Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey

Author: History Hit April 13, 2026 Duration: 49:40

What if becoming queen was the worst thing that could happen to you? What if the crown became your death sentence?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey, the brilliant, devout teenager, who was proclaimed queen of England against her will, reigned for less than two weeks, and was executed before her 17th birthday.

Drawing on insights from her new two-part History Hit documentary series, Suzannah is joined by Professor Anna Whitelock, Dr Joanne Paul, Verity Babbs, and Dr Nicola Tallis to uncover the story of a young girl caught in the storm of Tudor power.


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Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast


Sign up to History Hit to see Professor Suzannah Lipscomb in search of the truth about Lady Jane Grey, the young Tudor claimant who was Queen of England for less than 2 weeks. The series explores Jane's short life through extraordinary examples of her own writing, her exceptional education and her self-assured personality.

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Step beyond the well-trodden path of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I with historian Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. While the Tudor dynasty remains a central touchstone, the conversations in Not Just the Tudors roam a much wider, richer historical landscape. You might find an episode delving into the court of Mughal India or examining the artistry of Velázquez, followed by a deep dive into the world of Shakespeare or the haunting history of witch trials. This approach reveals how the 16th and 17th centuries were a time of global connection and dramatic change far beyond the English court. Each week, Suzannah is joined by fellow historians and specialists, turning each session into a compelling dialogue that uncovers incredible, often overlooked stories. The result is a layered portrait of an era, built through detailed discussions and fresh perspectives. Produced by History Hit, this podcast releases new episodes every Wednesday and Sunday, offering regular escapes into a past that is both complex and surprisingly familiar. It’s a series for anyone who loves history but craves a broader view, proving that context is everything.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Not Just the Tudors
Podcast Episodes
Royal Favourites: The Filthy Earl of Rochester [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:11
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The Rotten End of Henry VIII [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:49
Death, death, and more death surrounds Henry VIII's final years.What happens when a monarch is trapped by physical decay, paranoia, and lethal court factionalism? He may have secured an heir and severed ties with Rome, b…
Henry VIII's Reign of Terror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:11
**Contains graphic description of execution**What happened when one monarch's personal obsession dismantled an entire international order? How did Henry VIII transform a marriage crisis into the English Reformation—and a…
Quest for an Heir: Henry VIII, Aragon and Boleyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:22
In the 1520s, a dynastic crisis loomed behind the brilliance of Henry VIII's court. Desperate for a male heir after Catherine of Aragon's string of tragic pregnancies, Henry's frustration mounted as his foreign military…
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Duration: 51:13
How did a dazzling young Tudor prince become one of history's most notorious kings? How much of Henry VIII’s later tyranny was shaped by the world into which he was born?Long before the six wives, the Reformation and the…
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Duration: 41:11
What was everyday life like for an ordinary person in Tudor times? How did dramatic changes in population, climate, disease and the economy reshape villages across England?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb steps beyond the roy…
Young Elizabeth I: Princess & Prisoner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
How did a child written off by the Tudor court rise to become one of England's most iconic monarchs?Before she became queen, Elizabeth Tudor was surrounded by scandal, suspicion and deadly intrigue. Born to Anne Boleyn a…
Captain Cook: The Voyage that Changed the World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:00
How did Captain James Cook's scientific voyage of 1768 become a mission for the British empire?While expanding knowledge of Pacific geography and natural history, Captain Cook was under secret orders to claim lands for B…
Manhattan’s Most Notorious Couple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:37
Who were the scandalous, defiant couple on the margins of Dutch society who became part of the founding story of New York?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Alan Mikhail to uncover the extraordinary lives…
James V: Scotland's Ambitious Renaissance King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:41
Was James V of Scotland a beleaguered child king or a brilliant Renaissance ruler who mastered the performance of power?Crowned before his second birthday, James curbed powerful magnates, strengthened royal authority and…