Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Kanaal Besonderhede
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Onlangse Episodes
52 episodes
The Fake Princess Who Fooled Georgian England
What you'll hear in today's episode is a story that strikes to the dark heart of the British Empire.
Despite being set in the time of Jane Auste...
How Scandalous Were Masquerade Balls?
Faces covered, identities unknown - masquerade balls sound like a place of anonymity and, therefore, SCANDAL.
But how true is this in the 18th C...
The Brothels of Imperial Russia
In today's episode we're taking you back to the brothels of 19th century St. Petersburg.
Sex work was legalised under the Emperor Nicholas I, bu...
The Depravity of the Marquis De Sade
Sadism - the derivation of pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering and humiliation on others - is named after this man. So what exactly did he do?
Inside the Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge opened its doors in 1889, at the height of the Belle Epoch - 'the Beautiful Age'.
Its famous windmill structure stood on the fr...
The Truth About the Little Mermaid
What is a mermaid? Do sirens, selkies and Aquaman fit into this category? And how far back in history do they go?
Kate is joined by Diane Purkis...
Inside the Brothels of New Orleans
Storyville was the red-light district in New Orleans, created in 1897.
What was it like in this neighbourhood, and inside the brothels there? Ho...
The Victorian Sex Trafficking Panic
Was there really a boom in sex trafficking at the end of the 19th century? What was 'white slavery'? And how often did the traffickers get caught?
The Truth about Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin had an extraordinary life: from the workhouses of Victorian London to the glamorous films sets of Hollywood's Golden Age.
He rev...
Did Fashion Kill Marie Antoinette?
Marie Antoinette went to her death as one of the most hated people in the world, but in recent years she has inspired millions with her style. How did...
Hollywood's Shocking First Sex Symbols
Nearly 100 years ago, films in Hollywood were so much sexier and shocking than you might think they were.
One of the most shocking things was ho...
Tiberius and his Island of Depravity
The Roman Emperor Tiberius has a harrowing reputation based on stories surrounding his latter years on the island of Capri. Stories of debauchery and...
Shag, Marry, Kill: Kings Edition (Live Show Recording)
Henry VIII, Charles II and Richard the Lionheart. What do all of these men have in common?
They're incredibly eligible bachelors! Well, if not t...
Sex & Scandal in Hollywood’s Golden Age
Over 100 years ago the Hollywood film industry was shiny, new and sexy.
Sex and sexuality was present on screen, but as the 1920s drew to a clos...
Who Was The Witch Queen of Scotland?
The 17th century witch trials in Scotland were many and they were brutal.
Amongst the many people tried for being a witch, one woman's confessio...
The Most Scandalous Author in 19th-Century France
By the age of 30, George Sand's literary career was soaring. She was internationally renowned, outselling Victor Hugo in English. So why is she now be...
A Very Borgia Break Up | History's Worst Breakups
If people are still talking about your divorce and rumoured penis related issues 500 years later, it's safe to say you've had a bad break up.
Fo...
The Medici vs. Tudor Rivalry
Neither woman expected to rule, but Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici became two of the most powerful women in Europe.
Was their relationship...
Who Makes a Doll of their Ex? | History's Worst Break Ups
A 'bad boy' of Austrian art meets the 'loveliest girl in Vienna', what could possibly go wrong? Why did artist Oskar Kokoschka commission a life sized...
The Truth about Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo is an icon of art, feminism and... eyebrows.
Her art and imagery has entered into the mainstream like few artists have, and her life...
History's Worst Breakups | Lord Byron vs. Lady Lamb
Sending a lock of hair to your lover has fallen a little out of fashion. Sending a lock of pubic hair to your ex-lover ... well, we aren't sure that w...
Sex & Scandal behind Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a story full of passion, violence and sexual tension.
So it's no surprise that it shocked Victorian readers when it first c...
How Filthy Were the Victorians?
They say people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. The Victorians might have done well to live by that rule.
For all of the dirt that the V...
How Filthy was the Renaissance?
The Renaissance, a period of transformation in art, learning, philosophy and science that brought us Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Dona...
The Syphilis Explosion of the American Civil War
It's been estimated that between eight and twelve percent of soldiers contracted a venereal disease during the American Civil War. What on earth were...
How Filthy Were Medieval People?
If there's one sure way to irritate an historian of the Medieval period, it's to ask why the people of the Middle Ages didn't wash.
In this epis...
Thames Torso Murders - Lucy Worsley
For over a century, a series of gruesome murders have gone unsolved. Until now?
The Thames Torso Killer terrified Victorian Londoners by dismemb...
How to Survive as a Medieval Single Woman
Being single in 2026 is a major disadvantage, so what was it like as a single woman in the Medieval period?!
Joining Kate today is the always-fa...
How Filthy Were The Romans?
Some of the key remnants of the Roman Empire are their public baths - huge complexes, multiple different rooms, the basis of many of our modern spas....
How Sexy Was Shakespeare?
There's a bit of interest around Shakespeare at the minute - can we call this the Paul Mescal effect?
The Bard’s work featured many references t...
How Has Porn Changed Through History?
With Christmas around the corner and everything being oh-so wholesome, we thought we would offer an episode from the archives of something not-so whol...
Inside the Royal Harems of the Ottoman Empire
You can't move for people talking about the Roman Empire or the British Empire, but what about the Ottoman Empire?
It spanned a huge period of t...
The Mother of All Tudors: Child Bride to Kingmaker
Ever heard of Margaret Beaufort? Probably not. But whilst her name has been overshadowed by those of her son, grandson and great-grandchildren, her im...
Sex & Scandal in Ancient Egypt
What did the Ancient Egyptians think about sex? Is there any truth to a rumoured royal sex scandal? What did they think of same-sex relationships?
Origins of Aphrodite: The Sex-Positive Goddess
Who was Aphrodite? She's often thought of as a goddess of sexuality, but there's so much more to this woman.
Which ancient civilisation was she...
The Truth About the Mitford Sisters
The Mitfords could rank as the strangest family of the 20th century.
Unity and Diana were passionate fascists who became obsessed with Adolf Hit...
Did Henry VIII Have An Affair With Anne Boleyn's Sister?
She was 'the Other Boleyn Girl' - Anne's sister, Mary, who supposedly had an affair with King Henry VIII. Such drama!
What evidence is there tha...
The Truth About Roald Dahl
The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda. Roald Dahl wrote some of the world's most loved children's books.
But what do we know abo...
Sex and Scandal of Medieval Royals
What did Queen Isabella of France do to deserve the nickname She-Wolf? What sex scandals happened in the 14th century? And why did the Black Death imp...
The Truth About Vincent Van Gogh
However you pronounce his name, one thing is for certain: Van Gogh made made his mark on the world.
But how did he interact with the world aroun...