In this bonus episode, Charlie Higson takes a more detailed look at the greatest challenge in King George VI's reign, The Second World War.To help Charlie understand some of the key points is a man who, by his own admission, is obsessed with WW2, James Holland, author of over 30 books on the subject, host of the We Have Ways podcast with Al Murray and co-founder of the Chalke and We Have Ways festivals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, recorded live at the Chalke History Festival in Wiltshire, Charlie Higson invites 3 special guests to discuss whether we can trust history and how it is presented in films and television, books and in our schools.Joining Charlie on the outdoor stage, in front of a large audience, were broadcaster and writer Alice Loxton, historian, television producer and writer Justin Pollard and 'Ghosts' and 'Horrible Histories' actor and comedian Laurence Rickard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 42 monarchs and 66 episodes, Charlie Higson reached the end of the rhyme that he learned in school and in this special overview episode, Charlie discusses the winners, the losers, whether it's changed his view of the monarchy and the startling similarity between the Royals and the Corleones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, then Edward, George and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicat’th...Then Comes George and Lizzie II....and Charlie Next To See UsThrough......And so, just over a year after he began, Charlie Higson reaches the end of his rhyme, though not the end of the podcast as you'll hear.This is the story of Charles III, a man who had to wait 73 years before he succeeded as King.Joining Charlie to discuss Charles is Stephen Bates, once royal correspondent for the Guardian, now author of The Shortest History Of The Crown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, then Edward, George and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicat’th...Then Comes George....and Lizzie IIThis episode is a first in that it deals with a Queen that some of us might actually have met. Charlie Higson did, albeit briefly and here, he brings us the story of a long and, for the most part, expertly handled reign. Joining Charlie to discuss Elizabeth II is Dominic Sandbrook an author and himself a king.....sort of. King of historical podcasts as one half of the very successful series 'The Rest Is History'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special episode of Willy Willy Harry Stee was recorded live at HistFest, which took place in front of a full house at the British Library in April.Charlie Higson hosted a panel of proper historians to discuss the best ways to Survive A Tudor or Stuart Court. His guest panel comprised Ophelia Field, author of The Favourite, Nicola Clark, author of The Waiting Game - The untold story of the women who served the Tudor Queens and Alex Courtney, author of James VI, Britannic Prince. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, then Edward, George and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicat’th...Then Comes GeorgeWe're up to our final George....King George VI. A man who, though never destined to be the monarch, actually turned out to be the right man for the job....and what a massive job it was as World War II dominated his reign.Helping Charlie Higson to unpick this member of the 'Good King Club' is James Holland, celebrated World War II historian and co-founder of the Chalke History Festival. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, Edward, George.....and Ned The Eighth, quickly goes and Abdicath...Charlie Higson's monarchical quest moves one step closer to the present day as he reached Edward VIII, the only King to have given up the throne voluntarily. Was this due to his chivalric love and devotion to Wallace Simpson?...or was he just a selfish git? Helping Charlie answer this question is Alexander Larman, author of The Crown In Crisis and The Power & The Glory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds, Richard Two, Henry's Four Five Six.........then who? Edward Four Five...Dick The Bad, Harry's Twain and Ned The Lad, Mary, Bessie, James The Vain, Charlie Charlie, James again. William & Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria, Edward, George.....Yes, we're up to George V, a man who didn't expect to be King, but ended up being quite good at it, in fact his actions saved the monarchy when all around Europe, others fell. Alex Churchill makes a welcome return to not only help Charlie Higson understand George, but also to understand the reasons behind the devastating First World War, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special BONUS EDITION of Charlie Higson's history of the monarchy, he takes a fascinating look at how the real life horror of a volcanic eruption in 1815 gave birth to imaginary horrors that haunt us still. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.