Oh What A Time...
A comedy history podcast hosted by comedians Elis James, Tom Craine, and Chris Scull. Each week, they explore a new topic, diving into the weirdest and worst moments from history to answer whether the past was as awful as it sounds.
Episodes
#201 How Countries Are Made (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a look at the curious process through which some countries were created. We have for you: the Netherlands, Canada, and Uruguay. Plus, there's a bit of an interlace of Elis's curiosity about Empire, some football references, a bit of American-Canadian rivalry, and even a nod to (erm) currant based biscuits.Elsewhere, did the
#201 How Countries Are Made (Part 1)
This week we’re taking a look at the curious process through which some countries were created. We have for you: the Netherlands, Canada, and Uruguay. Plus, there's a bit of an interlace of Elis's curiosity about Empire, some football references, a bit of American-Canadian rivalry, and even a nod to (erm) currant based biscuits.Elsewhere, did the world feel smaller in the past? What makes
#200 The Big Ep200 ‘Your Letters’ Special! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Here it is: our 200th episode and we’ve chosen to mark the occasion by celebrating you, our listeners, via the medium of your wonderful letters. It’s a special episode dedicated purely to a special set of correspondence we’ve been holding back for the big one.In this episode: More on tobacco-bum resuscitation! Isy’s alleged GWR-based affair! The Byford-Do
#200 The Big Ep200 ‘Your Letters’ Special! (Part 1)
Here it is: our 200th episode and we’ve chosen to mark the occasion by celebrating you, our listeners, via the medium of your wonderful letters. It’s a special episode dedicated purely to a special set of correspondence we’ve been holding back for the big one.In this episode: More on tobacco-bum resuscitation! Isy’s alleged GWR-based affair! The Byford-Dolphin accident! And if you’re in the market
#199 Amazing Libraries and Huge Readers (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week on the show we’re looking at the greatest book collections history has to offer as well as the historical figures who themselves loved to read. We have for you this week; Maximilien Robespierre and what he had on his shelf, William Gladstone’s library in North Wales and finally, one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, Richard Burton and
#199 Amazing Libraries and Huge Readers (Part 1)
This week on the show we’re looking at the greatest book collections history has to offer as well as the historical figures who themselves loved to read. We have for you this week; Maximilien Robespierre and what he had on his shelf, William Gladstone’s library in North Wales and finally, one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, Richard Burton and his literary obsessions.Elsewhere, before t
#198 French Towns & The Kooks (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a historical audio holiday to some of our favourite French towns. We’ll head to the very Roman Nîmes, we’ll dine out in Dinan and finally we’ll get the true story of Deauville/Trouville.And elsewhere this week we’re asking: what’s better? Blagging it? Or pure honesty that you have absolutely no idea what’s going on? And do you know
#198 French Towns & The Kooks (Part 1)
This week we’re taking a historical audio holiday to some of our favourite French towns. We’ll head to the very Roman Nîmes, we’ll dine out in Dinan and finally we’ll get the true story of Deauville/Trouville.And elsewhere this week we’re asking: what’s better? Blagging it? Or pure honesty that you have absolutely no idea what’s going on? And do you know much about The Kooks and their burger habit
#197 Surgery & Monkeys Eating Musical Instruments (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re travelling through time to see how surgery has been performed through the ages! We’ll head to 990AD to see what surgical innovation followed a monkey eating some musical instruments, the amazing (and odd) history of artificial resuscitation, and a brief history of how humans have reset and healed broken bones.Elsewhere, we’re just so pleas
#197 Surgery & Monkeys Eating Musical Instruments (Part 1)
This week we’re travelling through time to see how surgery has been performed through the ages! We’ll head to 990AD to see what surgical innovation followed a monkey eating some musical instruments, the amazing (and odd) history of artificial resuscitation, and a brief history of how humans have reset and healed broken bones.Elsewhere, we’re just so pleased to live in the iPad age of child enterta
#195 Hymns & Anthems! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing some classic hymns and all round total anthems through history. We’ll discuss a favourite on the UK football terraces: The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The true story of that absolute banger ‘Jerusalem’. And from down under, we’ll have that Aussie smash hit ‘Advance Australia Fair’.Elsewhere, there’s a Greggs on Pudding Mill Lan
#195 Hymns & Anthems! (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing some classic hymns and all round total anthems through history. We’ll discuss a favourite on the UK football terraces: The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The true story of that absolute banger ‘Jerusalem’. And from down under, we’ll have that Aussie smash hit ‘Advance Australia Fair’.Elsewhere, there’s a Greggs on Pudding Mill Lane.. Which other areas have stayed true to t
#194 Captains (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Ahoy captains! We’re back after our summer break and this week we’re discussing Captains! We have for you this week, the big one: Captain Cook. Another huge captain in Captain Scott. And finally, then unbelievable true story of Captain Anderson.Elsewhere, so much going on. How longs have humans been around? How clammy are Tom’s hands? Wasn’t there a lot o
#194 Captains (Part 1)
Ahoy captains! We’re back after our summer break and this week we’re discussing Captains! We have for you this week, the big one: Captain Cook. Another huge captain in Captain Scott. And finally, then unbelievable true story of Captain Anderson.Elsewhere, so much going on. How longs have humans been around? How clammy are Tom’s hands? Wasn’t there a lot of walking in the past? If you’ve got anythi
[BONUS EP] #144 All Quiet on the Western Front
We're on our annual two-week summer break, but don't worry! Please enjoy these subscriber episodes from last summer while we're away!From September 2025, this is..It's another subscriber special and this time, Tom has been reading Erich Maria Remarque's harrowing 1928 semi-biographical novel on the First World War: All Quiet on the Western Front.Elsewhere, Elis and Chris have realised Tom doesn't
[BONUS EP] #141 Stonehenge
We're on our annual two-week summer break, but don't worry! Please enjoy these subscriber episodes from last summer while we're away!From September 2025, this is..Following Chris’ trip to Stonehenge over the summer we thought the time was right to finally dedicate a whole episode to those neolithic stones that have blown minds for thousands of years.And if you want more Oh What A Time and both par
[BONUS EP] #129 Fascism: The Story of an Idea by Dorian Lynskey and Ian Dunt
We're on our annual two-week summer break, but don't worry! Please enjoy these subscriber episodes from last summer while we're away!From August 2025, this is..#129 Fascism: The Story of an Idea by Dorian Lynskey and Ian DuntIt’s time for another (fairly bleak) book review by our resident bleak-book expert Elis James. In this subscriber special, El shares what he’s learned by reading ‘Fascism: The
[BONUS EP] #124 Mummies
We're on our annual two-week summer break, but don't worry! Please enjoy these subscriber episodes from last summer while we're away!From July 2025, this is..#124 MummiesTom has extensively researched the process by which the ancient Egyptians prepared their mummies for the afterlife and - I’m sure you won’t be surprised by this - it’s not my idea of a spa day.Elsewhere, is it acceptable to be eat
#193 History’s Mysteries and Hamstring Updates (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing some of the greatest mysteries that history has to offer: we’ve got the infamous tale of The Princes in the Tower, and the big one - Who Shot JFK? Plus we have a brief history of the literary true crime genre.This week we’re chatting embarrassing injuries - if you’ve got one to share, you know what to do. Email us about anything
#193 History’s Mysteries and Hamstring Updates (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing some of the greatest mysteries that history has to offer: we’ve got the infamous tale of The Princes in the Tower, and the big one - Who Shot JFK? Plus we have a brief history of the literary true crime genre.This week we’re chatting embarrassing injuries - if you’ve got one to share, you know what to do. Email us about anything you’d like right here: hello@ohwhatatime.c
#192 Dan Snow on Waterloo, Nazi Gold Trains and the Age of Sail (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re joined by one of our favourite historians in the whole world, it’s Dan Snow! We treat this episode like we’ve cornered Dan at a BBQ and just ping him with questions: how gruesome was the Battle of Waterloo? What was the worst job on a ship? Did the Nazi Gold Train actually exist?We cover a lot on this pod, but if we’ve missed anything, you
#192 Dan Snow on Waterloo, Nazi Gold Trains and the Age of Sail (Part 1)
This week we’re joined by one of our favourite historians in the whole world, it’s Dan Snow! We treat this episode like we’ve cornered Dan at a BBQ and just ping him with questions: how gruesome was the Battle of Waterloo? What was the worst job on a ship? Did the Nazi Gold Train actually exist?We cover a lot on this pod, but if we’ve missed anything, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comPart
#191 Jonny Owen on Industrial Wales (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re joined by friend of the show, producer, writer and actor (and proud Welshman), Jonny Owen to discuss the golden age of Industrial Revolution era Wales!We’ll chat copper in Swansea, the iron town of Merthyr Tydfil, and the sheer volume of steam coal dug out of the Cynon Valley, the Rhondda Valley and the Taff Valley.Jonny is heading to Hamb
#191 Jonny Owen on Industrial Wales (Part 1)
This week we’re joined by friend of the show, producer, writer and actor (and proud Welshman), Jonny Owen to discuss the golden age of Industrial Revolution era Wales!We’ll chat copper in Swansea, the iron town of Merthyr Tydfil, and the sheer volume of steam coal dug out of the Cynon Valley, the Rhondda Valley and the Taff Valley.Jonny is heading to Hamburg in his one day Time Machine so what bet
#190 Plants & Dad’s Race Injuries (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re turning to the natural world to see how humans have adapted various plants for all kinds of uses through history. We’ve got the chequered history of opium, the controversial garlic backstory and the true story of the humble potato.Elsewhere, we’re talking brutal sports day injuries for dads. Have you ever come unstuck on a sports day? You
#190 Plants & Dad’s Race Injuries (Part 1)
This week we’re turning to the natural world to see how humans have adapted various plants for all kinds of uses through history. We’ve got the chequered history of opium, the controversial garlic backstory and the true story of the humble potato.Elsewhere, we’re talking brutal sports day injuries for dads. Have you ever come unstuck on a sports day? You know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comPart
#188 Surviving First Ladies and Elis Eats Gravel (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at what happened to the First Ladies of assassinated US Presidents. The tale of Mary Todd Lincoln, Jackie Kennedy and the loser-known story of Lucretia Garfield.Elsewhere, Elis thinks it’s okay to eat the presentational gravel at a birthday party. Feel free to email about this or anything else: hello@ohwhatatime.comPart 1 is releas
#188 Surviving First Ladies and Elis Eats Gravel (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at what happened to the First Ladies of assassinated US Presidents. The tale of Mary Todd Lincoln, Jackie Kennedy and the loser-known story of Lucretia Garfield.Elsewhere, Elis thinks it’s okay to eat the presentational gravel at a birthday party. Feel free to email about this or anything else: hello@ohwhatatime.comPart 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Tuesday - but if
#186 Recycled Berlin Buildings & The Invention of Vaseline (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re taking a look at buildings which have had an interesting second life in Germany’s capital; East Germany’s Palast der Republik, what became of Albert Speer’s New Reich Chancellery and lastly the Museumsinsel or Museum Island.Elsewhere, there’s lots of chat about chapped lips and final poses (Oh What A Pose?) for archaeologists this week. If
#186 Recycled Berlin Buildings & The Invention of Vaseline (Part 1)
This week we’re taking a look at buildings which have had an interesting second life in Germany’s capital; East Germany’s Palast der Republik, what became of Albert Speer’s New Reich Chancellery and lastly the Museumsinsel or Museum Island.Elsewhere, there’s lots of chat about chapped lips and final poses (Oh What A Pose?) for archaeologists this week. If you want to add to the conversation: hello
#185 Abandoned Theme Parks (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at theme parks which simply no longer exist! We’ve got London’s glamorous and failed Segaworld, the slightly less glamorous Mr Blobby inspired Blobbyland and Wales’ own Penscynor Wild Life Park.Elsewhere, who was the last person to have read every book? How good was Kim Il Sung at golf? And can Jimmy Carter read 2,000 words a minut
#185 Abandoned Theme Parks (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at theme parks which simply no longer exist! We’ve got London’s glamorous and failed Segaworld, the slightly less glamorous Mr Blobby inspired Blobbyland and Wales’ own Penscynor Wild Life Park.Elsewhere, who was the last person to have read every book? How good was Kim Il Sung at golf? And can Jimmy Carter read 2,000 words a minute?! If you have anything on this, please em
#184 Tough Gigs featuring Elis ‘3x microphones’ James (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We’ve got a brilliant episode this week: we’ve turned to history to find the worst jobs we can. We’ve got tanning (leather, not the sun beds), bridge painting, and the Victorian workhouse.. and take our word for it, they are all absolutely awful.Elsewhere, Elis’ grandad had tools for a career down the mine whilst Elis has 3x microphones for his career dow
#184 Tough Gigs featuring Elis ‘3x microphones’ James (Part 1)
We’ve got a brilliant episode this week: we’ve turned to history to find the worst jobs we can. We’ve got tanning (leather, not the sun beds), bridge painting, and the Victorian workhouse.. and take our word for it, they are all absolutely awful.Elsewhere, Elis’ grandad had tools for a career down the mine whilst Elis has 3x microphones for his career down the audio mine. If you’ve got anything to
#117 Your Letters (May 2025) [Bonus Episode]
** We're 'off' this week due to half term, so please enjoy these old subscriber episodes in the mean time! And for more bonus episodes (and next week's episode) head to: patreon.com/ohwhatatime **Once again, you’ve been hitting up our inbox with all your fantastic correspondence; so here we are, another special to clear up and correct as much as we can.If you want to send us a letter you can do so
#107 Hitler by Ian Kershaw [Bonus Episode]
** We're 'off' this week due to half term, so please enjoy these old subscriber episodes in the mean time! And for more bonus episodes (and next week's episode) head to: patreon.com/ohwhatatime **For one of this month’s subscriber specials, we’re looking at Ian Kershaw’s biography of Adolf Hitler; a man Ian describes as “the embodiment of modern political evil”.We’ll trace the book through Adolf’s
#183 BIG Companies and ELIS RAN THE HACKNEY HALF (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at commercial entities that went bigger than their wildest dreams. We’ve got for you: Japanese consumer electronics firm Casio, how did Cadbury make that chocolate money and lastly, how Andrew Carnegie acquired insane wealth and then, incredibly, went about giving it away!And isn’t the world a better place for mass sporting events?
#183 BIG Companies and ELIS RAN THE HACKNEY HALF (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at commercial entities that went bigger than their wildest dreams. We’ve got for you: Japanese consumer electronics firm Casio, how did Cadbury make that chocolate money and lastly, how Andrew Carnegie acquired insane wealth and then, incredibly, went about giving it away!And isn’t the world a better place for mass sporting events? AND IS THE WORLD TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT ELIS
#182 The Grand Tour and are The Killers better than The Beatles? (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!For the eighteenth-century gentleman few things marked a rite of passage more than the grand tour - so this week we’re seeing what exploring Europe, the UK and North America was like in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Elsewhere, Elis has been dreaming about Chris’ fictional children being good at football. If you’ve got any dreams to share, you know what to d
#182 The Grand Tour and are The Killers better than The Beatles? (Part 1)
For the eighteenth-century gentleman few things marked a rite of passage more than the grand tour - so this week we’re seeing what exploring Europe, the UK and North America was like in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Elsewhere, Elis has been dreaming about Chris’ fictional children being good at football. If you’ve got any dreams to share, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Par
#180 A History of Female Pleasure with Dr Kate Lister (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND THEMES OF AN ADULT NATURE**Our guest this week is British historian and author Dr Kate Lister who is here to discuss her new book ‘Flick’ which explores female pleasure throughout history; from Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill.The book itself is fascinating and you can get it here: ht
#180 A History of Female Pleasure with Dr Kate Lister (Part 1)
**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND THEMES OF AN ADULT NATURE**Our guest this week is British historian and author Dr Kate Lister who is here to discuss her new book ‘Flick’ which explores female pleasure throughout history; from Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill.The book itself is fascinating and you can get it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463104/flick-
#178 Education! Education! Education! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re chatting education: what did schooling look like in Ancient Greece and Rome? What has corporal punishment looked like in schools through history? And how has the concept of the ‘school meal’ evolved over time?Elsewhere, why did pirates pick hooks for hands above all other options?! We think we have the answer, but if you’ve got anything to
#178 Education! Education! Education! (Part 1)
This week we’re chatting education: what did schooling look like in Ancient Greece and Rome? What has corporal punishment looked like in schools through history? And how has the concept of the ‘school meal’ evolved over time?Elsewhere, why did pirates pick hooks for hands above all other options?! We think we have the answer, but if you’ve got anything to add, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatim
#177 Katja Hoyer on the Weimar Republic and ‘have you heard of Samuel Pepys?’ (Part 1)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We are truly honoured this week to be joined by one of our favourite historians in the world; it’s German-British author, who penned of one of Elis’ favourite ever books (Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990), it’s Katja Hoyer!Katja is here to discuss her brand new book ‘Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe’ which details the collapse of German dem
#177 Katja Hoyer on the Weimar Republic and ‘have you heard of Samuel Pepys?’ (Part 1)
We are truly honoured this week to be joined by one of our favourite historians in the world; it’s German-British author, who penned of one of Elis’ favourite ever books (Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990), it’s Katja Hoyer!Katja is here to discuss her brand new book ‘Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe’ which details the collapse of German democracy as the Nazi’s tighten their grip on
#176 Sporting Revolutionaries And Tom Gets Stuck On A Rollercoaster (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week on the show we’re talking about the sporting prowess of history’s most well-known revolutionaries; we have baseball-loving Fidel Castro, Chairman Mao’s love of ping pong and we’ve got Vladimir Lenin and his love of the bicycle.Elsewhere, Tom Craine got stuck up a rollercoaster. Has this ever happened to you? Why does this sort of thing keep happ
#122 Your Letters - June 2025 (Bonus episode)
It's a special bonus episode! This one from June 2025, never heard before on the main feed!If you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone
#176 Sporting Revolutionaries And Tom Gets Stuck On A Rollercoaster (Part 1)
This week on the show we’re talking about the sporting prowess of history’s most well-known revolutionaries; we have baseball-loving Fidel Castro, Chairman Mao’s love of ping pong and we’ve got Vladimir Lenin and his love of the bicycle.Elsewhere, Tom Craine got stuck up a rollercoaster. Has this ever happened to you? Why does this sort of thing keep happening to Tom? If you know, please do inform
#174 Mass Observation and how did Ultimate Warrior eat cookies? (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at attempts through history at mass observation; we have Britain in the late 1930s, American culture after the Great Depression and the Soviet diaspora in Europe in the 1950s.Elsewhere, is looking at a picture of a coffee every bit as good as actually drinking one? If you’ve got anything to add on this or anything else please send
#174 Mass Observation and how did Ultimate Warrior eat cookies? (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at attempts through history at mass observation; we have Britain in the late 1930s, American culture after the Great Depression and the Soviet diaspora in Europe in the 1950s.Elsewhere, is looking at a picture of a coffee every bit as good as actually drinking one? If you’ve got anything to add on this or anything else please send us an email: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from
#173 Australia and crucially, who discovered it?! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing that wonderful land of Australia! We’ll be finding out what was suspected about a land down under in Antiquity, south-east Asia’s Australian mythology and we’ll answer the age-old and quite complex question: who discovered Australia?!Elsewhere, Chris has barely survived a bout with Norovirus and Tom finally admits what he’s thin
#173 Australia and crucially, who discovered it?! (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing that wonderful land of Australia! We’ll be finding out what was suspected about a land down under in Antiquity, south-east Asia’s Australian mythology and we’ll answer the age-old and quite complex question: who discovered Australia?!Elsewhere, Chris has barely survived a bout with Norovirus and Tom finally admits what he’s thinking when listening to electronic dance mus
#171 First Ladies of the United States and has there already been a female US President? (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at 3x US First Ladies and their extraordinary lives: we have Louisa Adams (1775-1852), the extensively travelled Lou Hoover (1874-1944) and the powerful Edith Wilson (1872-1961).And this week we’re asking: has there ever been an easier job than the policeman with a clipboard ensuring people cross a job properly? If you’ve got anyth
#171 First Ladies of the United States and has there already been a female US President? (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at 3x US First Ladies and their extraordinary lives: we have Louisa Adams (1775-1852), the extensively travelled Lou Hoover (1874-1944) and the powerful Edith Wilson (1872-1961).And this week we’re asking: has there ever been an easier job than the policeman with a clipboard ensuring people cross a job properly? If you’ve got anything for us, do send it in: hello@ohwhatatim
#170 Female Leaders and how Boudica Torched London! (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we have three stories of incredible female leaders from throughout history: Queen Boudica and how she took on the Romans, trailblazer author Christine de Pizan and lastly, the terrifying story of 1700s pirate Shi Yang!Plus, Chris’ milkman has become the first milkman to be a freeman of the city of London. Has your milkman done anything as impres
[BONUS EP] #80 Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990 by Katja Hoyer
We have a special bonus ep for you from our bonus ep archive! This one was first made available for subscribers in December 2024.On our Patreon you’ll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeOnto thi
#170 Female Leaders and how Boudica Torched London! (Part 1)
This week we have three stories of incredible female leaders from throughout history: Queen Boudica and how she took on the Romans, trailblazer author Christine de Pizan and lastly, the terrifying story of 1700s pirate Shi Yang!Plus, Chris’ milkman has become the first milkman to be a freeman of the city of London. Has your milkman done anything as impressive? Please let us know: hello@ohwhatatime
#168 Invasions & Why The British Invaded Iceland (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at various invasions and subsequent occupations through history; we’ve got Nordic allied invasions in WW2 (including Iceland!), the Norman occupation of Sicily and the story of how Gibraltar became British!Elsewhere, we’re marvelling at how turning things off and on again really seems to work. And are you a Safari guy or girl? Who
#168 Invasions & Why The British Invaded Iceland (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at various invasions and subsequent occupations through history; we’ve got Nordic allied invasions in WW2 (including Iceland!), the Norman occupation of Sicily and the story of how Gibraltar became British!Elsewhere, we’re marvelling at how turning things off and on again really seems to work. And are you a Safari guy or girl? Who likes Internet Explorer? Anyone for Chrome?
#167 Utopias (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing the various attempts through history to create a Utopia right here on earth. We have for you The Diggers of the 1600s, Brook Farm in 1850s America and the story of John Hughes; the man who attempted to make utopia in Yuzovka, Ukraine.Elsewhere, what on earth did people do before the creation of to-do lists? Just wander around ai
#167 Utopias (Part 1)
This week we’re discussing the various attempts through history to create a Utopia right here on earth. We have for you The Diggers of the 1600s, Brook Farm in 1850s America and the story of John Hughes; the man who attempted to make utopia in Yuzovka, Ukraine.Elsewhere, what on earth did people do before the creation of to-do lists? Just wander around aimlessly?! If you know please loop us in: he
#166 Small Countries (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Get the atlas out because this week we’re analysing some of the world’s smallest countries! We’ve got for you Brunei, the Vatican City and how about we take a trip to Andorra?Elsewhere, Chris can now talk to his house to turn off a lightbulb: so is humanity getting lazier and lazier? If you know the answer to that or anything else, do get in touch: hello@
#166 Small Countries (Part 1)
Get the atlas out because this week we’re analysing some of the world’s smallest countries! We’ve got for you Brunei, the Vatican City and how about we take a trip to Andorra?Elsewhere, Chris can now talk to his house to turn off a lightbulb: so is humanity getting lazier and lazier? If you know the answer to that or anything else, do get in touch: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is re
#164 The Great Train Robbery - Oh What A Crime (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re working through a bit more of your correspondence before dealing with our first ever ‘Oh What A Crime’ episode which today focuses on: The Great Train Robbery of 1963. The planning, Bruce Reynolds, Buster Edwards, Ronnie Biggs et al, the heist itself, the loot and life on the run.Elsewhere, how did anyone in 1160 survive without caffeine?
#164 The Great Train Robbery - Oh What A Crime (Part 1)
This week we’re working through a bit more of your correspondence before dealing with our first ever ‘Oh What A Crime’ episode which today focuses on: The Great Train Robbery of 1963. The planning, Bruce Reynolds, Buster Edwards, Ronnie Biggs et al, the heist itself, the loot and life on the run.Elsewhere, how did anyone in 1160 survive without caffeine? And is there a worse person to meet than a
#163 Dynasties (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at some of the most famous families that history has to offer. We’ve got the House of Cromwell for you, plus the Astors and the incredible story of the Spencer family and their slow centuries-long rise to power.Elsewhere, we’re talking about the demise of Antiques Roadshow now Hugh Scully has effectively been replaced by Chat GPT.
#163 Dynasties (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at some of the most famous families that history has to offer. We’ve got the House of Cromwell for you, plus the Astors and the incredible story of the Spencer family and their slow centuries-long rise to power.Elsewhere, we’re talking about the demise of Antiques Roadshow now Hugh Scully has effectively been replaced by Chat GPT. If you’ve got anything to add on this or an
#162 The Youth (Part 1)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at those who achieved the extraordinary and at incredibly youthful age! We have the Tudor boy King, Edward VI, to discuss. Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister (just 24 years old!!), it’s Pitt the Younger. And from France, we’ll hear a bit of the life of Joan of Arc.And this week we’re discussing: what was life like before the ad
#162 The Youth (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at those who achieved the extraordinary and at incredibly youthful age! We have the Tudor boy King, Edward VI, to discuss. Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister (just 24 years old!!), it’s Pitt the Younger. And from France, we’ll hear a bit of the life of Joan of Arc.And this week we’re discussing: what was life like before the advent of reviews? Have you ever seen the sec
#160 Comebacks (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re looking at some of the greatest comebacks history has to offer. Where else to begin than the epic comeback that is Skoda cars! And what about the comeback of the West German economy after world war 2?! And finally, a literal comeback, Apollo 13’s incredible return from the moon after disaster struck.Elsewhere, how good is the tip as a day
#160 Comebacks (Part 1)
This week we’re looking at some of the greatest comebacks history has to offer. Where else to begin than the epic comeback that is Skoda cars! And what about the comeback of the West German economy after world war 2?! And finally, a literal comeback, Apollo 13’s incredible return from the moon after disaster struck.Elsewhere, how good is the tip as a day out? Has history anything better to offer i
#159 Julius Caesar (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re tracing the life of one of the most famous people to have ever lived: Caesar! We’ll see his relatively humble origins, we’ll travel with him to Gaul and Britain and finally, we’ll see Cleopatra enter the stage.And this week we’re discussing locksmiths, beers in the bath to calm down and so much more. If you’d like to add to our postbag, yo
#159 Julius Caesar (Part 1)
This week we’re tracing the life of one of the most famous people to have ever lived: Caesar! We’ll see his relatively humble origins, we’ll travel with him to Gaul and Britain and finally, we’ll see Cleopatra enter the stage.And this week we’re discussing locksmiths, beers in the bath to calm down and so much more. If you’d like to add to our postbag, you can do so by emailing: hello@ohwhatatime.
#100 Devon with Josh Widdicombe (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Yes, despite the fact we’re closer to episode 200 than 100, this really is episode 100! (We’d planned this ep a long time ago but only just got round to recording).For the first time ever we’re joined by a guest and it’s Devon native and friend of the show, Josh Widdicombe.In this episode we’ll discuss everything Devon related: Devon’s own Sir Francis Dra
#100 Devon with Josh Widdicombe (Part 1)
Yes, despite the fact we’re closer to episode 200 than 100, this really is episode 100! (We’d planned this ep a long time ago but only just got round to recording).For the first time ever we’re joined by a guest and it’s Devon native and friend of the show, Josh Widdicombe.In this episode we’ll discuss everything Devon related: Devon’s own Sir Francis Drake, the educational experiment that was Dar
#157 Pubs (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re popping into history’s local - it’s a whole episode dedicated to pubs! We’ve got a brief history of the British pub, this history of the pub landlord and how some pubs were designed to pull in punters from the tourist trail!And this week we’re discussing trousers, sex education at school, airports and much more; so if you’ve got something
#157 Pubs (Part 1)
This week we’re popping into history’s local - it’s a whole episode dedicated to pubs! We’ve got a brief history of the British pub, this history of the pub landlord and how some pubs were designed to pull in punters from the tourist trail!And this week we’re discussing trousers, sex education at school, airports and much more; so if you’ve got something to contribute, you know what to do: hello@o
#156 Gwyn ‘Alf’ Williams (Part 2)
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We’re back for 2026! And our first subject is the life story of one of the most prominent Welsh historians of the 20th century; Gwyn “Alf” Williams. We’ll trace his life from beginnings in South Wales to the beaches of Normandy in WWII, right through to his time at York University and rise to national prominence on TV.Elsewhere, what are your great sleep
#156 Gwyn ‘Alf’ Williams (Part 1)
We’re back for 2026! And our first subject is the life story of one of the most prominent Welsh historians of the 20th century; Gwyn “Alf” Williams. We’ll trace his life from beginnings in South Wales to the beaches of Normandy in WWII, right through to his time at York University and rise to national prominence on TV.Elsewhere, what are your great sleep walking or talking escapades? Can you beat
