CATEGORIES

Cereal Thriller

Simon Stabler joins the breakfast club

Finding His True Self

Chris Hallam pays tribute to the many different lives of comedian and broadcaster Paul O'Grady

RAIL BLAZER

Fifty years ago, British Rail’s prototype High Speed Train set a new diesel speed record. Tony Bending looks back on this achievement

CATHERINE THE GREAT

On the 25th anniversary of the bestselling author’s death, Caroline Roope turns the pages of the remarkable backstory of Dame Catherine Cookson

WHEN 'ENRY'S 'AMMER FLOORED CLAY

Colin Allan looks back 60 years to the night Henry Cooper took on Cassius Clay

THE GOLD STANDARD

Simon Stabler climbs on board the Golden Hinde, a much-travelled replica of Sir Francis Drake’s galleon

POSTCARD FROM BELFAST

Bob Barton goes in search of the Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis, steps back in time, learns more about the story of the Titanic and goes to the theatre

The Girl from Mars

Chris Hallam looks back to when Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space

Declaring a Display

The Declaration of Arbroath, a letter urging Pope John XXII to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king, will go on display at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (0300 123 6789, nms. ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland) from 3 June to 2 July.

Ready for Action!

Paul Carey looks at the work of special effects designer Derek Meddings, which included the Thunderbirds series and the James Bond franchise

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF LESLIE HOWARD

John Greeves looks at the untimely death of the Gone With the Wind star amid speculation this was an attempt by the Nazis to kill Winston Churchill

THE HOUSE OF SECRETS

Picture-perfect Harvington Hall hosts many surprises. Claire Saul visits this unique Worcestershire treasure to discover some of them

TAKING THE GRAND TOUR

Professor Roey Sweet reveals why young British men journeyed to Europe as an important part of their education

THE FIRST SHOGUN

How an exile took power in an age of murderous intrigue and a teetering empire

HUNT FOR THE PHANTOM KILLER

Who was the masked man who held the region of Texarkana in a grip of fear?

LEMON JUMBLES

A SPICED AND SUGARY KNOTTED BISCUIT, ENGLAND, 1485-PRESENT

Historical Treasures - FIRST EDITION OF ROBINSON CRUSOE

Widely considered one of the first English novels, copies of this first edition are increasingly rare England, 1719

GETTING HIGH WITH THE ANCIENTS

From drinking parties to medicinal cures and religious rituals

The Life of GENTLEMAN JACK

Anne Lister was a true trailblazer, and today her story continues to inspire

The City of Peace

Perfectly situated between East and West, Baghdad became one of the Silk Road's leading centres of trade, science and cultural exchange

What If...THE CHARTISTS HAD SUCCEEDED?

Winning the vote, and a voice, for the working man would change the political and social structure of Britain forever

THE CORRUPTION OF HENRY VIII

How the Tudor king went from Renaissance prince to blood-soaked tyrant

1943-2023: DAMBUSTERS

Seventy-seven returned-only 48 lived to tell the story Official Historian, No. 617 Squadron Association, Dr Robert Owen, recounts what happened next for the men who were immortalised by their role in the epic raid

THE NORTHERN BARRAGE

Codenamed Operation SN, the Royal Navy laid a huge minefield in the North Atlantic that ultimately failed to prevent German naval activity against Allied vessels

DANGER IN THE DEPTHS

After WWII, thousands of high-explosives remained hidden beneath the waves, leading to a huge clean up operation that's still ongoing nearly 80 years later

SWEEPING TO VICTORY

Amphibious invasions were tricky operations, and danger lurked for the Allied forces before they could even reach the shore

SAMUEL I PARKER

At the Battle of Soissons, in July 1918, though badly wounded this lieutenant colonel led his command in silencing German machine guns, becoming the most highly decorated US infantryman of WWI

ANCIENT ROME'S DARKEST HOUR

How a Roman citizen lured three of the empire's legions into a deadly trap

"WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PAST MORE TO FIND ANSWERS"

The historian and broadcaster discusses his new illustrated book, 2023's Chalke Valley History Festival and why studying WWII is more relevant than ever before

CLEARING THE COASTS

As an island nation, Britain's access to maritime trade routes was vital to its survival and they became a prime target for German mining efforts