continues with a murder in east Belfast, unionist dinnerware, a Catholic sisterhood with a secret in the west, a party with the Titanic's designer, and a servant's life in the mansions of the south. 5. A Murder on Eliza Street 6. From Slob-Land to Snob-Land: A servant's life on the Malone Road 7. The Duke of Abercorn gives a speech 8. The Sisterhood of Clonard 9. A party with Thomas Andrews Content warning: Today's episode contains discussions of domestic violence which some listeners may find distressing. CAST LIST Colm Doran as Reverend Narcissus G. Batt Ashley Montgomery as a member of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Paul Storrs as James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn and Thomas Andrews Jr.

Single Malt History is back for its fourth season with a special two-part premiere. Join us for tales of aristocrats on the outskirts, murders in the east, servants in the south, and monks in the west, as the town became a city while radical politics and conservatism populism collided. I'm joined by some of Belfast's best actors to bring to life transcripts from the time period, and singer-songwriter Emily-Rose Edgar whose performance of a 19th century refrain gave me goosebumps. Today's four tales: 1. Lord Londonderry's Suicide 2. A Letter from Carnlough 3. A Poem for Mrs Scriven 4. The Death of Mary Ann McCracken Content warning: Today's episode contains discussions of suicide, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders which some listeners may find distressing EPISODE'S CAST Jake Douglas as Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry Maryann Maguire as Mary Ann McCracken Cáilum Carragher as Lord Byron and John Martin MP Danny Cunningham as Dr Charles Bankhead and John Mitchel Colm Doran as The Northern Whig's journalist Ashley Montgomery as Maggie McKinley Paul Storrs as the editor of The Belfast Vindicator and Lord Londonderry's coroner And, 'The Fields of Athenry' sung by Emily-Rose Edgar

A slightly unexpected ending to season 3 and what's ahead in season 4. So, a farewell and a thanks.

I am joined by Dr. Valerie Schutte to discuss her fascinating research into the world of sixteenth-century books and her forthcoming cultural biography of Anne of Cleves, Queen of England (b. 1515, d. 1557).

When homosexuality was made a death penalty offence for the first time in English history by Henry VIII in 1533, it looked like the new laws might claim hundreds or even thousands of lives. But, sixty years later, a young poet was openly writing poems about his love for another man in a London ruled over by Henry's daughter. What was the reality for Tudor people who fell in love or lust with their own gender? Did it change under the Stuarts? Exploring the impact of the laws, the complexities of Elizabethan culture, and the scandals that rocked Stuart high society, this episode of Single Malt History discusses the ways in which sexuality was punished, hidden, proclaimed, and analysed in the early modern period. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frequent use of sexual language and a discussion of assault which some listeners may find distressing.

Some exclusive anecdotes from the Queen Mother's life on the day my biography of her hits the shelves in Britain, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa.

From 1897 to 1939, floating palaces and luxury liners were surrogates for the feuds between the rival countries. In the latest episode of Single Malt History, I discuss the grandeur, absurdity, and tragedy of History's most luxurious cold war. I'm joined by actors, bringing to life the eyewitness testimonies of some of those who were involved - from crew members to victims, socialites and sceptics. CAST Cáilum Carragher as John Dempsey Jake Douglas as John Malcolm Brinnin and Sir Tommy Lascelles Peter Evangelista as Morgan Robertson Debra Hill as Kate Gilnagh Rebecca Lenaghan as Noëlle, Countess of Rothes Maryann Maguire as Alice, Dowager Duchess of Buckingham Ashley Montgomery as Mary-Josephine Barratt

Some reflections on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II (1926 - 2022) and the many royal figures who attended her funeral.

In a sleepy Irish seaside village in 1957, a priest called on a housewife for a cup of tea one rainy afternoon to chat about what school was best for her daughter. A few hours later, the woman backed out of her driveway in such a panic she smashed her car into the gatepost. She kept driving. Within days, a scandal had swept over everybody involved.

Wallis Simpson divided a nation and continues to divide opinion. I'm joined by Anne Sebba, author of the acclaimed Simpson biography "That Woman," who the real Wallis Simpson was - and Anne's new hit read, examining what really happened to the alleged American Communist spy, Ethel Rosenberg. Content warning: This episode contains brief discussions of domestic and sexual abuse, which some listeners may find disturbing.

The extraordinary stories of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Katherine Parr, their marriages to the notorious King Henry VIII, and how they ended up memorialised in the rhyme Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Content warning: This episode contains frequent discussions of miscarriages and fertility struggles, which some listeners may find distressing.

Our interview with Professor James Walvin, author of the new book A World Transformed: Slavery in the Americas and the Origins of Global Power. Professor Walvin discusses working on the history of enslavement over the past four decades and his most recent work, in which he explores how the brutal enforced transportation and labour of millions of Africans continues to have significant consequences today. Slavery shaped many of the dominant features of Western taste: items and habits or rare and costly luxuries, some of which might seem, at first glance, utterly removed from the horrific reality of slavery. Dr. Walvin traces the global impacts of slavery over centuries, far beyond its legal or historical endpoints, arguing that the world created by slave labour lives on today. Content warning: This episode contains discussions of child abduction, physical coercion, racism, human trafficking, and child abuse which some listeners may find distressing.

Jean Findlay, author of the new novel "The Queen's Lender," stops by Single Malt History to discuss what drew her to the dramatic world of 16th-century Scotland and its artistic Danish queen.

The brutal real-life history that inspired Agatha Christie's iconic 1934 detective novel. WARNING: Contains discussions of home invasion, suicide, and pregnancy loss, which some listeners may find distressing.

Dr Tim Ashby joins us today to discuss the thrilling life of Elizabethan spy, and fellow Ashby, William. And I catch-up on the books I've been reading, including Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (why I love the TV adaptation), Elizabeth Fremantle's The Poison Bed, and Jane Ridley's biography of King George V. An eclectic bag today!

Franz Ferdinand's death is one of the most famous in history. But who was this man killed on 28th June 1914 by 'the shot heard round the world'? And how did it lead to the First World War? WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide which some listeners may find distressing.