Single Malt History with Gareth Russell

On 16th October 1793, "the most hated woman in France" was publicly beheaded. How had the former queen fallen from life at Versailles to death before a crowd of thousands? From her controversial trial to her last letter and final journey, Marie-Antoinette's execution became a cultural Rubicon. Seen by some as a moment of revolutionary justice and by others as a warning about the dangers posed by political extremism, the execution also helped solidify the growing ideology of western European conservatism, being cited by some of conservatism's so-called 'founding thinkers' as an embodiment of everything they need to fight against. As a personal tragedy, a grizzly death, and a cultural turning point, the death of Marie-Antoinette remains controversial and fascinating. 

Single Malt History is back for its second season with an episode about Isobel of Gloucester, the queen England never had. Isobel's life is a window into misogyny, monarchy, terrible betrayal, kidnapping, and courage at the heart of the Middle Ages. She was the first, forgotten wife of one of England's most unpopular rulers - and she might even have been Queen of Ireland, too, had things gone differently. Isobel's story is a cocktail of revenge and rebellion.

I sit down with Nichelle Tramble Spellman, award-winning producer and showrunner of AppleTV+'s TRUTH BE TOLD to discuss historical fiction, the writing process, favourite reads, ghost stories, bodice rippers, and the power of story telling. . 

If you enjoyed the hit new BBC docu-drama series “The Boleyns,” or are just waiting until it shows internationally, I sat down to talk with a few of my fellow contributors to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s new, what’s different, and what’s exciting about “The Boleyns”. (Featuring: doctors Estelle Paranque, Lauren Mackay, and Owen Emmerson)

Join me for some of the grizzly, weird deaths in the 16th century - Sir Marmaduke Constable, who choked to death on a frog; a poisoned earl; a splinter in a king’s eye, a female pastor with other-worldly courage, and an Irish prince killed because of a hangover?

I'm joined in this episode by Dr Nicola Clark to discuss the remarkable women produced by the House of Howard during the Tudor era - queens, duchesses, countesses, rebels, and ladies in waiting who immersed themselves in the debates of the Protestant Reformation. 

I’m joined by best-selling historian Leanda de Lisle to talk about her critically acclaimed books, Lady Jane Grey’s personality, James I’s sexuality, Leanda’s breakthrough with previously unpublished royal letters from the civil war, Margaret Beaufort’s tragedy, and how a Welsh warrior and womaniser changed the monarchy forever.

On 17th July 1918, Russia's ex-tsar, Nicholas II, his wife, their five children, and four servants were murdered in a cellar by members of the local Communist party. Who gave the final order? Why was there a rumour that the youngest Romanov daughter, Anastasia, had escaped death that night? Did the British Royal Family really abandon their Russian cousins? And how close were they to being rescued by their supporters? 

The 16th century produced many remarkable royal women, few more so than Nur Jahan, the refugee who became an empress. Nur Jahan’s extraordinary life is a story of persecution, murder, opulence, art, tiger hunts, drug addiction, and rebellions.

Dr. Nicola Tallis joins me to talk about her most recent book - a biography of Margaret Beaufort. Beaufort has been accused of infanticide, murder, treason, and cruelty in her quest to put her son on the throne of England as King Henry VII. Who better to ask than the author of “Uncrowned Queen” about just how much of this is true?