
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs & Dictators
Season One of ‘The Presidents & Prime Ministers brought to life all 55 of Britain's Prime Ministers through interviews with the authors of all 55 essays in Iain Dale’s book The Prime Ministers: Three Hundred Years of History. From the obscure 18th-century figures like the Earl of Shelburne and Henry Pelham to 20th-century titans like Churchill and Thatcher, these podcasts provide a much-needed reminder about their motivations, failures and achievements. Season Two, gives the same treatment to the 45 US Presidents from George Washington through to Joe Biden, with each episode featuring an interview with the author of the essay about a President in Iain Dale’s book ‘The Presidents’. Season Three contained interviews about the various and varied Irish Taoisigh, whilst the new Season 4 takes you through England and the UK's many Kings and Queens, as featured in Iain's book Kings and Queens: 1200 Years of English and British Monarchs. Season 5 looks at the life of 64 Dictators. Buy signed copies of ‘The Prime Ministers’, ‘The Presidents’ and 'Kings and Queens' & 'Dictators' at http://www.politicos.co.uk.
Latest episodes

May 27, 2023 • 1h 19min
Albert Reynolds
Iain Dale discusses the life and political career of Ireland’s ninth Taoiseach, Albert Renolds, with former civil servant. Government adviser, minister and member of the Dail and Senate, Martin Mansergh.

May 17, 2023 • 1h 12min
Garret Fitzgerald
Iain Dale speaks to Associate Professor of Political Science at Dublin City University, Eoin O’Malley, about the life and career of Ireland’s eighth Taoiseach, Dr Garret Fitzgerald, who served for two terms, 1981-82 and 1982-87.Catch the Irish Taoiseach Podcast releases a month earlier over on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast channel.

May 10, 2023 • 1h 47min
Charles Haughey
Iain Dale talks to Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at Dublin City University, about the life and career of Ireland’s most colourful and controversial Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey, who served as Taoiseach three times, from 1979-1981, 1982 and 1987-92. Gary Murphy’s recent biography of Ireland’s seventh Taoiseach is called HAUGHEY and is published by Gill Books.Catch all episode of the Taoiseach Podcast a month earlier over on the Taoiseach Podcast channel

May 3, 2023 • 50min
Liam Cosgrave
Iain Dale talks to Deirdre Foley, Irish Research Council Fellow at University College Cork, about the lefe and career of Liam Cosgrave, who served as Taoiseach from 1973-77.

Apr 26, 2023 • 1h 2min
Jack Lynch
Iain Dale talks to Irish Times columnist Stephen Collins about the life and career of Ireland’s fifth Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, who served two terms in office - 1966-73 and 1977-79.

Apr 21, 2023 • 1h 14min
Sean Lemass
Iain Dale talks to Bryce Evans, professor of modern history at Liverpool Hope University, about the life and career of Ireland’s fourth Taoiseach, Sean Lemass. Bryce has written a biography of Sean Lemass called ‘Democratic Dictator’.Catch the latest episode of the Irish Taoiseach podcast over on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast Channel

Apr 14, 2023 • 1h 5min
John Costello
Iain Dale talks to Sheffield University’s Caoimhe Nic Dhaibheid about the life and career of Ireland’s third Taoiseach, John Costello. Costelloserved as Taoiseach for two terms, 1948-51 and 1954-57.Hear episodes of the Irish Taoiseach Podcast a month earlier on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast channel.

Apr 5, 2023 • 1h 22min
Eamon de Valera
Iain Dale talks to Eamon de Valera’s biographer David McCullagh about the life and times of Ireland’s most long serving Taoiseach.

Mar 30, 2023 • 58min
W T Cosgrave
Iain Dale talks to Irish political historian Ciara Meehan about the life and politics of W T Cosgrave, the man who became President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State in 1922 and served in the office for ten years until losing the 1932 general election to Eamon De Valera and Fianna Fail. Although the office of Taoiseach wasn’t formally inaugurated until 1937, Cosgrave is widely considered to be the first holder of the post. Over the coming 13 weeks, Iain will be interviewing experts on the lives of the other 13 Taoisigh (which, for the uninitiated, is the plural of Taoiseach).All these podcasts are available a month earlier on their own podcast channel 'The Irish Taoiseach Podcast'

Nov 22, 2022 • 1min
Series 3 – The Irish Taoisigh
Iain Dale trails ahead to the next series of the Presidents & Prime Ministers podcast, which will revolve around the 14 men who have served as Irish Taoiseach over the last century. The series will start in early January.