Episodes

  • Book Companion - Edward III
    Jan 9 2026

    Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds..... Yes, its another chance to hear Charlie Higson reach the third of his Neds, Edward III and for once in our story he actually turned out to be a half decent king, or so it was thought at the time.


    Find out how he contended with fighting the Scots, the French and the Black Death.


    Charlie's proper historian this episode is Helen Carr, author of the best-selling book The Red Prince: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster.


    And speaking of books, don't forget that the book of this podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is out now, the perfect feast for your eyes as this podcast is a feast for your ears.


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Willie-Harry-Stee-brand-new-hilarious/dp/0008741050



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    1 hr
  • Book Companion - Edward II
    Jan 2 2026

    Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John Harry Three, One Two Three Neds..... So goes the rhyme Charlie Higson learnt at school, each a Monarch and each seemingly unable to learn any lessons from their predecessor, as ably demonstrated by this episode's King, Edward The 2nd.


    Find out how his disastrous relationships, especially with Piers Gaveston gave rise to his downfall at the hands of his own wife Queen Isabella which led to a particularly unpleasant end.


    Charlie's proper historian this episode is Dr Rory Cox, author of Origins of the Just War: Military Ethics and Culture in the Ancient Near East


    And just in case you DIDN'T unwrap a copy of Charlie's book-of-the-podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee on Christmas morning, well don't worry. Clicking the link below will get you one just as soon as the post starts up again.


    https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/willie-willie-harry-stee-an-epically-short-history-of-our-kings-and-queens-charlie-higson?variant=55169046708603

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Book Club - Eleanor
    Dec 23 2025

    In this episode Alice Loxton joins Charlie Higson to talk about her new book, ‘Eleanor’.


    In 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I, the warrior king.


    Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalized in stone.


    To mark the places where it laid, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses.


    More than seven centuries later, Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: following in history’s footsteps by walking the entire 200-mile funeral route on the corresponding dates and in this edition of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson chats with Alice about the journey and the writing of the book itself.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    49 mins
  • Book Companion - Edward I
    Dec 19 2025

    Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three, One Two Three Neds.........Well in this episode Charlie Higson concerns himself with Ned No.1..Edward The 1st, Edward Longshanks or The Hammer Of The Scots, although whilst he did a lot of hammering, the nails weren't really driven home very well.


    Charlie's 'Proper Historian' for this episode is the excellent Marc Morris, author of A Great & Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain and speaking of books, remember that you can still buy the book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee, a hardback volume lovingly created by Charlie, with sumptuous illustrations by his old pal Vic Reeves....or Jim Moir to be more precise.


    Available now wherever books are sold.

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Book Club - The Map Men
    Dec 12 2025

    In this BRAND NEW episode from Charlie Higson, he mixes History and Cartography to bring you the authors of a book that shows that a map might not be the honest, accurate and useful tool you once thought.


    Born on Youtube, The Map Men has been an internet sensation and their new book 'This Way Up' is a funny and fascinating journey into the maps that messed up: big time!


    In this chat with Mark Cooper-Jones and Jay Foreman (aka, the Map Men) Charlie finds out how they got into the world of mad maps in the first place and digs into the book that takes a deep dive into the world’s most baffling and absurd map blunders, some innocent, but others not so!


    Remember that Charlie's book of the podcast, Willie Willie Harry Stee is available NOW in all book shops. Christmas. Sorted!!

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    52 mins
  • Book Companion - Henry III
    Dec 5 2025

    Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three.........Charlie Higson continues his canter through the Monarchy and along with Henry, comes Simon De Montfort.


    Was Henry weak and inept while Simon held the real power?


    We'll find out as Charlie welcomes this week's proper historian, Sophie Therese Ambler author of a biography of Simon de Montfort called - The Song of Simon de Montfort: England's First Revolutionary and the Death of Chivalry.

    If you'd like to read all about it, remember that this episode is a book companion to Willie Willie Harry Stee the book of the podcast. Beautifully written by Charlie and illustrated by Jim Moir, its available now, so go and snap one up!

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    59 mins
  • Book Companion - King John
    Nov 28 2025

    Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick John.........Charlie Higson's romp through the middle ages lands on King John, who hasn't been fondly remembered.


    BUT...was he really that bad a King?


    Well, yes. He really was. In fact he was worse than we thought.


    Find out just how rubbish a monarch he was as Charlie digs into his hopeless life, together with this episode's proper historian, Professor Nick Vincent.


    And, while you're listening, why not order the book of the podcast! WIllie Willie Harry Stee with illustrations by Jim Moir, available at all book outlets.

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Book Companion - King Richard 1
    Nov 21 2025

    Willy Willy Harry Stee, Harry Dick....... In this episode, Charlie Higson explores Richard I, or to give him his popular name Richard The Lionheart.


    Noble, considerate and fair.....according to Walt Disney, however Charlie digs a little deeper and finds a King of England who, well, wasn't in England very much.


    With guest proper historian, the excellent Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets & Essex Dogs to help him, Charlie uncovers the REAL Richard I.


    And remember, Willie Willie Harry Stee, the book of the podcast, is out now, so you can read about Richard as well as listen!


    https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/willie-willie-harry-stee-an-epically-short-history-of-our-kings-and-queens-charlie-higson?variant=55169046708603

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 5 mins