Sally Phillips

From nine-foot dragons and teleporting horses to lumberjack monsters with dangerously weird defenses, the conversation roams through the world’s strangest creatures. Along the way: very hungry caterpillars, gecko smuggling, furry conventions, and why a whale spout in a picture book may be a bad sign.

Join historian Dr. Lucy Worsley, known for her engaging historical narratives, and comedian Sally Phillips, celebrated for her sharp wit, as they dive into the fascinating world of Jane Austen. They explore Austen's unique family background, her early writings, and the societal challenges she faced as a female author. Lucy reveals the mystery behind Austen's romantic life and her critiques of marriage and financial dependence on men. Sally humorously reflects on how Austen's characters continue to resonate today, blending history with laughter.

Dr. Lucy Worsley, a historian and expert on Jane Austen, teams up with comedian Sally Phillips to explore the life of this literary icon. They delve into Austen's family background, her juvenile writings, and the societal factors shaping her characters. The duo discusses the feminist undertones in her work, publishing struggles, and her relationships, including a brief engagement. They also examine how Austen’s novels critique social issues, ensuring her legacy endures in both literature and adaptations.

From Finnish hobby-horse show jumping and spooky Welsh horse-skull rituals to Satanic symbolism and why Earth’s colossal inner structures are named Jason and Tuzo, the conversation takes some wonderfully odd turns. It also explores ancient condoms, a chilly spray-on version, and the surprising stunt performed with thousands of them.

Greg Jenner and his guests uncover the gruesome truths behind some of our most-loved fairy tales that have kept children and adults enchanted for centuries. In comedy corner, we have the wickedly funny “evil queen of comedy” Sally Phillips, who we all know as a comedian, sketch-writer and for her appearances in shows like Miranda, Green Wing, Veep and many more. In history corner is the world-renowned expert on children’s literature, folklore and German literature, Prof Maria Tatar.