You're Dead to Me

You're Dead to Me

BBC
History Comedy
en

The comedy podcast that takes history seriously. In each episode of You’re Dead to Me from BBC Radio 4, Greg Jenner is joined by a comedian and an expert historian to learn and laugh about the past.

History isn’t just about dates and textbooks – it’s about extraordinary characters, amazing stories, and some very questionable fashion choices. How long did it take to build an Egyptian pyramid? What does the Bayeux Tapestry reveal about medieval life? Why did it take nearly half a millennium for Joan of Arc to become a saint? And was Catherine the Great really all that great? Whether you want to explore ancient landmarks like Stonehenge and Machu Picchu, dance through the history of Broadway and Bollywood, or find out how the Tudors rose to power, Greg and his guests promise to teach you something new that you won’t have heard in history lessons.

Previous episodes of You’re Dead To Me have covered everything from royals to revolutionaries, actors to activists and divas to dictators. Take a stroll through the history of high-heeled shoes or get the scoop on the history of ice cream. Maybe you’d like to paint like the cave artists of the Palaeolithic era, work out like a Victorian bodybuilder, or fight like a Spartan? We’ve even hosted a special, live episode with the BBC Concert Orchestra to explore the dramatic life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Whatever your historical interests, Greg and his guests make even the trickiest topics easy to follow. Join them for a history lesson that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening - with no homework required.

Episodes (50)

You're Dead to Me

Viking Women: wives, weavers and warriors

August 29, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Scandinavia by historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough and comedian Chloe Petts to learn about the fascinating women of the Viking age. The popular stereotype of the Vikings...
You're Dead to Me

Kellogg Brothers: a family feud and the creation of a cereal empire

August 22, 2025 59m
Greg Jenner is joined in nineteenth-century America by historian Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Ed Byrne to learn all about the feuding Kellogg Brothers. John and Will Kellogg were born into a large...
You're Dead to Me

Alexandre Dumas: author of The Three Musketeers

August 15, 2025 56m
Greg Jenner is joined in nineteenth-century France by historian Professor Olivette Otele and comedian Celya AB to learn about acclaimed novelist Alexandre Dumas. Alexandre was born to an innkeeper’s...
You're Dead to Me

Empress Matilda: civil war in medieval England

August 08, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in twelfth-century England by Dr Gabrielle Storey and comedian Cariad Lloyd to learn all about Empress Matilda and the medieval civil war known as the Anarchy. A granddaughter of...
You're Dead to Me

Marco Polo (Radio Edit)

July 11, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 13th-Century Venice by Professor Sharon Kinoshita and comedian Ria Lina to learn all about medieval traveller Marco Polo and his adventures in China.Born into a family of...
You're Dead to Me

History of Coffee (Radio Edit)

July 04, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Jonathan Morris and comedian Sophie Duker to learn all about the bittersweet history of coffee.Coffee is undoubtedly one of the most popular drinks worldwide, and we...
American War of Independence: Fourth of July Special

American War of Independence: Fourth of July Special

July 04, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in the eighteenth century by Professor Frank Cogliano and comedian and actor Patton Oswalt for a special Fourth of July episode all about the American War of Independence. Also...
Announcing Series 10

Announcing Series 10

June 27, 2025 0m
Greg Jenner previews some of the topics and guest coming up in the new series of You're Dead To Me which starts on Friday 4 July, 2025.
You're Dead to Me

Arctic Exploration (Radio Edit)

June 27, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Stu Goldsmith to learn all about the perilous history of Arctic exploration.From the 15th to 20th Centuries, Europeans searched for the...
You're Dead to Me

Cuneiform (Radio Edit)

June 20, 2025 27m
Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Mesopotamia by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid and comedian Phil Wang to learn about the history of cuneiform, the oldest writing system in the world.In the 19th Century, European...
You're Dead to Me

Hernán Cortés and Malintzin (Radio Edit)

June 13, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 16th-Century Mexico by Dr Amy Fuller and comedian Jen Brister to learn about Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his translator Malintzin.In 1521, the powerful Aztec empire...
You're Dead to Me

Legends of King Arthur (Radio Edit)

June 06, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Europe by Dr Mary Bateman and comedian Mike Wozniak to learn all about the legends of King Arthur.Most of us have heard of Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin and the Knights...
You're Dead to Me

Sojourner Truth (Radio Edit)

May 30, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-Century America by Dr Michell Chresfield and comedian Desiree Burch to learn all about abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth.Born into slavery in a Dutch-speaking...
You're Dead to Me

Catherine de’ Medici (Radio Edit)

May 23, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 16th-Century France by Dr Estelle Paranque and comedian Shaparak Khorsandi to learn all about controversial queen Catherine de’ Medici.Catherine’s life was dramatic from the...
You're Dead to Me

The Arts and Crafts Movement (Radio Edit)

May 16, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in Victorian England by Dr Isabella Rosner and comedian Cariad Lloyd to learn all about the ethos, practitioners and creations of the Arts and Crafts movement.Most people have...
You're Dead to Me

Causes of the British Civil Wars (Radio Edit)

May 09, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 17th-century England by Dr Jonathan Healey and comedian Toussaint Douglass to learn about King Charles I and the causes of the British Civil Wars.This year marks the 400th...
You're Dead to Me

Aristotle (Radio Edit)

May 02, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Greece by Professor Edith Hall and comedian Dan Schreiber to learn all about famous philosopher Aristotle and his world changing ideas.Born a doctor’s son in the...
You're Dead to Me

The Indus Civilisation (Radio Edit)

April 25, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined by guests Dr Danika Parikh and comedian Ahir Shah in the Bronze Age to explore the ancient Indus civilisation. They take a close look at the terracotta, toilets and even the...
Georgian Courtship (Radio Edit)

Georgian Courtship (Radio Edit)

April 18, 2025 28m
Greg Jenner is joined by guests Dr Sally Holloway and comedian Cariad Lloyd in the long 18th Century to explore Georgian love and courtship.Forget Bridgerton and Jane Austen – this is a historical...
You're Dead to Me

Marco Polo: history’s most famous travel writer?

April 11, 2025 55m
Greg Jenner is joined in 13th-Century Venice by Professor Sharon Kinoshita and comedian Ria Lina to learn all about medieval traveller Marco Polo and his adventures in China.Born into a family of...
You're Dead to Me

History of Coffee: from devil’s brew to our favourite beverage

April 04, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Jonathan Morris and comedian Sophie Duker to learn all about the bittersweet history of coffee.Coffee is undoubtedly one of the most popular drinks worldwide, and we...
You're Dead to Me

Arctic Exploration: the fatal quest for the Northwest Passage

March 28, 2025 58m
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Stu Goldsmith to learn all about the perilous history of Arctic exploration.From the 15th to 20th Centuries, Europeans searched for the...
You're Dead to Me

Cuneiform: the world’s first writing system

March 21, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Mesopotamia by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid and comedian Phil Wang to learn about the history of cuneiform, the oldest writing system in the world.In the 19th Century, European...
You're Dead to Me

Hernán Cortés and Malintzin: the Spanish conquest of Mexico

March 14, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in 16th-Century Mexico by Dr Amy Fuller and comedian Jen Brister to learn about Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his translator Malintzin.In 1521, the powerful Aztec empire...
You're Dead to Me

Legends of King Arthur: from medieval literature to modern myth

March 07, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Europe by Dr Mary Bateman and comedian Mike Wozniak to learn all about the legends of King Arthur.Most of us have heard of Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin and the Knights...
You're Dead to Me

Sojourner Truth: American abolitionist, suffragist, preacher

February 28, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-Century America by Dr Michell Chresfield and comedian Desiree Burch to learn all about abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth. Born into slavery in a Dutch-speaking...
You're Dead to Me

Catherine de’ Medici: the real Serpent Queen of France

February 21, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in 16th-Century France by Dr Estelle Paranque and comedian Shaparak Khorsandi to learn all about controversial queen Catherine de’ Medici.Catherine’s life was dramatic from the...
You're Dead to Me

The Arts and Crafts Movement: William Morris and his circle

February 14, 2025 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in Victorian England by Dr Isabella Rosner and comedian Cariad Lloyd to learn all about the ethos, practitioners and creations of the Arts and Crafts movement.Most people have...
You're Dead to Me

Causes of the British Civil Wars: Royalists versus Parliamentarians

February 07, 2025 56m
Greg Jenner is joined in 17th-Century England by Dr Jonathan Healey and comedian Toussaint Douglass to learn about King Charles I and the causes of the British Civil Wars.This year marks the 400th...
You're Dead to Me

Aristotle: Ancient Greece’s greatest philosopher?

January 31, 2025 56m
Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Greece by Professor Edith Hall and comedian Dan Schreiber to learn all about famous philosopher Aristotle and his world changing ideas. Born a doctor’s son in the...
Happy Christmas from Greg and the team!

Happy Christmas from Greg and the team!

December 23, 2024 3m
Greg Jenner invites you to listen to the Christmas specials in the back catalogue and looks ahead to the new series of You're Dead To Me.
You're Dead to Me

History of Broadway (Radio Edit)

December 20, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 20th-century New York by Dr Hannah Thuraisingam Robbins and comedian Desiree Burch to learn about the history of Broadway.Most of us are familiar with at least one Broadway...
You're Dead to Me

Leif Erikson (Radio Edit)

December 13, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in the 11th century by Dr Eleanor Barraclough and actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe to learn about legendary Viking explorer Leif Erikson.Leif was possibly the first European to reach the...
You're Dead to Me

Palaeolithic Cave Art (Radio Edit)

December 06, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in the Palaeolithic era by Dr Isobel Wisher and comedian Seán Burke to learn about cave art.Tens of thousands of years ago, human ancestors all over the world began drawing and...
You're Dead to Me

Benedetta Carlini (Radio Edit)

November 29, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 17th-century Italy by Professor Michelle Sauer and comedian Sophie Duker to learn about notorious nun Benedetta Carlini.From the moment of her birth in 1590, Benedetta – whose...
You're Dead to Me

Alexis Soyer (Radio Edit)

November 22, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in the 19th century by Dr Annie Gray and comedian Ed Gamble to learn all about French celebrity chef Alexis Soyer.Despite being well-known during his lifetime, Soyer is virtually...
You're Dead to Me

Edo Japan (Radio Edit)

November 15, 2024 28m
In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined in 17th-Century Japan by Dr Satona Suzuki and comedian Ahir Shah to learn all about the Edo period and the Tokugawa shogunate.When he came to power in 1603,...
You're Dead to Me

Robert Bruce (Radio Edit)

November 08, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Scotland by Dr Iain MacInnes and comedian Marjolein Robertson to learn all about Scottish independence hero and king Robert Bruce.Robert grew up in a time of...
You're Dead to Me

Minoan Civilisation (Radio Edit)

November 01, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in Bronze Age Crete by Dr Stephen Kershaw and comedian Josie Long to learn all about the ancient Minoan civilisation.Many of us know the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur: King...
You're Dead to Me

LGBTQ Life in Weimar Germany (Radio Edit)

October 25, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined in 20th-century Germany by Dr Bodie Ashton and comedian Jordan Gray to learn all about LGBTQ life and culture during the Weimar Republic.After the failure of the First World War...
You're Dead to Me

Mary Anning (Radio Edit)

October 18, 2024 28m
In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined in nineteenth-century England by Dr Michael Taylor and comedian Sara Pascoe to learn all about pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning.Born to a cabinet-maker...
You're Dead to Me

Printing in England (Radio Edit)

October 11, 2024 28m
In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined in 15th-Century England by Dr Lydia Zeldenrust and comedian Robin Ince to learn all about the early history of book printing.2024 marks the 550th anniversary of...
You're Dead to Me

Frederick Douglass (Radio Edit)

September 27, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined by special guests Prof Emily Bernard and comedian Toussaint Douglass in 19th-Century America to meet Frederick Douglass. Born into an enslaved family, Frederick fought against...
You're Dead to Me

Cleopatra (Radio Edit)

September 20, 2024 28m
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Shushma Malik and comedian Thanyia Moore to learn about Cleopatra.Cleopatra – the seventh Ancient Egyptian Queen to bear that name – was born around 69 BCE and she’s seen...
You're Dead to Me

History of Broadway

September 13, 2024 57m
Greg Jenner is joined in 20th-Century New York by Dr Hannah Thuraisingam Robbins and comedian Desiree Burch to learn about the history of Broadway. Most of us are familiar with at least one Broadway...
You're Dead to Me

Leif Erikson

September 06, 2024 55m
Greg Jenner is joined in the eleventh century by Dr Eleanor Barraclough and actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe to learn about legendary Viking explorer Leif Erikson. Leif was possibly the first European to reach...
You're Dead to Me

Palaeolithic Cave Art

August 30, 2024 56m
Greg Jenner is joined in the Palaeolithic era by Dr Isobel Wisher and comedian Seán Burke to learn about cave art. Tens of thousands of years ago, human ancestors all over the world began drawing and...
You're Dead to Me

Benedetta Carlini

August 23, 2024 48m
Greg Jenner is joined in 17th-Century Italy by Professor Michelle Sauer and comedian Sophie Duker to learn about notorious nun Benedetta Carlini. From the moment of her birth in 1590, Benedetta –...
You're Dead to Me

Alexis Soyer

August 16, 2024 57m
In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined in the nineteenth century by Dr Annie Gray and comedian Ed Gamble to learn all about French celebrity chef Alexis Soyer. Despite being well-known during his...
You're Dead to Me

Edo Japan

August 09, 2024 53m
In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined in seventeenth-century Japan by Dr Satona Suzuki and comedian Ahir Shah to learn all about the Edo period and the Tokugawa shogunate. When he came to power in...

About this Podcast

Copyright
(C) BBC 2025
Language
en
Categories
History, Comedy