History for You with Douglas and Hugh

Season's greetings! Welcome to the second of our Holy Trinity of festive specials, where we take our collected Christmas mini episodes from the archive and smush them together into full-length episodes to get you through the Yuletide period. In this episode Douglas and Hugh tuck in to the history of Christmas food and drink throughout the ages, the world's weirdest Christmas rituals, the truth beh...

Last Christmas we gave you our hearts. We recorded twelve mini-episodes all about different aspects of the festive period - and they were incredible. So this year, because we're both going on holiday (separately, you understand), Hugh has asked his nephew Gavin to cut these episodes together into a trio of full-length episodes for your ears. And this is the first. In this episode, expect a stagger...

In 1851, Prince Albert, Royal Consort to Queen Victoria, held a magnificent celebration of his adopted homeland. Think Cool Britannia only less cocaine and more things stolen from other countries. To house this Great Exhibition, he had built an enormous Crystal Palace, a marvel of Victorian architecture and a shrine to Empire, excess and elephants. Today, not a single shard of glass from this vast...

Grab your pickaxe, we're going digging! Let Douglas and Hugh take you back to Egypt, at once thousands of years, and then just over a century ago, as we expose the life of the most famous Egyptian king Tutankhamen - a life tragically cut short. We then flash forward to Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon uncovering King Tut's majestic tomb in the Valley of the Kings, which came with all the mod cons...

We're back for another Halloween special episode for the Spooky Season and Douglas and Hugh are delving into the mucky and grim history of witchcraft in Europe. Why were so many men so scared of women? Which King of England wrote arguably the definitive book on witches, warlocks, demons, goblins and imps? And what terrible secret has Douglas unearthed in his loft? All will be revealed if you lend...

This episode has divided Douglas and Hugh. The former believes it to be a Halloween special, the latter insists that it isn't. As ever, you be the judge! Prepare for an unforgettable trip back to Tudor England as we guide you inside Hampton Court , arguably the most famous British royal palace that doesn't have an actual royal currently living in it. We invite you to tiptoe nervously through its g...

The term "genius" is banded around all too casually these days. Very few deserve the title. But this man definitely does. Artist. Anatomist. Engineer. Aviator. Gardener. There was nothing Leonardo da Vinci couldn't do. If he were alive today, he'd probably also be an excellent podcaster. But he isn't, so you're going to have to make do with Douglas and Hugh. In this episode, we examine the world o...

In this obscenely violent episode, Douglas and Hugh become a pair of American wise guys as they blow the lid off bootlegging on the streets of New York and Chicago during the 1920s and 30s. A time where crime most definitely DID pay. A time of Prohibition. Discover how Al Capone rose through the ranks of street hoodlums to become the most notorious gangster who ever lived, how Hugh managed a forty...

We've all seen one. We've all been in one. Doulgas frequently crashes one. But who actually invented the car? And how the hell did we manage without them? From donkeys to horsepower, from Henry Ford's Model T to where all self-driving cars go to die, Douglas and Hugh take you on a crash course through the complete history of the car. So buckle up, it's a bumpy road ahead! ------ Hi...

As it's still the summer holidays, brace yourself. These are your captains speaking. Douglas and his co-pilot Hugh will now take your ears through the many thrilling attempts by humanity to take to the skies. From trying to harness owls and heated air to the sheer misery of your average budget airline, strap yourself in for the flight of your life as we leave nothing behind in the terminal. Oh...

She was the last Tudor monarch who ushered in a Golden Age for her country - without even needing to score any goals in a major international tournament. In fact, she was actually able to defeat the Spanish. Join Douglas and Hugh as they unravel the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Discover the plots on her life, the pretenders to her throne and whether or not she could be a con...

In this episode of the BEST HISTORY PODCAST EVER MADE, Douglas and Hugh cross oceans to time to find you, and boldly become vampire hunters! Join them as they dig up the myths and legends that gave rise to belief in vampires and the undead. They will debunk vampire lore (garlic, crucifixes, sunlight, holy water). They will also introduce the real life historical figure that inspired Irish novelist...

En Guard! Strap on your sword, rapier and whatever flintlock pistol you may have about your person. Douglas and Hugh invite you to enlist in the French King's most elite fighting force, The Three Musketeers! But who were the real-life swashbucklers? What did they do to inspire legendary French playwright and author Alexandre Dumas to write his iconic novel? And what of the man himself? Experie...

In this week's episode, Douglas and Hugh put on their foil hats and x-ray specs as they travel back to the 1950s in search of...ALIENS! But because this is a bona fide history podcast, Our very own Mulder and Scully don't want to believe, they want to know - and they're not afraid to expose themselves in the process. What REALLY happened on that hillside in Roswell, New Mexico? What&#3...

As we approach the halfway point in the year for the Summer Solstice on June 21st, Douglas and Hugh travel to Stonehenge, the most famous of all the henges, and one of England's most ancient, celebrated and fascinating landmarks. They also reveal the true identity of the people who worshipped at this hallowed site: the Druids. Who REALLY built Stonehenge? What was it for? And how do you get an...

Who were the Knights Templars ? What is their connection with The Holy Grail ? And why was Douglas and Hugh refused entry into Shingles nightclub on the High Street? All will be revealed - and more - when we remove the chainmail of mystery to expose the flabby pink flesh of truth. Gasp with pleasure as you learn of their special role in the Crusades. Groan with excitement as we uncover the secrets...

The Ark of the Covenant is one of the world's most famous archaeological prizes. But what actually is it? Does it even exist? And if so, can it really melt your face off? Douglas and Hugh don their fedoras, grab their bullwhips and steer clear of snakes as they raid the truth behind this most holy of holy relics. Discover the Ark's biblical origins, why it got lost and where it may current...

Few monarchs have been plagued by so many scurrilous rumours as this one. Catherine the Great was Empress of Russia during the back end of the eighteenth century and under her long reign, she is said to have transformed her country for the better. She was also rumoured to be obsessed with nookie, took an army of lovers and fell foul of a proud horse. But is there any truth in these stories? Join D...

To listen or not to listen. THAT is the question. And the answer is, of course, yes. In this episode, Douglas and Hugh tackle another of history's big hitters: William Shakespeare . Writer of such incredible works such as Romeo and Juliet , Hamlet and Slippery When Wet . The most famous playwright who ever lived, but what do we know about the man behind the curtain? What inspired him? How did...

If you met a king, would you bow and curtsy, or punch him in the face? Fortunately, Douglas and Hugh know EXACTLY what to do, and they're about to tell you. We cordially invite you to sup with King Louis XIV of France at the royal palace of Versailles - but for Christ sake, remember the RULES! Because if you don't...well. There will be trouble. From what to wear, what to say and how to beh...

With International Nurses Day right round the corner, in this episode, Douglas and Hugh shine a lamp on the celebrated Victorian social reformer, statistician and founder of modern nursing: Florence Nightingale. Flo's revolutionary "common sense" approach saved the lives of thousands of soldiers during the Crimean War and changed the face of how we stop sick people from dying. You&#3...

We're back! One becomes two as Hugh rejoins Douglas for another cracking episode, fresh from his nautical misadventure. Prepare to be amazed as Hugh reveals what actually happened on that ferry after the Taylor Swift concert. And then, strap on your peacemakers and mount your steed. We are galloping across the Great Plains to meet William "Buffalo Bill" Cody - a soldier, scout, hunte...

This is a public service announcement. Sadly we cannot bring you our regularly scheduled episode due to the fact Hugh is..well, you should really listen to this. But don't worry, all is well, he's safe, albeit slightly adrift. Fortunately Douglas is here to hold the fort, where he answers some of YOUR questions and concerns that YOU submitted to us. So enjoy this little mini-episode and we...

If you were in the Colosseum, what animal would you fight? What weapon would you wield? Travel back to Ancient Rome as Douglas and Hugh reveal their preferred creature to dispatch, why Gladiators were treated like rock stars and then fell out of favour, and why Douglas' son has got his hand stuck behind the temporary shed. Thumbs or thumbs down, let us know your thoughts! ------ History for Yo...

We venture into uncharted waters this episode as Douglas and Hugh expose themselves. Not literally. Neither of them know much about Genghis Khan the legendary Mongol warrior/emperor/ king/mass murderer/serial adulterer. But of course, they still know more than you, so strap yourself in as we travel back to quake in the might of the man responsible for founding the largest contiguous empire in the...