Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Step back into a world of intrigue, passion, and ruthless ambition — welcome to Tudor England. Join historian and bestselling author Claire Ridgway as she uncovers the riveting stories of the Tudor dynasty. From the scandalous love affairs of King Henry VIII to the tragic fall of Anne Boleyn, the fierce reign of Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known secrets of Tudor court life, this podcast brings history to life in vivid detail. Hear dramatic tales of betrayal, execution, forbidden love, and political manoeuvring that shaped England forever. Discover daily Tudor history with fascinating “On This Day” episodes — unique insights you won’t find in typical history books. Get behind-the-scenes stories from Claire’s own research trips to historic sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hever Castle, and more. Enjoy interviews with top historians and experts in Tudor studies, plus lively Q&A sessions tackling listeners’ burning Tudor questions. 🖋 Who is Claire Ridgway? Claire is the author of the bestselling On This Day in Tudor History series and numerous other Tudor books loved by readers around the world. She founded The Tudor Society, connecting enthusiasts with experts through live online events, and runs the hugely popular history websites The Anne Boleyn Files and www.ClaireRidgway.com. Her mission: to uncover the human stories behind the crown — the hopes, fears, and triumphs of not only kings and queens but also the courtiers, rebels, and ordinary people who lived under the Tudor rose. What can you expect? - Gripping accounts of famous events like the Field of Cloth of Gold, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, or the Babington Plot. - Intimate portraits of Tudor figures: Anne Boleyn’s charm and downfall, Thomas Cromwell’s rise and brutal fall, Elizabeth I’s cunning survival. - Dark mysteries and unsolved deaths — who really killed Amy Robsart? Was Katherine Howard truly guilty? - Special episodes on Tudor fashion, food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of Tudor men and women. Join thousands of Tudor fans worldwide Never miss an episode — subscribe now and become part of a global community that can’t get enough of Tudor drama. Explore more with Claire’s books, free resources, and live historical events at www.ClaireRidgway.com. Ready to travel back 500 years? Press play and let the adventure begin.
Episodes
Episodes



Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
December 26 - Boxing Day and Henry VIII's will
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Happy St Stephen's Day! Happy Boxing Day!
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", explains how St Stephen's Day was celebrated in Tudor times and why it's known as Boxing Day, before moving on to today's "on this day event".
On this day in Tudor history, 26th December 1546, an ill Henry VIII made some changes to his will in preparation for his nine-year-old son, Edward, inheriting the throne. Claire explains all...
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCmnejkr0xc
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
December 25 - Christmas Day and Lettice Knollys
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Merry Christmas! A very Happy Christmas to you and yours!
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society, explains how Tudor people would have celebrated Christmas, before moving on to today's "on this day" event, the death of Lettice Blount (also known as Lettice Devereux, Lettice Dudley and Lettice Knollys). Not only did she serve Queen Elizabeth I as a gentlewoman of the privy chamber, she was also the queen's first cousin once removed, and was nicknamed the "she-wolf" by her royal mistress. Find out more about Lettice Knollys in today's talk.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/G-7arUBvGe8
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
A Christmas Message from Claire
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Happy Christmas! Just a quick message to wish you and all your loved ones a wonderful day. Thank you for supporting me in my research of Tudor History, and I hope you'll continue to follow me into the coming year!
Love to you all,
Claire.



Monday Dec 23, 2019
December 24 - Henry VIII, mumpsimus and sumpsimus
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
On this day in Tudor history, 24th December 1545, Christmas Eve, King Henry VIII made his final speech to Parliament.
The king was concerned about the religious divisions in his realm and so chastised the Lords and Commons for their disagreements, and also the clergy for provoking this discord.
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of several Tudor history books, shares some of the king's compelling speech from that day in 1545.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/AQCqsyJhT9Q
You can read the full speech in the appendix of Volume I of “Dodd’s Church History of England from the Commencement of the Sixteenth Century to the Revolution in 1688”. at https://archive.org/details/doddschurchhist01dodduoft/page/450



Sunday Dec 22, 2019
December 23 - Nicholas Udall and the White Falcon
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
On this day in Tudor history, 23rd December 1556, in the reign of Queen Mary I, Nicholas Udall (Yevedale), schoolmaster, cleric, humanist and playwright, was buried at St Margaret's, Westminster.
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", introduces this Tudor man and also shares a ballad he wrote for Queen Anne Boleyn's coronation celebrations in 1533. His ballad was about Anne Boleyn's falcon badge and how it related to the queen.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/22JA60AlzA8
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Saturday Dec 21, 2019
December 22 - Bishop Fisher begs for a shirt
Saturday Dec 21, 2019
Saturday Dec 21, 2019
On this day in Tudor history, 22nd December 1534, John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who was a prisoner in the Tower of London, wrote to Thomas Cromwell.
In his letter to Cromwell, the poor bishop begged him for a shirt, sheet, food and books, as well as asking him to intercede with King Henry VIII on his behalf.
It is so sad that a man who had served the king so loyally in the past had come to this, and, of course, the king's mercy would only stretch to commuting his method of execution to beheading.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/9EwSBKVB16E
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Friday Dec 20, 2019
December 21 - Jasper Tudor
Friday Dec 20, 2019
Friday Dec 20, 2019
On this day in Tudor history, 21st December 1495, Jasper Tudor, 1st Duke of Bedford and 1st Earl of Pembroke, died at his manor at Thornbury at the age of around sixty-four.
Jasper Tudor was the uncle of Henry Tudor, a man who would become King Henry VII, and served as a mentor and advisor to him.
Find out more about this interesting Tudor man in today's talk from Claire Ridgway, founder of the Tudor Society.
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/



Thursday Dec 19, 2019
December 20 - Catherine Howard's stepgrandmother begs forgiveness from the king
Thursday Dec 19, 2019
Thursday Dec 19, 2019
On this day in Tudor history, 20th December 1541, a “very sickly” Agnes Tilney, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, begged King Henry VIII for forgiveness.
The dowager duchess had been arrested and taken to the Tower accused of misprision of treason for hiding her stepgranddaughter Catherine Howard's past relationship with Francis Dereham.
In today's talk, Claire Ridgway, author of "On This Day in Tudor History", shares what the dowager duchess wrote to the king and also what happened to this sickly woman.
You can see this podcast as a video at the following link:
https://youtu.be/VG5mb4XFLwc
You can find Claire at:
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com
https://www.tudorsociety.com
https://www.facebook.com/theanneboleynfiles/
https://www.facebook.com/tudorsociety/
https://twitter.com/AnneBoleynFiles
https://twitter.com/thetudorsociety
https://www.instagram.com/tudor.society/
https://www.instagram.com/anneboleynfiles/

I'm historian Claire Ridgway
I'm the best-selling author of 13 history books and the founder of the TheAnneBoleynFiles.com, Elizabethfiles.com and The Tudor Society.
I help Tudor history lovers worldwide to gain access to experts and resources to discover the real stories behind myths and fiction, so that they grow in knowledge while connecting with like-minded people and indulging their passion for history.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I was a contributor for the BBC docudrama The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and have been featured in BBC History Extra, USA Today, History of Royals Magazine, the Express, and Refinery 29, as well as on podcasts including Suzannah Lipscomb's Not Just the Tudors, Gareth Russell's Single Malt History, Natalie Grueninger's Talking Tudors, Hever Castle's Inside Hever, James Boulton's Queens of England, and many more.









