History's Greatest Idiots

History's Greatest Idiots
  • 4.1 (9)
  • COMEDY INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This hilarious history podcast explores the epic failures, disasters, and terrible decisions that have shaped our world, providing us with memorable lessons to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Hosts Lev and Derek uncover the funniest blunders, scandals, spectacular mistakes, and jaw-dropping screw-ups from the dawn of time to today. Perfect for history buffs who love a little comedy with their knowledge! New episodes bi-weekly featuring famous disasters, military blunders, political scandals, and legendary bad life choices. Educational entertainment at its finest!

  1. Trad Wives: What History Actually Says

    3D AGO · BONUS

    Trad Wives: What History Actually Says

    The trad wife trend claims women have always stayed home and deferred to men. History disagrees, loudly. From Assyrian businesswomen on clay tablets to the woman who invented Monopoly before women could vote, this is four thousand years of evidence they'd rather you didn't find.

    7 min
  2. Chernobyl: How a Safety Test Destroyed the Soviet Union (Season 6 Episode 19)

    4D AGO

    Chernobyl: How a Safety Test Destroyed the Soviet Union (Season 6 Episode 19)

    This week on History's Greatest Idiots (featuring Patreon member Ben Markwart), we explore the Chernobyl nuclear disaster: the catastrophic 1986 explosion that killed dozens, displaced 350,000 people, cost 700 billion dollars, and helped collapse the Soviet Union. The Safety Test That Wasn't Very Safe On 26th April 1986 at 1:23 AM, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, exploded during a safety test. Engineers disabled the emergency core cooling system, ran the RBMK reactor at just 7% power (unstable below 20%), and withdrew most control rods. Within seconds, power surged to over 100 times normal output. Two explosions blew the 2,000 ton reactor lid off and ignited the graphite moderator, which burned for nine days, releasing massive radioactive contamination across Europe.The RBMK Reactor Design The Soviet RBMK reactor had catastrophic design flaws operators weren't informed about. It featured a positive void coefficient (coolant loss increased power), control rods with graphite tips that briefly increased reactivity when inserted, and no Western-style containment building. Deputy Chief Engineer Anatoly Diatlov, in charge during the accident, genuinely believed the reactor was safe. The Cover-up and Sweden's Discovery For 36 hours, Soviet officials said nothing whilst Pripyat's 50,000 residents went about their normal lives at radiation levels 600,000 times background levels. On 28th April, radiation alarms triggered at Sweden's Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant, over 1,000 kilometres away. Only after Swedish authorities announced a Soviet nuclear accident did the USSR reluctantly admit to Chernobyl. Gorbachev didn't issue a statement until 14th May, 18 days later, calling it a "misfortune" and attacking Western media as spreading "malicious lies." The Liquidators First responders weren't told they were confronting an exposed reactor core. Firefighters handled radioactive graphite with ordinary equipment. 28 died within four months from acute radiation syndrome. Firefighter Vasily Ignatenko, aged 25, received 1,300 rem and died on 13th May 1986. About 600,000 liquidators cleaned up the site. Called "bio-robots," they shovelled radioactive debris from the roof in 40-second shifts because robots were destroyed by radiation. At least 1,800 children developed thyroid cancer from radioactive iodine-131. How Chernobyl Collapsed the Soviet Union Gorbachev later stated Chernobyl was "perhaps the real cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union," more than perestroika, glasnost, Afghanistan, or the Berlin Wall. The disaster shattered public trust, contradicting glasnost's promise of openness. Combined with Afghanistan casualties (15,000 troops), economic stagnation (2.6% GDP growth), and military spending (16% of GNP), Chernobyl's 18 billion rouble cost broke the system. The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989. The USSR dissolved in December 1991, less than six years after Chernobyl. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 6m
  3. The Millars Episode: Redemption and Controversy in Cycling and Comics (Season 6 Episode 18)

    MAR 9

    The Millars Episode: Redemption and Controversy in Cycling and Comics (Season 6 Episode 18)

    This week on History's Greatest Idiots (Featuring Peter of In The Wheels), we explore two Scottish success stories: cyclist David Millar's fall from grace and redemption, and comic writer Mark Millar's controversial rise to Hollywood riches. Born 4th January 1977 in Malta, David Millar burst onto cycling's scene in 2000, winning the Tour de France prologue and wearing the yellow jersey. He won four Tour stages and became the first British rider to wear the leader's jersey in all three Grand Tours. On 23rd June 2004, whilst dining in Biarritz, French police arrested Millar. They found empty EPO phials and syringes. Millar confessed to doping in 2001 and 2003. He was banned for two years, stripped of his 2003 World Championship, and fired by Cofidis. Returning in 2006, Millar transformed into cycling's most vocal anti-doping advocate. He served on WADA's Athlete Committee, became peloton spokesperson during Operación Puerto, and proved he could win clean with stages in the Vuelta, Giro, and a 2012 Tour victory. He achieved almost identical results in both halves of his career, retiring in 2014. Born 24th December 1969 in Coatbridge, Mark Millar became one of comics' most successful and divisive figures. After The Authority and The Ultimates (Time's "comic book of the decade"), Millar created Millarworld, designing properties to sell to Hollywood. Wanted, Kick-Ass, and Kingsman became films before issues appeared. Netflix purchased Millarworld in 2017. Critical reception has been harsh. Old Man Logan was called "grotesque" and "without substance", Kick-Ass criticised for undermining its premise, Nemesis dismissed as shock value. When asked about using assaults as a plot device, Millar said: "The ultimate act that would be the taboo, to show how bad some villain is..." Politically, Millar supported Brexit as a path to Scottish independence, then resigned from Labour in 2025, calling Keir Starmer's government "nightmarish, totalitarian." Two Millars. One rebuilt his reputation through honesty. The other built a Hollywood empire on controversy. David Millar: From Yellow Jersey to Prison CellMark Millar: Comics, Controversy and Self-Promotion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 43m
  4. Gallagher - Comedy's Melon Smashing Outcast (Season 6 episode 17)

    MAR 2

    Gallagher - Comedy's Melon Smashing Outcast (Season 6 episode 17)

    This week on History's Greatest Idiots, we're trying a slightly different mini-documentary format to explore one of the most bizarre success stories in American comedy: Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., the man who proved you could become a millionaire by hitting produce with a mallet. From Science to Sledgehammers Born 24th July 1946 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Leo suffered severe asthma. His family relocated to South Tampa, Florida, for the warm weather. He became a championship roller skater at his father's rink, but wanted to be a scientist. In 1970, he graduated from the University of South Florida with a chemical engineering degree and English literature minor, then worked as a chemist. But when he became road manager for musician Jim Stafford, Kenny Rogers' manager asked if he would open for Rogers on a 100-night tour. Gallagher went from no stage experience to performing in America's largest auditoriums overnight. The Sledge-O-Matic and Cable Television Stardom Gallagher's big break came in 1975 with an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. But his 1980 Showtime special launched him to stardom as cable television exploded. The centrepiece was the Sledge-O-Matic, a parody of infomercials. Gallagher smashed apples, oranges, cottage cheese, Big Macs, video game controllers, and finally watermelons. Chunks exploded into the audience. The first rows were covered in plastic sheeting. Audiences brought raincoats. They called it being 'Gallagherized'. From 1981 to 1987, he produced 16 specials on Showtime. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was America's highest-earning stand-up comedian, performing 200 shows yearly for 35 years, over 3,500 performances total, destroying tens of thousands of watermelons. Critics and Rankings Whilst Gallagher sold out theatres, the comedy establishment had mixed feelings. Critics dismissed his act as lowbrow. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him 100th on their list of greatest stand-up comedians. Dead last. Gallagher was bitter, feeling underappreciated despite massive commercial success. The Brother Wars In the early 1990s, brother Ron asked to perform Leo's routines. Leo agreed if Ron made it clear he was Ron Gallagher, not Leo. Ron toured as 'Gallagher II'. But promotional materials became unclear. In August 2000, Leo sued for trademark violation. Courts sided with Leo. But Gallagher's entire family sided with Ron. The estrangement lasted for life. The Final Act Gallagher continued touring into his 70s. He owned patents for slot machine software. In 2003, he ran for California Governor, finishing 16th of 135 candidates. He appeared in a GEICO commercial. His health declined with three heart attacks between 2011 and 2012, collapsing onstage in Minnesota and before a Dallas show. Each time he recovered and returned. After 2012, he reduced touring. COVID-19 in 2020 stopped him entirely. On 11th November 2022, he died from organ failure in Palm Springs, aged 76. Legacy Gallagher never got respect from the comedy establishment, but he had 35 years of sold-out shows, millions of fans, and the satisfaction of making people happy. Not bad for a guy who just wanted to be a scientist. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    21 min
  5. J. Paul Getty - The Miserable Billionaire (Season 6 Episode 16)

    FEB 23

    J. Paul Getty - The Miserable Billionaire (Season 6 Episode 16)

    Billions, miserliness, and a severed ear! This episode of History's Greatest Idiots (featuring The Hungry Historian) explores the extraordinary life of Jean Paul Getty, the oil tycoon who became the richest man in the world, installed a payphone in his mansion for guests, and refused to pay ransom whilst his kidnapped grandson's ear was being cut off. The Golden Child Who Disappointed Daddy: Born in 1892 to oilman George Franklin Getty, young J. Paul made his first million at age 23, then quit to party in Hollywood dating film stars including the Gish sisters, Norma Talmadge, and Gloria Swanson. He married and divorced three women within a decade. His father was appalled. When George Getty died in 1930, he left an estate worth $10 million. J. Paul inherited just $500,000. His mother received the rest. It was a pointed snub that would define Getty's entire life. The Great Depression Bargain Hunter: Determined to prove his father wrong, Getty bought up distressed oil company stocks during the Depression. He boasted to an acquaintance: "I just fleeced my mother" after persuading her to give him control of her trust fund. In 1949, he gambled $9.5 million on mineral rights to a barren Saudi Arabian desert called the Neutral Zone. Other oil companies thought he was mad. In 1953, oil was discovered. The field produced 16 million barrels yearly. By 1966, Getty was the world's wealthiest private citizen, worth $1.2 billion (approximately $70 billion in today's purchasing power). The Miser of Sutton Place: Getty settled at Sutton Place, a Tudor estate near Guildford. He filled it with priceless art, then installed a payphone in the entrance hall because he worried guests might make long-distance calls. He haggled over garden barrows. He reused string. He was married and divorced five times, had five sons, and was a terrible father. His son George Getty II died from a drug and alcohol-induced stroke. His son J. Paul Getty Jr. became a heroin addict. The Kidnapping: On 10th July 1973, 16-year-old John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in Rome by the 'Ndrangheta crime organization. They demanded $17 million. Getty refused to pay, suspecting his grandson was faking it. For months, Paul was held in a cave, blindfolded and beaten. In November 1973, kidnappers sent Paul's severed ear to an Italian newspaper with a letter: "This is Paul's first ear. If within ten days the family still believes this is a joke, then the other ear will arrive. In other words, he will arrive in little bits." Only then did Getty negotiate. He agreed to pay $2.2 million (the maximum tax-deductible amount under U.S. law). He then lent the remaining $800,000 to his son at four percent interest. Getty wrote off his portion as a tax deduction. When Paul was rescued, Getty refused to come to the phone. Paul never recovered, suffering a stroke in 1981 that left him paralyzed and nearly blind for 36 years until his death in 2011. Getty proved you could have all the money in the world and still be absolutely miserable whilst making everyone around you miserable too. He died wealthy and alone, having haggled over his grandson's ear, installed payphones for guests, and left behind a company that charges fees for photographs it doesn't own. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1h 4m
  6. Tech's Biggest Mistakes (Season 6 Episode 15)

    FEB 16

    Tech's Biggest Mistakes (Season 6 Episode 15)

    Scams, spectacular failures, and billions burned! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots explores three tech disasters that prove innovation and incompetence make the perfect recipe for catastrophe. First up: Ruja Ignatova, the "Crypto Queen" who convinced investors OneCoin was the next Bitcoin whilst running one of history's largest Ponzi schemes. She vanished in 2017 with $4 billion of other people's money, becoming one of the FBI's Most Wanted. Her brother went to prison. Her victims lost everything. She's probably on a yacht somewhere laughing at all of us. Then we explore Y2K, the Millennium Bug that convinced the entire world civilization would collapse at midnight on 1st January 2000. Governments spent $300-600 billion preparing for disaster. Russia put nuclear forces on high alert. People stockpiled generators, tinned food, and guns (sales spiked 700% in some US areas). Airlines grounded flights. Survivalists moved to remote cabins. What actually happened? Some slot machines in Delaware stopped working. That's it. The most expensive non-event in human history. Finally, Sam Altman and OpenAI: the Stanford dropout who convinced the world he was building God whilst burning billions and destroying the planet. From nonprofit to capped profit to whatever OpenAI is now. ChatGPT's explosive growth to 100 million users in two months. The environmental catastrophe (training GPT-3 used enough energy to power 358 UK homes for a year). The brain drain to Anthropic as safety researchers fled. The board firing Sam for lying, 500 employees threatening to quit, and Sam returning five days later more powerful than ever. OpenAI projected to lose $14 billion in 2026 and potentially go bankrupt by mid-2027. Tech stocks making up 40% of the market. Microsoft losing $357 billion in a single day in January 2026. The AI bubble that might crash harder than dot-com. From crypto fraud to millennium panic to AI hype, these tech disasters prove that when greed meets fear meets overconfidence, billions of dollars disappear and nobody learns anything. Join Lev, Derek and special guest The History Obscura Podcast, as they count down the greatest hits of technology's most spectacular failures. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    2h 27m

  7. FEB 15 · BONUS

    Special Announcement

    We're sad to announce that Derek will no longer be continuing with the podcast. We've had 5 wonderful years producing this show together, and I couldn't have wished for a better friend and co-host than the person that made me laugh more than anyone I've ever known. This isn't the end of the show though, History's Greatest Idiots will continue, and Derek and I remain close friends. He will still be reachable via myself if you wish to pass on any messages. We love you all very much, thank you all for your continued support. Rest assured, there's plenty more comedic historic podcast episodes on the way. Thank you all for understanding. Lev and Derek

    11 min
  8. Bunny Roger: The War Hero Who Fought in Blush and a Silk Scarf (Season 6 Episode 14)

    FEB 9

    Bunny Roger: The War Hero Who Fought in Blush and a Silk Scarf (Season 6 Episode 14)

    War heroes, haute couture, and outrageous parties! This episode of History's Greatest Idiots, featuring The Fit Historian (https://www.youtube.com/@fithistorian), explores the extraordinary life of Neil Munro "Bunny" Roger, the openly gay fashion designer who became a decorated World War II hero, invented Capri pants, and threw London's most legendary parties whilst maintaining a 26-inch waist and wearing makeup to battle. The Fairy Prince: Born in 1911 to Scottish telecommunications tycoon Sir Alexander Roger, young Bunny asked for a doll's house and got it. At age six, his parents gave him a fairy costume with butterfly wings. His stern father sent him to Loretto, a famously dour boarding school that Bunny later said was worse than being shelled at Anzio. At Oxford, he attended parties dressed as Hollywood starlets, wore makeup, dyed his hair, and was expelled in 1930 for "alleged homosexual activities" when homosexuality was completely illegal. Margaret Thatcher was one of only a tiny minority of Conservative MPs who voted to decriminalise homosexuality in 1967, calling prosecutions "a waste of court time." This didn't stop her passing Section 28 in 1988, banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools. The Fashion Designer: After Oxford, Bunny worked at Fortnum & Mason learning tailoring, then opened "Neil Roger" in 1937 with £1,000 from his exasperated father (equivalent to £60,000 today, purchasing power of £400,000). He dressed Vivien Leigh, future star of Gone with the Wind. His designs referenced Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, and Pola Negri. The War Hero: In 1941, Bunny joined the Rifle Brigade and served in North Africa and Italy. At Monte Cassino in 1944, he charged a machine gun post wearing blush and a silk scarf, carrying Vogue in his pocket. When asked about approaching Germans, he replied "When in doubt, powder heavily." He was decorated for bravery, saved a wounded comrade at Anzio by dragging him from No Man's Land under fire, and entered burning buildings to rescue soldiers. After the war: "Now I've shot so many N*zis, Daddy will have to buy me a sable coat." The Post-War Fashion Legend: Bunny ran Fortnum & Mason's couture department from the late 1940s until 1973. In 1949, he invented fitted Capri pants on holiday. He bought 15 bespoke Savile Row suits yearly at £30,000 each in today's money, ordering four pairs of custom shoes per suit. By his death, he owned over 600 pairs of shoes. He maintained a 26-inch waist through corsetry until later life when it ballooned to 31 inches. The Legendary Parties: Bunny's Mayfair house became London's most notorious party destination. In 1952, he threw a "Quo Vadis?" party with no address, answering the door in slavery attire. In 1956, he held the infamous Fetish Party with guests in leather bondage gear, some dragging companions on dog chains. The Sunday People published scandalised photographs. For his 70th birthday in 1981, he held the Amethyst Ball at Holland Park, wearing a plum catsuit with a feathered headdress glued into his hair. Anyone not in purple was rejected. For his 80th birthday in 1991, he wore a scarlet sequin catsuit with an orange cape and greeted guests from behind a literal wall of fire. The Final Years: Bunny retreated to his Scottish estate Dundonell, spending his inheritance on art, furniture, and parties. When Sotheby's auctioned his belongings in 1998, the catalogue was 339 pages with 1,505 lots. He died in 1997 aged 85, having lived exactly as he pleased, fought Nazis in makeup, invented iconic fashion, and never once pretended to be anything other than who he was. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/HistorysGreatestIdiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/historysgreatestidiots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artist: Sarah Chey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/sarahchey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    49 min
See All (150)

Trailer

4.1
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

This hilarious history podcast explores the epic failures, disasters, and terrible decisions that have shaped our world, providing us with memorable lessons to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Hosts Lev and Derek uncover the funniest blunders, scandals, spectacular mistakes, and jaw-dropping screw-ups from the dawn of time to today. Perfect for history buffs who love a little comedy with their knowledge! New episodes bi-weekly featuring famous disasters, military blunders, political scandals, and legendary bad life choices. Educational entertainment at its finest!

Information

  • Creator
    History's Greatest Idiots
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © History's Greatest Idiots
  • Show Website
    History's Greatest Idiots

You Might Also Like