The Tudor Chest Podcast

The Many Faces of Anne Boleyn with Helene Harrison

From portraits to plays, films to fables, Anne Boleyn is a Tudor poster girl, easily the most studied, the most followed and the most divisive of the six wives of King Henry VIII. Her creation as an icon of history has built over time, both from those who knew her personally and ever since. To discuss how Anne’s image has been created, I am very pleased to welcome back Helene Harrison onto the podcast. Helene’s latest book, the many faces of Anne Boleyn acts as the basis for our conversation, so sit back and listen in as we discuss the many facets of this endlessly fascinating queen, Anne Boleyn.

Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford with Julia Fox

Almost from the moment her head was severed from her body, Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford has been an easy scape goat for all of the drama surrounding the downfall of her husband George, sister in law Anne and the teenage queen she was executed alongside, Katheryn Howard. In reality, there is basically nothing to support the long held belief that Jane actively plotted against the family she had married into. To discuss this fascinating woman with me, I am thrilled to welcome Julia Fox onto the podcast for the first time. Julia joins me today to discuss Janes story, the truth of her role in May 1536, what on earth she was thinking when aiding in Katheryn Howard's adultery and what her actual legacy should be.

Sceptred Isle, A New History of the Fourteenth Century, Part 1, with Helen Carr

England in the fourteenth century would go through some of the most turbulent in royal history! To discuss it all, I am thrilled to welcome historian and author Helen Carr onto the podcast for the first time. Helen’s latest book, Sceptred Isle, A New History of the Fourteenth Century is the backbone for our conversation, a conversation which today focuses on King Edward II - was he actually in love with male favourites, was he to blame for all that befell his people, and did he really die from a red hot poker up where you really don't want one - well keep listening to find out!

Mary Tudor, Queen of France with Amy McElroy

Henry VIII had six wives, but he also had two sisters, and these sisters seldom get the attention they deserve. The younger was Princess Mary, the youngest child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York to reach adulthood. Mary was famed for her beauty but also the scandal caused by her second marriage to Charles Brandon, a marriage from which Lady Jane Grey traced her direct descent. To discuss Mary and her story with me today, I am pleased to welcome Amy McElroy onto the podcast for the first time. We discuss Mary’s early life, her short-lived marriage to the French king, whether there is any truth in the theory that Mary introduced the French hood into England, plus much more!

Vile, the redemption of Jane Boleyn with Laura Crow

Jane Boleyn is easily one of the most vilified yet fascinating figures from tudor history. She has been, to my mind, unfairly maligned, repeatedly treated as a pantomime villain who destroyed her husband and sister-in-law. This week I welcome Laura Crow onto the podcast to discuss her play, Vile, the possible redemption of Jane Boleyn with me. In this upcoming, audacious and to use the official tagline “rude and radical" reimagining of Jane’s story, Laura discusses the otherness of Jane and her equally maligned husband George Boleyn, examining how queer identity, ableism and mental illness have all shaped the reputations of these two figures.

Son of Prophecy, The Rise of Henry Tudor with Nathen Amin

We all know that in 1485 King Henry VII successfully snatched the throne from king Richard III, but what do we know of henrys ancestry? How did the Tudor name come to be in the first place? Well to discuss all of this, I am pleased to welcome historian Nathen Amin onto the podcast for the first time, to discuss his book, Son of Prophecy, the Rise of Henry Tudor with me. From Henry's 6 x great-grandfather who presented his prince with three severed heads as a present, to Henry Tudors grandfather Owen Tudor nibbling the cheek of Catherine of Valois, all of this and much more will be covered, so settle in and get one hell of a lesson in Welsh and Tudor history!

The Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots with Dr Anna Turnham

When we think about Mary, Queen of Scots, I think it’s fair to say that we tend to think of a woman whose reign in Scotland was nothing but a disaster. A queen who couldn’t find a decent husband, had no real authority and ended her life on an executioners scaffold in England. Well, while aspects of this assessment may in part be true, there has to be more to the story. To discuss this fascinating woman with me, I am pleased to welcome historian Dr Anna Turnham onto the podcast. We discuss Mary's earliest days to her time in France, her return to Scotland, the disasters with Darnley and Bothwell and of course her abdication, but we also discuss the positives, what did Mary do well? Where did she actually succeed in her queenship? Well to find out, carry on listening…

The Chequers Ring with Professor Susan Doran

Very few personal items of the Tudor monarchs survive to this day, but one that does, and is exceptionally special, is known as the chequers ring. A tiny and stunning pearl, diamond and ruby covered ring which hides a secret, for it opens up to reveal two tiny faces on the inside, one of Elizabeth I and another of another woman, who is very likely to be Anne Boleyn. To discuss this remarkable survivor from Tudor England, I am thrilled to welcome a true legend in the world of history and academia, Professor Susan Doran, onto the podcast. We discuss the rings provenance, the symbolism of the jewels and of course, debate the evidence to support our joint belief that the ring does indeed show images of Anne and Elizabeth - Mother and Daughter.

Bonus Episode - The Arrest of Queen Anne Boleyn

On the 2nd of May 1536 Anne Boleyn, queen of England, was summoned to present herself before her husbands small council at Greenwich Palace. Presenting herself, the queen was told that she was arrested on charges of adultery and high treason and was to accompany the men by barge along the river Thames to the tower of London. Anne’s downfall, and those loyal to her, was shockingly fast and carried out with staggeringly swift efficiency. Despite her shock, Anne agreed to join the men, not knowing that within two weeks, she would be dead.
 

Mary, Queen of Scots, from Crown to Captivity with Dr Sarah Morris

Mary, Queen of Scots led a life that was anything but dull. Queen of Scotland aged just six days old, she would eventually become queen of France, then return to her native homeland to take up the crown that had been hers almost from the day of her birth. In this weeks episode, I chat to Dr Sarah Morris, known to many of you as the Tudor travel guide, who is also my co-director on Simply Tudor Tours, our historic tour company. Our May 2026 tour explore Marys life, and so today, Sarah and I discuss the many different palaces and castles she inhabited, from the imposing medieval Stirling Castle to the renaissance Palace of Holyroodhouse, which remains the official Scottish residence of the monarch to this day!