Here for the History

BBC Sounds
  • 4.7 (66)
  • History
  • Weekly

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the surprising moments in history behind the traditions, customs and objects all around us. Watch on iPlayer: https://bbc.in/4yZXE7U

  1. 1d ago

    Why Do Brits Love Curry?

    How did curry become Britain’s “national dish”? Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore curry’s imperial origins, the first Indian restaurant in Britain, and the postwar curry house boom. Key Sources: Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors - Lizzie Collingham. “Going for an Indian”: South Asian Restaurants and the Limits of Multiculturalism in Britain - Elizabeth Buettner. The British love affair with curry - BBC, Witness History.

  2. Oct 29

    Where Did Cash Come From?

    When you find a coin down the back of the sofa, have you ever wondered where it came from? Do you know your farthings from your pennies? Your guineas from your pounds? From ancient Lydia and Roman Britain to the founding of the Royal Mint and Decimalisation Day — Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson tell the story of how Brits started using coins and banknotes. Key Sources: Economica, Victoria Bateman. Britain’s First Coins, Chris Rudd. The Big Reset: War on Gold and the Financial Endgame, Willem Middelkoop. Royal Mint Museum website. Bank of England website.

  3. Oct 22

    Do Brits Have Bad Teeth?

    British people have terrible teeth. That’s the stereotype - but is it true? And what’s the story behind it? Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore how Brits got a reputation for bad teeth thanks to our love of sugar, and we see how British and American teeth took wildly different paths after the Second World War. Key Sources: June Thomas - Journalist. The Bad-Mouthing of British Teeth - Decoder Ring podcast. Drills, Dentures and Dentistry: An Oral History - BBC Four. Dr Irwin Smigel - The Times. Austin Powers bites back: a cross sectional comparison of US and English national oral health surveys - British Medical Journal.

  4. Oct 15

    Where Did The Modern Toilet Come From?

    Have you ever stopped to think about the technological marvel that is the modern toilet? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson chart a course from a Roman fort in Northumberland via Victorian London to a council flat in 20th century Glasgow. All to find out - when did we get flushing loos? And what happened to all that waste? Does it surprise you how recently these things became the norm? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to hit like, hype and subscribe if you’re Here for the History. Key Sources Conversations with Dr Stephen Halliday and Lee Jackson

  5. Oct 8

    Why Are We Obsessed With Work?

    Do you ever feel like work is taking over your life? Well, society didn’t always place so much value on work ethic. Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton uncover the surprising history behind our modern obsession with hard work. First, medieval marriage reforms transformed people’s relationship with work. Then, monastic orders and the Protestant Reformation framed hard work as sacred. Finally, the industrial revolution kickstarted our modern fixation on productivity. Key Sources: The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous - Prof Joseph Henrich. Time, Work-Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism - E. P. Thompson. Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Evolution of Work - Richard Donkin. The Corrosion of Character: The Personal Consequences of Work in the New Capitalism - Prof Richard Sennett. Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution - Prof Maxine Berg & Prof Pat Hudson.

  6. Oct 1

    Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?

    For centuries leaving the house without a hat would be like leaving the house without your phone or keys - you simply wouldn’t do it. But these days, headwear is an optional add on - a fashion choice, a weather protector, or found on the head of a wedding guest. Alice and Ben look under the brim of history to find out what on earth happened to the ubiquity of the hat? We’ll cover a parent’s desperate tactic to keep a son out of trouble, there are highwaymen, practical jokes, and a British supermodel. Key Sources: The Cultural, Social, and Ideological Role of the Hat in Early Modern England - Professor Bernard Capp Dress for Deference and Dissent: Hats and the decline of Hat Honour - Professor Penelope J. Corfield Hats - Fiona Clark

  7. Sep 24

    Why Are We Dog Obsessed?

    Dogs are man’s best friend - but has it always been that way? Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton look into how humans and dogs first got acquainted, we’ll hear about the tough lives of medieval dogs, and we’ll reveal how the Victorians forged our modern relationship with our canine friends. This episode contains a brief description of cruelty to animals. Listener discretion is advised. Key sources: Collared: How We Made the Modern Dog - Professor Chris Pearson. Man and the natural world: Changing attitudes in England 1500-1800 - Sir Keith Thomas. The Hardworking Dogs of Medieval Europe - Livia Gershon. Dog, Natural Histories - BBC Radio 4.

  8. Sep 17

    Who Invented the “Whodunit”?

    It was the vicar that did it! In the billiards room! With a candlestick! To many fans of a murder mystery, this is perhaps a familiar sounding phrase from a classic “whodunit”. But just how did this endlessly popular genre come to be? Alice and Ben leaf back through the pages of history to uncover just where “whodunits” came from, who invented them, and how they’ve endured centuries of changing tastes. They will discuss multiple lines of inquiry; from our historical appetite for the gruesome and thrilling; to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Agatha Christie; and even the impact of the World Wars. Key Sources: Agatha Christie: A Very Short Introduction - Professor Gill Plain The TV Crime Drama - Professor Sue Turnbull Forever England: Femininity, Literature, and Conservatism Between the Wars - Alison Light Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen - BBC / Lucy Worsley Caught in the Web of Words: Whodunit - Ken Liss

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4.7
out of 5
66 Ratings

About

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the surprising moments in history behind the traditions, customs and objects all around us. Watch on iPlayer: https://bbc.in/4yZXE7U

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Sounds
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Here for the History

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