Willy Willy Harry Stee...

To round off Series 2 and our delve into our Anglo-Saxon past, Charlie Higson looks at the extraordinary life of Harald Hardrada. King of Norway and if things had gone differently, he may have been King of England, but, as you will hear, he didn't quite make it.Helping Charlie to look into this fascinating character is Don Hollway, author of The Last Viking and Battle For The Island Kingdom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Charlie Higson's canter through Anglo-Saxon England, he reaches the end of the Wessex dynasty.Edward The Confessor. He died without an heir, which triggered a real life Game of Thrones, although it was more like Musical Chairs.Ably assisting Charlie in understanding Edward's motives is David Woodman, author of the Penguin Monarch's edition on Edward The Confessor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, this episode in Charlie Higson's romp through the pre-Norman monarchs lands on another one we've kind of heard of. King Cnut, sometimes called 'The Great' due to his North Sea empire, also the one who sat on the beach and commanded the tide to stop coming in......or did he???Assisting Charlie in untangling the facts from the nonsense is Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Egbert's name our list will head then Ethel's Wolf, Bold, Burt and Red. Alf the great and elder Ned, Athelstone. Edmund and Red, Edwig, Edgar, Martyred Ned, never ready Æthelred. Edmund Ironside and Swain and after them Canute the Dane.In this episode, Charlie Higson examines the mess that happened between the death of Æthelred and the reign of Canute. it was a short period of turmoil and carnage, but luckily Charlie has Justin Pollard on hand to help decipher it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special 100th edition of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson looks at a huge and hugely important topic in all our histories, The British Empire, and who better to join Charlie, on this special occasion, than historian and host of the Empire podcast, William Dalrymple. If you've ever wondered what the British Empire was all about, start here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Battling his way through the Anglo-Saxon monarchs, Charlie Higson arrives at one we're all familiar with, Æthelred the Unready.As with many monarchs of this period, we know his name and his amusing nickname, but not much else besides.Luckily for us Charlie and his guest Levi Roach author of Æthelred: the Unready are on hand to explain what turns out to be a hilarious medieval pun! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we reach the point in Charlie Higson's history of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy where we come up against 5 Kings who weren't King very long. Yes, if Aldi sold Kings, it would be the best offer ever. Buy one, get 5 free! So settle back and enjoy the (short) stories of Eds – Mund & Red, Edwig, Edgar and Martyred Ned.And if that offer wasn't good enough, Charlie will throw in expert help from Marc Morris, author of The Anglo-Saxons: A History of The Beginnings Of Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson continues to unpick the sometimes confusing world of the Anglo-Saxon Monarchs, helping you to understand your Ethel's from your Athel's. Here, he gets to grips with Æthelstan, the man often considered The First King Of England. Find out why with Charlie and his guest James Hawes, author of the brilliant Shortest History Of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode of the new series of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson looks at the life of Alfred The Great's successor Edward The Elder. But if you look at Edward, you also have to explore the incredible parallel life and leadership of his sister Æthelflæd, the Lady of the Mercians.Joining Charlie to uncover this fascinating story of sibling collaboration and rivalry, is Joanna Arman, author of The Warrior Queen: The Life and Legend Of Æthelflæd, Daughter Of Alfred The Great Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History shows that when you've got a name like 'Alfred The Great', you're possibly not quite as 'great' as some might think, however when it comes to Alfred, it seems he earned his nickname for many reasons, as Charlie Higson discovers in episode 2 of this new series. Helping Charlie fact-check Alfred's greatness is Justin Pollard, Historian, TV producer and author of Alfred The Great: The Man Who Made England Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.