Who is your favourite TV historian?

[TheNightScentedStock]

Lucy Worsley is a good sport but, to my tooth, she is becoming a bit of a parody of herself; The Sun newspaper made flesh.

I had to turn off her Radio 4 programme, Ladykillers as she really seemed to be taking the mick with her remarks, drawling out the word, 'murder' and lots of 'oohs and ahhhs.'

I much prefer Tracy Borman and Susannah Lipscomb who show more sensitivity to the people they are talking about, without being po faced.

My old boss filmed something with Ruth - ‘hard work’ was the takeaway from that experience.

Alastair Sooke did a fabulous series on treasures of ancient Egypt, which is on IPlayer. He's also done on about Greece.

Tom and Dominic, listen to them so often they speak to me in my sleep!

Has no one mentioned simon schama? Love him and his breathy pauses. “One of the greatest tragedies in all English history - Whatever happened … to catholic England …?” I’m on the edge of my seat, Simon - do tell me! 🤣

for art history Andrew Graham Dixon. Went to a recent talk by him on who Vermeer really was - everyone spellbound for an hour he was such a good speaker.

Yes, his Egypt one is excellent.

Mary Beard is a ledge.

Simon Schama, Simon Sebag Montefiore.

Bendor Grosvenor on art.

@BumpyaDaisyevna I went to see Andrew Graham-Dixon on Vermeer too, completely fantastic, bought his book and added it to the pile next to the bed.

The TV series where Andrew Graham Dixon and Giorgio Locatelli travel through Italy to discover art and food is a good watch.

I agree!

Also, he and Dr James Fox give talks on the history of art on YouTube.
The channel is called HENI talks and each 'show' is about an hour long.

It's free.

I've just watched one on Holbein and really, really enjoyed it.

Don't know how I forgot Andrew G-D. His series about the art of France has been repeated the last few weeks. As was Dermot MacCulloch's programme on Cromwell.

As well as Tom Holland, can I put in a vote for his brother James - the WWII podcast he does with Al Murray (We Have Ways) is excellent.

Love Janina Ramirez and Helen Castor, plus honourable mention for Greg Jenner (former historical adviser for Horrible Histories) and his podcast You’re Dead To Me.

Love Tom and Dom on TRIH!

Also, Mary Beard, Janina Ramirez, Michael Wood, Tracy Borman, Dan Jones and Alice Roberts. Lucy Worsley can be good, but gets a bit Channel 5 sometimes!

Greg Jenner has done some brilliant You’re Dead To Me episodes - my favourite is the one on Grainne O’Malley because the expert (Gillian Kenny) and the comedian (Catherine Bohart) bounce off each other so well. It’s a thing of beauty.

How can I forget Simon Schama, yes love him and Andrew Graham Dixon, loved that series he did with Georgio Locatelli.

Funny enough I cannot stand Bettany Hughes because of her ridiculous pauses, it actually makes my breathing go funny.

The ones that hold my attention are Dan Snow, Ruth Goodman, Mary Beard, Rob Bell (for his historical engineering stuff), Bettany Hughes, Janina Ramirez.

I find it difficult to watch anything with Lucy Worsley (too twee) and Alice Roberts (her accent annoys me). Unfortunately Lucy Worsley and Alice Roberts dominate the output of history programmes. Fresh blood needed!

When I was at college I had the chance to be taught by both Mary Beard and Helen Castor.

But in the wisdom of youth, instead of papers on Roman social history or medieval letters I chose to do William of Orange and the Glorious Revolution 🥱🥱

ah well.

David Olusoga.

Oooh, thanks for that.

Philomena Cunk

Lucy Worsley is the one that got my kids into history so for that I thank her. David Olusoga's A House Through Time as well (DH is from Edinburgh so we loved the latest series). But I love all TV historians (although I wish TV wasn't so obsessed with the Tudors, e.g. would be nice to hear about the Stuarts more).

On pod casts I love Anita Anand and William Dalrymple's Empire podcast. They always sound like they are having such fun doing it but also have excellent guests as well.

I got really fed up with Lucy Worsley in her dressing up phase, to the point where I avoided programmes about periods I was very interested in if she was presenting.

However, her programmes on the restoration of Notre Dame are excellent.

Marry - Dan Snow

Friends with - all the Horrible History team

Role model - Mary Beard

Jealous of - Lucy Worsley

This has made me realise that I admire those who point the way to the subject and enhance it - rather than hog the screen. I was so impressed by Dan Snow, when he did the history of a fortified island, and his whole manner and body language was congruent with the actual expert. He looked as if he was eager to learn more along with the rest of us. That's how I learn.