25 episodes

Tony Robinson is best-known for playing turnip-brained Baldrick who always had 'a cunning plan' in the iconic TV show Blackadder. He's presented countless documentaries throughout his 50-year career, including 20-years on Channel 4's Time Team, inspired by his passion for history and for digging deep into the past to understand more about the present. That's his thing!
In his cunningly curated history podcast, Tony is delving into the weird and wonderful stories that grab him and make him want to know more about the world around us. He’s asking: Why was Stonehenge built? What did the past smell like, was it horrible? Why were pies invented? Why do our dogs love us so much? When did tattoos stop being taboo? What do bones tell us about past humanity? Amongst other intriguing questions...
 
Along the way, Tony is joined by experts and special guests, including Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Raksha Dave, John Lloyd, Alice Roberts, Grace Neutral and David Mitchell who help provide some answers.
So join Tony Robinson as he hosts his cunningly curated history podcast. New episodes drop Thursdays.
Tony Robinson's Cunningcast is part of the Acast Creator Network and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Cunningcast
X | Instagram | YouTube
@Cunningcastpod
Sir Tony Robinson
X | Instagram
 
If you enjoyed my podcast, please follow the show and leave us a rating or review.
Thank you, Love Tony x
A Zinc Media Group production

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

Tony Robinson's Cunningcast Zinc Media Group

    • History
    • 4.6 • 205 Ratings

Tony Robinson is best-known for playing turnip-brained Baldrick who always had 'a cunning plan' in the iconic TV show Blackadder. He's presented countless documentaries throughout his 50-year career, including 20-years on Channel 4's Time Team, inspired by his passion for history and for digging deep into the past to understand more about the present. That's his thing!
In his cunningly curated history podcast, Tony is delving into the weird and wonderful stories that grab him and make him want to know more about the world around us. He’s asking: Why was Stonehenge built? What did the past smell like, was it horrible? Why were pies invented? Why do our dogs love us so much? When did tattoos stop being taboo? What do bones tell us about past humanity? Amongst other intriguing questions...
 
Along the way, Tony is joined by experts and special guests, including Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Raksha Dave, John Lloyd, Alice Roberts, Grace Neutral and David Mitchell who help provide some answers.
So join Tony Robinson as he hosts his cunningly curated history podcast. New episodes drop Thursdays.
Tony Robinson's Cunningcast is part of the Acast Creator Network and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Cunningcast
X | Instagram | YouTube
@Cunningcastpod
Sir Tony Robinson
X | Instagram
 
If you enjoyed my podcast, please follow the show and leave us a rating or review.
Thank you, Love Tony x
A Zinc Media Group production

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

    A Fan-tash-tic History of FACIAL HAIR

    A Fan-tash-tic History of FACIAL HAIR

    Men’s facial hair is very prone to fashions: moustaches and beards are back in, but why is that and what sparks bread trends and facial hair fashions? To help him find out, Tony has invited ‘beard’ historian Alun Withey and male grooming influencer Robin James | Man For Himself. They discuss 17th Century notions of facial hair as a waste product; through barber-surgeons and early shaving practices; powdered wigs; the Victorian beard movement; King Camp Gillett’s safely razor; the First World War military moustache; film star fashion icons to the rising popularity of men’s hair products and male grooming.
    Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson
    X | Instagram
    With
    Robin James | Man For Himself
    www.ManForHimself.com and IG @ManForHimself 
    Exploring men’s hair, grooming, fragrance and lifestyle.
    Dr Alun Withey | Historian
    http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/history/staff/withey/
     
    Historian of early modern medicine and senior lecturer in History at the University of Exeter. Alun's major research project ‘Do Beards Matter?’, funded by the Wellcome Trust forms the basis of his book Concerning Beards: Facial Hair, Health and Practice in England, 1650-1900 (London: Bloomsbury, 2021). 
    Follow the show:
     
    X @cunningcastpod
     
    Instagram @cunningcastpod
     
    YouTube @Cunningcast
     
    Credits: 
     
    Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X @melissafitzg
     
    Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville
     
    Cover Art: The Brightside
     
    A Zinc Media Group production
     
    If you enjoyed my podcast, please leave us a rating or review.
     
    Thank you, Love Tony x 
     

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

    • 45 min
    RICHARD CURTIS | Blackadder: The Lost Pilot

    RICHARD CURTIS | Blackadder: The Lost Pilot

    Today Tony is talking to his old friend and collaborator, the screenwriter Richard Curtis. They share memories of making Blackadder from the early years to how it all ended. Along the way, they discuss Richard’s comedy roots and how he became a top comedy screenwriter: meeting Rowan Atkinson at Oxford Uni; working on Not The Nine O’Clock News; the influence of Fawlty Towers and plans for a Blackadder series set in the 1960s that never happened. Plus, they read lines from the Blackadder pilot script and discover where Baldrick’s ‘cunning plan’ catch-phrase comes from.
    Last year Blackadder turned 40, to mark the occasion, Tony made a TV show in which he tracked down the lost Blackadder pilot to discover the truth of Blackadder's beginnings. For the show, Tony interviewed many old friends and people who are central to making Blackadder the success it was, as well as Blackadder superfan David Mitchell, who is featured in Cunningcast Series 2, Episode 4. You are hearing Tony’s unedited, behind the scenes chat with Richard Curtis recorded for the TV programme. The show is called Blackadder: The Lost Pilot and you can watch it on Sky, Virgin & Now.
    Richard Curtis was Blackadder’s mastermind and writer, alongside Ben Elton. He’s one of Britain's most successful screenwriters and producers, with credits including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Mr Bean, The Vicar of Dibley, Love Actually, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Yesterday. He’s also the co-founder of Comic Relief.
    Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson
    X | Instagram
    With
    Richard Curtis
     
    Credits: 
     
    Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X @melissafitzg
     
    Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville
     
    Blackadder: The Lost Pilot is produced by Red Sauce
     
    A Zinc Media Group production
     
    Follow:
     
    X @cunningcastpod
     
    Instagram @cunningcastpod
     
    YouTube @cunningcast
     
    If you enjoyed my podcast, please leave us a rating or review.
     
    Thank you, Love Tony x

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

    • 58 min
    The Past, Present and Future of CAR Engineering and Sustainability

    The Past, Present and Future of CAR Engineering and Sustainability

    Electric cars are the future of motoring, or so we are told, but today’s Cunningcast guests don’t agree. In fact, Hugo Spowers of Riversimple thinks hydrogen is the future and he’s designing hydrogen powered cars to prove it. Together with experienced car broadcaster Richard Sutton, they give Tony the low down on the past, present and their vision for the future of car engineering and sustainability.  
    Hosted by Si Tony Robinson
    X | Instagram
    With
    Hugo Spowers
     
    Chief engineer and founder of Riversimple, who are pioneering the next generation of zero emission vehicles. They use hydrogen, not batteries and emit nothing but water. Hugo is responsible for all technical aspects of the cars and for the architecture of the business itself. He is considered something of a thought leader on the Circular Economy and has been invited to give talks on entrepreneurship at Imperial College, London and Cranfield University among others. At the Real Innovation Awards in October 2019 hosted by the London Business School, Hugo was awarded the George Bernard Shaw Unreasonable Person Award “for someone who has shown enormous tenacity and stubbornness in pursuing an idea despite the difficulties encountered along the way”.
     
    https://www.riversimple.com/project/hugo-spowers/
     
    IG @Riversimplemovement
    X @Riversimple
     
    Richard Sutton
     
    Richard presented ‘Deals on Wheels’ on Channel 4 and he also worked at Goodwood, he’s been immersed in cars for many years. 
     
    Credits: 
     
    Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X @melissafitzg
     
    Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville
     
    Cover Art: The Brightside
     
    A Zinc Media Group production
     
    Follow:
     
    X @cunningcastpod
     
    Instagram @cunningcastpod
     
    YouTube @Cunningcast
     
    If you enjoy my podcast, please follow us and leave us a rating or review.
     
    Thank you, Love Tony x

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

    • 52 min
    Conjuring Up… A History of Stage MAGIC

    Conjuring Up… A History of Stage MAGIC

    Today Tony is conjuring up a history of stage magic: from Reginald Scot's 1584 ‘Discovery of Witchcraft’ to Servais LeRoy ‘The Belgium Conjuror’ and Talma, ‘The Queen of Coins’ via escapologist Harry Houdini to TV magic with David Berglas, Paul Daniels and David Copperfield. Tony also explores women in magic and how ‘female assistants’ were integral to the magic tricks they performed. He’s invited two accomplished magicians and knowledgeable members of the magic circle, Paul Kieve and Laura London, to help him out with the history and share some magic secrets along the way.
    Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson
    X | Instagram
    With
    Paul Kieve
     
    Designer of storytelling magic and illusion, Paul has devised original magic for over 100 productions internationally. Paul is an honorary lifetime member of The Magic Castle, Hollywood, Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Circle and an associate artist at The Old Vic Theatre, London.
     
    www.stageillusion.com/
    IG @kievepaul
     
    Laura London
     
    Laura is one of the world’s best female ‘sleight of hand’ artists specialising in cards and is also fabulous close-up magician with a large and varied repertoire. Laura’s interest in magic began at 10 years old, when, for a birthday present, she was given her first magic trick. Just one week after her 18th birthday, Laura became the youngest ever female member of The Magic Circle and is now a member of the Inner Magic Circle.
     
    www.lauralondonmagic.co.uk/
     
    IG: @lauralondon52
     
    Credits: 
     
    Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X @melissafitzg
     
    Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville
     
    Cover Art: The Brightside
     
    A Zinc Media Group production
     
    Follow:
     
    X @cunningcastpod
     
    Instagram @cunningcastpod
     
    YouTube @Cunnningcast
     
    If you enjoyed my podcast, please leave us a rating or review.
     
    Thank you, Love Tony x

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

    • 1 hr 5 min
    DAVID MITCHELL | Blackadder: The Lost Pilot

    DAVID MITCHELL | Blackadder: The Lost Pilot

    Comedian David Mitchell is joining Tony on Cunningcast today. They cover David’s comedy awakening; meeting Robert Webb and the early years of Peep Show; how Olivia Coleman got involved; his love of Blackadder; playing William Shakespeare and working with Ben Elton in Upstart Crow and meeting his wife, Victorian Coren Mitchell.
     
    Last year the iconic comedy Blackadder turned 40, to mark the occasion, Tony made a TV show in which he tracked down the lost Blackadder Pilot to discover the truth of Blackadder's beginnings. The show is called Blackadder: The Lost Pilot and you can watch it on catch up on Sky, Virgin & Now. 
     
    For the show, Tony interviewed many of those involved and some who were inspired by Blackadder: you are hearing Tony’s unedited, behind the scenes chat with David Mitchell recorded for the programme.
     
    David Mitchell has had a stellar career in British comedy. His big breakthrough was Peep Show with David Webb and Olivia Coleman and since then, he’s worked on a plethora of panel shows, including Would I lie to You, Mock the Week and QI. He starred as William Shakespeare in Upstart Crow, a historical comedy devised by Ben Elton.  His new book ‘Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens’ is a thoughtful, funny exploration of the entitled and enthroned.
    Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson
    X | Instagram
    With
    David Mitchell
    @RealDMitchell 
    #Unruly | https://www.waterstones.com/book/unruly/david-mitchell/9781405953177
     
    Credits: 
     
    Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @melissafitzg
     
    Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville
     
    Blackadder: The Lost Pilot is produced by Red Sauce
     
    A Zinc Media Group production
    Follow the show:
    X @cunningcastpod
     
    Instagram @cunningcastpod
    Youtube @Cunningcast
     
    If you enjoyed my podcast, please leave us a rating or review.
     
    Thank you, Love Tony x
     

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

    • 53 min
    A Wobbly History of JELLY: From Elite Dining to Kids’ Parties and Back Again

    A Wobbly History of JELLY: From Elite Dining to Kids’ Parties and Back Again

    It's all going a bit wobbly in Cunningcast Towers as we are talking about the history of jelly. Tony wants to rescue jelly from its place as a children’s party food because there was a time when making jellies was an art form and took pride of place on the tables of the wealthy. He’s invited leading food historian Annie Gray and jellymonger-in-chief Sam Bompas to help him out.
    Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson
    X | Instagram
    With
    Sam Bompas
    Food designer, one half of Bompas and Parr food design agency.
     
    www.bompasandparr.com
    X @bompasandparr 
    IG @bompasandparr
     
    To buy jellies and kitchenalia:
    https://www.benhamandfroud.com
    Annie Gray
    Food historian, Annie has worked widely across TV and radio talking about and recreating the food of the past, and has been the resident food historian on BBC Radio 4’s award-winning culinary panel show, The Kitchen Cabinet since its inception in 2012. She includes a recipe for Champagne Jelly in her ‘Downton Abbey Cookbook’.
     
    http://www.anniegray.co.uk/ 
    X @DrAnnieGray
    IG dranniegray
     
    Credits: 
     
    Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X @melissafitzg
     
    Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville
     
    Cover Art: The Brightside
     
    A Zinc Media Group production
     
    Follow:
     
    X @cunningcastpod
     
    Instagram @cunningcastpod
    Youtube @Cunningcast
     
    If you enjoyed my podcast, please follow us and leave us a rating or review.
     
    Thank you, Love Tony x

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

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
205 Ratings

205 Ratings

johnbhoy1962 ,

A Broadcasting Hero !

The great thing about this Pod is the variety of subjects covered , including some you don’t think are for you, but end up being really fascinating
Tony is ( obviously) great , and his banter with Producer Melissa at the beginning of each pod is also a highlight
All that said , the History and Archeology based episodes are my favourites particularly the Stonehenge one from Season 1 , and the fabulous Alice Roberts feature from Season 2
Highly recommended !

reynolp ,

Alice Robert’s episode

This particular episode was one of the best pods I’ve ever listened too. Two people who love what they are discussing, who are fascinated by archaeology but are also fantastic communicators. You can really feel their enthusiasm for what they are talking about, as a listener you feel that you just happen to be sat with them chatting, ear wigging on their conversation. Please please do make a tv show with Tony and Alice talking about anything it will be joyous.

MWC17a ,

V good

Excellent podcast

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