You're Dead to Me

When Germany's biggest magazine Stern announced in 1983 that they'd found the long-lost diaries of Adolf Hitler, the world was poised to rewrite history. Unfortunately, they were fake.

In this new series of The History Podcast, The Hitler Diaries Scandal, Andrew Hunter Murray goes back to the 1980s to uncover last century’s biggest ever publishing scandal, a forgery which rocked the world and destroyed reputations. It’s a tale of greed, obsession and mass delusion. It includes Hermann Göring’s yacht, Nazi-themed honeymoons, Idi Amin’s underpants, and more details almost too unbelievable for words.

This is a teaser of episode one. If you enjoy it, you can hear the full series in The History Podcast on BBC Sounds.

Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Martha McGill and comedian Marjolein Robertson in early modern Scotland to learn all about beliefs in witches, fairies, ghosts and more. Jacobean Scotland is famous for witch trials, partly inspired by King James’ obsession with witches – he even published a book on the subject, ‘Daemonologie’. But beliefs in other supernatural beings existed in early modern Scotland too. Protestant ministers discouraged and then encouraged the telling of ghost stories to reinforce the faith of their congregations. One minister theorised that fairies were halfway between men and angels. People worried that the devil might enter through their pores or eyes. And at his trial, a man told a story about his voyage to fairyland and relationship with the Faerie Queen herself. This episode explores these myriad beliefs, asking what cultural and social purpose they served, and how they came to be recorded in the nineteenth century by writers like Sir Walter Scott.
If you’re a fan of gothic ghost stories, histories of magic and superstition, and scary fairies, you’ll love our episode on Scottish supernatural beliefs.

If you want more from Marjolein Robertson, listen to our episodes on Robert Bruce and the Epic of Gilgamesh. And for more Scottish history, check out our episodes on the Jacobites, and King James I and VI.

You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner
Research by: Siobhan-Michelle Smith
Written by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Studio and Edit Producer: Steve Hankey
Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett
Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse
Executive Editor: Philip Sellars

Greg Jenner is joined in medieval England by Dr Erin Goeres and comedian Alison Spittle to learn all about the tumultuous events of 1066, famously depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry, to celebrate its arrival in London. The death of Edward the Confessor without an heir in January 1066 kicked off a three-way battle for the English throne. The contenders? His brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, who had himself crowned before Edward’s body was cold. His cousin William, already duke of Normandy. And the Norwegian king and famed warrior, Harald. Over the course of just a few short weeks in early autumn, the fight between these three decided the fate of a nation. This episode explores the personalities of these men, taking in Harald’s dramatic life of exile in Constantinople, William’s illegitimacy, and Godwinson’s political credentials – and troublesome little brother, Tostig. And it tells the story of the battles they fought for the throne, at Fulford, Stamford Bridge, and most famously Hastings. And it asks, how accurate is the Bayeux Tapestry, and did Harold really get an arrow in the eye?
If you’re a fan of larger than life historical figures, bloody battles and messy medieval family drama, you’ll love our special episode on 1066.
The programme is part of Radio 4's Norman Day, marking the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in Britain with programmes reassessing the Norman Conquest and its meaning for us today.
If you want more on the events surrounding 1066, we’ve got episodes on Emma of Normandy and the Bayeux Tapestry. And for more from Alison Spittle, listen to our episode on the Early Medieval Papacy.

You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner
Research by: Dr Jon Norman Mason
Written by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Studio and Edit Producer: Steve Hankey
Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett
Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse
Executive Editor: Philip Sellars

Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Korea by Dr John Lee and comedian Erika Ehler to learn all about the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. Nowadays, Korean culture has a global reach and international fanbase – but what about the country's medieval history? During the period known in Europe as the Middle Ages, the ancient kingdoms of Korea were unified, and the resulting polity ruled in turn by two dynasties, the Goryeo and the Joseon. This episode explores this period in Korea’s history, from the foundation of the Goryeo state in 918, through the Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century and the coup that brought the Joseon dynasty to power, to the Japanese invasions of the 1590s. Along the way, we take in a foundation myth involving a garlic-eating bear, look at the position of women and enslaved people in Joseon society, explore the architectural styles of the period, and tell the story of Sejong the Great and the creation of Hangul.
If you’re a fan of Korean culture, palace coups and political intrigue, and the everyday details of life in the past, you’ll love our episode on medieval Korea.

If you want more East Asian history, listen to our episodes on Edo Japan and Tang Dynasty China. And for more on the Mongols, check out our episode on Genghis Khan.

You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner
Research by: Auréliane Perrin
Written by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Studio and Edit Producer: Steve Hankey
Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett
Series Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse
Executive Editor: Philip Sellars

Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Viv Gardner and comedian Morgan Rees in 19th-century Wales to learn about the fabulous, theatrical life of Henry Cyril Paget. Born into an important aristocratic family – his ancestor had been Wellington’s second-in-command at Waterloo – Henry had a very different approach to his wealth and social status. After a childhood spent in Paris, he moved to Anglesey, and after inheriting his title and fortune, set about spending it on his passions: jewels, clothes and the theatre. He remodelled the family home, Plas Newydd, renaming it Anglesey Castle and making it the home of his theatre troupe. But after just a few years he was bankrupt, and forced to auction off many of his extravagant possessions. This episode explores his fabulous life, taking in his difficult relationship with his father, his brief marriage and questions about his sexuality, and just what he blew his enormous fortune on, before his tragic early death.
If you’re a fan of fabulous theatrical performances, forgotten queer figures from history, and past gossip and scandals, you’ll love our episode on Henry Paget, the dancing marquess of Anglesey.

If you want more performers from history, we’ve got episodes on Sarah Bernhardt and Josephine Baker. And for more LGBTQ biographies, check out our episode on Philippe, duc D’Orleans.

You’re Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner
Research by: Lily Tidman
Written by: Lily Tidman, Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Audio Producer: Steve Hankey
Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett
Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse
Executive Editor: Philip Sellars