
You're Dead to Me
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.
Latest episodes

Jul 29, 2022 • 58min
Julius Caesar’s Rise To Power
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Shushma Malik and Ahir Shah as they travel back to Ancient Rome to meet one of history’s biggest names, Julius Caesar. With a name so good his family used it multiple times, for every relative, we follow the rise to power of the man who would one day become Dictator of Rome.You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.Research by Bethan Davies
Written and produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Project Management: Isla Matthews
Audio Producer: Abi Paterson

Jul 22, 2022 • 57min
Julie d'Aubigny
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Sara Barker and returning special guest Catherine Bohart to travel back to 17th-century France and meet the notorious Julie d'Aubigny. Hers is an extraordinary story that includes duels, an elaborate escape plot and multiple affairs. But with a distinct lack of reliable sources for evidence, can Greg and his guests sort fact from fiction and piece together the details of this legendary life?You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.Research by Bethan Davies and Dr Kelly Gardiner
Written and produced by Emma Nagouse, Greg Jenner and Bethan Davies
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Project Management: Isla Matthews
Audio Producer: Abi Paterson

18 snips
Jul 15, 2022 • 56min
Istanbul in the Ottoman Golden Age
Greg Jenner is joined by Prof Ebru Boyar and special guest Sue Perkins as they travel back 500 years to explore the Ottoman Empire. They take a look at the cultural richness and diversity of Istanbul through the ages, from law and order to what your sartorial choices said about you. Why was physical proximity to the throne vital for a son of a sultan and what surprising activity used to be enjoyed by the fearsome Ottoman Soldiers? They’ll even take you to a Grand Circumcision Festival!You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.Research by Claudia Treacher and Genevieve Johnson-Smith
Written and produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Project Management: Siefe Miyo and Isla Matthews
Audio Producer: Abi Paterson

Jul 8, 2022 • 58min
Captain Cook's First Voyage
Greg Jenner is joined in the 18th century by historian Dr Katherine Parker and comedian James Nokise on the maiden voyage across the Pacific ocean with Captain Cook. He discovers why Tahititi is always a good idea, just how many men you can fit on a ship built for only fifteen and how the exceptional art of Polynesian navigation techniques led to the creation of the first maps of the area.Research by Claudia Treacher and Rosanna Evans
Written and produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Project Management: Siefe Miyo and Isla Matthews
Audio Producer: Abi PatersonThe Athletic production for BBC Radio 4

Jul 1, 2022 • 56min
Ancient Athenian Democracy
Greg Jenner is joined in Ancient Greece by special guests Professor Michael Scott and comedian Alice Fraser as they examine the start of democracy with the Athenians. Aside from it obviously being a system that only benefited men, we will take a closer look at the fundamental issues that still apply today, why you’d want to avoid red ropes and broken pots, and just why the Romans disliked the very idea of it. Research by Rosie Rich
Written and produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Project Management: Siefe Miyo and Isla Matthews
Audio Producer: Abi PatersonA production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.

Jun 24, 2022 • 55min
The Bayeux Tapestry
Greg Jenner is joined by special guests Dr Janina Ramirez and Lou Sanders in 11th-century Europe to take a close look at the Bayeux Tapestry. They explore the history of this famous artefact which is in fact, not a tapestry at all! Who commissioned it, and more importantly who made it and where? Is the famous image of the death of Harold II accurate or have we been missing another part of the picture? What are the often overlooked margins of the Bayeux Tapestry trying to tell us and above all, how on earth has this extraordinary piece of history survived all these years?You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.Research by John Mason
Written and produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Project Management: Siefe Miyo
Audio Producer: Abi Paterson

Jun 17, 2022 • 55min
Hatshepsut
Greg Jenner is joined by special guests Kemah Bob and Dr Campbell Price as they head back to Ancient Egypt to meet the unique and powerful ruler, Hatshepsut. She reigned for over 20 years, built a temple which is still admired today, had a ‘special’ relationship with statues and was one of the first rulers to focus on divinity rather than gender norms. So why did history try to erase her?The Athletic production for BBC Radio 4

Jun 10, 2022 • 1h 2min
Frederick the Great of Prussia
Greg Jenner is joined by special guests Stephen Fry and Dr Bodie Ashton as they travel back to 18th-century Prussia to meet Frederick the Great. Widely known for making Prussia a military power while modernising and liberalising culture, Frederick was a complicated character, shaped by a tragic childhood ruled by his cruel father. We uncover why he wasn’t the greatest ally to neighbouring countries, and why forks enraged his father - and answer the crucial question of whether it's King of Prussia or King in Prussia.Written and produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow
Research by Claudia Treacher
Project Management: Siefe Miyo
Audio Producer: Abi PatersonThe Athletic production for BBC Radio 4

18 snips
Dec 17, 2021 • 1h 2min
Medieval Christmas
Greg and his guests Miles Jupp and Dr Eleanor Janega go back to the medieval Christmas for this one-off festive special. We look at the history and traditions that have thankfully continued through the ages, like gift-giving and stuffed wild boars (although numbers on stuffed wild boar we're told are down from previous years) and some that have mysteriously fallen off from the radar completely, like the masked carol singers and jellied eels. Research - Lloyd Roberts
Script- Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Project Management - Siefe Miyo
Edit Producer - Cornelius Mendez

5 snips
Nov 26, 2021 • 54min
Zheng Yi Sao
Greg Jenner, comedian Ria Lina and Prof Ronald C Po investigate one of the most successful pirates to have ever lived, Zheng Yi Sao. During the 18th century Qing dynasty, she led the most feared army of pirates the world had ever seen - all without a parrot on her shoulder.Research: Will Clayton
Script: Emma Nagouse, Will Clayton and Greg Jenner
Project Manager: Siefe Miyo
Edit Producer: Cornelius MendezA production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.