Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens (Global)

Iain Dale talks to Irish Times columnist Stephen Collins about the life and career of Ireland’s fifth Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, who served two terms in office - 1966-73 and 1977-79.

In this first episode of a new series on Kings & Queens, Iain Dale talks to historian and Telegraph columnist Professor Simon Heffer about the reign of King George V.

Iain Dale talks to historical author Steven Veerapen, whose book 'The Wisest Fool' charts the lavish life of the King who went from James VI of Scotland to becoming James I after the union of the English & Scottish crowns.

Good news!

64 new podcasts will be coming to this feed, featuring UK Kings and Queens since Alfred the Great.

Featuring Simon Heffer, Jane Ridley, Lewis Goodall and many more.

Coming mid-October!

Iain Dale talks to political historian Robert Waller about the life and reign of King Stephen

Iain Dale talks to historian Annie Whitehead about the Anglo Saxon monarch, King Eadred, who ruled for 9 years in the mid tenth century.

Iain Dale talks to Deirdre Foley, Irish Research Council Fellow at University College Cork, about the lefe and career of Liam Cosgrave, who served as Taoiseach from 1973-77.

Iain Dale talks to Irish political historian Ciara Meehan about the life and politics of W T Cosgrave, the man who became President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State in 1922 and served in the office for ten years until losing the 1932 general election to Eamon De Valera and Fianna Fail. Although the office of Taoiseach wasn’t formally inaugurated until 1937, Cosgrave is widely considered to be the first holder of the post. Over the coming 13 weeks, Iain will be interviewing experts on the lives of the other 13 Taoisigh (which, for the uninitiated, is the plural of Taoiseach).

All these podcasts are available a month earlier on their own podcast channel 'The Irish Taoiseach Podcast'

Shadow cabinet minister and political biographer Nick Thomas-Symonds talks to Iain Dale about the life and failures of the reign of King John

Iain talks to historian Matthew Lewis about the life and reign of one of Britain’s most controversial monarchs, King Richard III.

Iain Dale talks about the life and career of Ireland’s twelfth Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, with Theresa Reidy, lecturer in politics at University College Cork.

Iain Dale talks to John Downing columnist for the Irish Independent about the life and career of Enda Kenny, Ireland’s 13th Taoiseach, who served from 2011-2017. John Downing’s biography of him is titled Enda Kenny: The Unlikely Taoiseach.

Iain Dale discusses the controversial reign of King Edward II with political historian Nigel Fletcher and they try to work out if some of the stories about Edward are real or based on myth, including the fact he allegedly died from having a red hot poker shoved up where the sun doesn’t shine!

I discuss the rather unsuccessful reign(s) of the king who had an unfortunate epithet added to his name with the New Statesman’s Harry Lambert.

Iain Dale talks to historian Elizabeth Norton about the life and reign of King Edward VI, a king who few know anything about.

Iain Dale talks to top historian Andrew Roberts about the life of one of our longest serving monarchs.

Iain Dale talks to George Trefgarne about the short lived reign of one of the early Anglo Saxon monarchs

Iain Dale and David Walsh discuss the life and brief reign of Harthacnut, who ruled for only two years in the middle of the eleventh century

Iain Dale talks to historian Kirsteen Mackenzie about the life of the largely forgotten son of Oliver Cromwell, who succeeded his father as Lord Protector, but ruled for only nine months.

Iain Dale talks to award winning historian Dan Jones about the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Dan’s new biography of Henry V is out now!

Iain Dale discusses the long reign of King Henry III with the historian Sharon Bennett Connolly.

Iain Dale talks to Adam Lake about the life of King Richard II, who ascended the throne at the age of 10, and was forced to abdicate at the age of 32.

Iain Dale talks to The ‘I’ Newspaper’s Hugo Gye about the life and brief reign of King Eadwig, who is best known for allegedly having a threesome on his wedding night with his new wife and his new mother in law.

Iain Dale talks to historian Anna Whitelock about the life of one of our greatest and longest serving monarchs, Elizabeth I.

Iain Dale reads his chapter on the ‘nearly king’ Edgar II who is never included in the list of British monarchs. But he should be. And Iain explains why.

Iain Dale talks to royal biographer and historian, Jane Ridley, about the man who saved the monarchy following the abdication crisis.

Iain Dale talks to Conservative MP Bim Afolami about the reign of William of Orange and Queen Mary.

Iain Dale talks to Alexander Stafford about the King who was killed by an arrow to the eye. Or was he?

Iain Dale talks to Mark Fox about the life and reign of one of England’s most long serving monarchs, King Edward III.

Iain Dale talks to historian and biographer John Barnes about the 35 year long reign of King Edward I

Iain Dale talks to historian Miranda Malins about the life of Oliver Cromwell who became Lord Protector of England during the Protectorate.

Iain Dale talks to Eamon de Valera’s biographer David McCullagh about the life and times of Ireland’s most long serving Taoiseach.

Bertie Ahern served as Taoiseach between 1997 and 2008, and was the second longest serving Taoiseach in the history of the Republic of Ireland. Iain Dale discusses his life and career with journalist and author Mick Clifford, who, in 2009 co-wrote a book titled BERTIE AHERN AND THE DRUMCONDRA MAFIA

Iain Dale talks to former cabinet minister Sir Robert Buckland about the life and reign of King George II.

Iain Dale discusses the life and very brief reign of King Edward V with historian and former MP, Chis Skidmore.

Iain Dale talks to journalist and broadcaster Sue Cameron about the life and reign of the King who tried to hold back the tide. Or did he? Listen and find out!

Iain Dale talks to Sheffield University’s Caoimhe Nic Dhaibheid about the life and career of Ireland’s third Taoiseach, John Costello. Costelloserved as Taoiseach for two terms, 1948-51 and 1954-57.

Hear episodes of the Irish Taoiseach Podcast a month earlier on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast channel.

Iain Dale talks to Tudor expert Dr David David Starkey about the life and reign of one of Britain’s greatest, and most notorious monarchs, Henry VIII.