Here for the History

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Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the surprising moments in history behind the traditions, customs and objects all around us.

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16 episodes
weekly
Avg 31 min
English

Episodes 16

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Yesterday · 37 min
Who Invented the “Whodunit”?
Uncover the perpetrators behind our love for a murder mystery.
September 10 · 34 min
Where Do Manners Come From?
Books on courtly conduct, the age of politeness and Victorian etiquette.
September 3 · 35 min
Why Do Scots Wear Tartan?
How this checked material became the symbol of a nation.
August 27 · 29 min
Why Do We Love Pubs?
How did the pub become so central to British culture?
August 20 · 33 min
Why Does the Union Jack Look Like That?
The story of why the UK’s national flag looks the way it does.
August 13 · 27 min
Why Do We Have ‘Ugly’ Buildings?
How modern architecture swept Britain in the 20th century.
August 6 · 31 min
Who Invented the Weekend?
The story of why we get Saturday and Sundays off work each week.
July 30 · 32 min
Why Do We Wear Suits?
From royal coronations to criminal trials, the suit is men’s go-to uniform. Why?
July 23 · 36 min
Package Holiday: Why do Brits go to Benidorm?
How did a teetotaller and a military dictator help to create the summer getaway?
July 16 · 34 min
Stiff Upper Lip: Do Brits Have Emotions?
Exploring the stereotype that Brits don’t show their emotions.
July 9 · 36 min
Why Don’t Women’s Clothes Have Pockets?
The surprising history of how women’s pockets fell in and out of fashion over time.
July 2 · 38 min
Why Are Brits So Obsessed With Football?
How football became Britain’s national sport.
June 25 · 29 min
English Language: Why Do We Speak Like That?
Why do our spellings not match our pronunciations? Why are so many words really weird?
June 18 · 34 min
Why does British food have such a bad reputation?
French fashions and wartime rationing have long tarnished Britain’s culinary reputation
June 18 · 31 min
Why do British people love tea?
The Portuguese princess, corporate espionage and waging war for tea.
June 15 · 2 min
Are You Here For The History?
Exploring the stereotypes, social norms and traditions that fill our everyday life.

Showing 1–16 of 16 episodes