Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens
Season One of ‘The Presidents & Prime Ministers brought to life all 55 of Britain's Prime Ministers through interviews with the authors of all 55 essays in Iain Dale’s book The Prime Ministers: Three Hundred Years of History. From the obscure 18th-century figures like the Earl of Shelburne and Henry Pelham to 20th-century titans like Churchill and Thatcher, these podcasts provide a much-needed reminder about their motivations, failures and achievements. Season Two, gives the same treatment to the 45 US Presidents from George Washington through to Joe Biden, with each episode featuring an interview with the author of the essay about a President in Iain Dale’s book ‘The Presidents’. Season Three contained interviews about the various and varied Irish Taoisigh, whilst the new Season 4 takes you through England and the UK's many Kings and Queens, as featured in Iain's book Kings and Queens: 1200 Years of English and British Monarchs. Buy signed copies of ‘The Prime Ministers’, ‘The Presidents’ and 'Kings and Queens' at http://www.politicos.co.uk.
Episodes
176. Elizabeth I (1558-1603)
Iain Dale talks to historian Anna Whitelock about the life of one of our greatest and longest serving monarchs, Elizabeth I.
11/11/24•59m 44s
175. Edgar II (1066-1066)
Iain Dale reads his chapter on the ‘nearly king’ Edgar II who is never included in the list of British monarchs. But he should be. And Iain explains why.
04/11/24•11m 48s
174. Edgar I (959-975)
Iain Dale talks to Justin Hill about the reign of the monarch who became known as Edgar the Peaceable.
28/10/24•21m 37s
173. Richard II (1377-99)
Iain Dale talks to Adam Lake about the life of King Richard II, who ascended the throne at the age of 10, and was forced to abdicate at the age of 32.
21/10/24•27m 19s
172. King Harold (1066-1066)
Iain Dale talks to Alexander Stafford about the King who was killed by an arrow to the eye. Or was he?
07/10/24•24m 22s
171. George IV (1820 - 1830)
Iain Dale talks to Carolyn Day about the life of George IV, known as a controversial character, in modern terms 'a bit of a lad'!
30/09/24•41m 40s
170. Edmund Ironside (1016-1016)
Iain Dale talks to historian Paula Lofting about the 221 day long reign of Edmund Ironside
23/09/24•33m 57s
169. Harold Harefoot (1035-40)
Iain Dale talks to Emily Fox about the brief reign of Harold Harefoot.
16/09/24•13m 39s
168. Aethelred the Unready (978-1013, 1014-16)
I discuss the rather unsuccessful reign(s) of the king who had an unfortunate epithet added to his name with the New Statesman’s Harry Lambert.
09/09/24•22m 42s
167. Richard Cromwell (1658-59)
Iain Dale talks to historian Kirsteen Mackenzie about the life of the largely forgotten son of Oliver Cromwell, who succeeded his father as Lord Protector, but ruled for only nine months.
02/09/24•38m 59s
166. Louis (1216)
Iain Dale talks to Catherine Hanley about the life and disputed reign of King Louis in 1216.
26/08/24•26m 5s
165. James II (1685-1688)
Iain Dale speaks to historian & author Gareth Russell about the life of King James II who ruled from just 1685 until being deposed in the glorious revolution of 1688.
19/08/24•28m 29s
164. James I (1603 - 1625)
Iain Dale talks to historical author Steven Veerapen, whose book 'The Wisest Fool' charts the lavish life of the King who went from James VI of Scotland to becoming James I after the union of the English & Scottish crowns.
12/08/24•44m 1s
163. King Edward I (1272-1307)
Iain Dale talks to historian and biographer John Barnes about the 35 year long reign of King Edward I
29/07/24•47m 32s
162. Aelfweard (924-924)
Iain Dale talks to Matthew Stadlen about the two week reign of one of England’s first monarchs.
22/07/24•19m 27s
161. Edmund (939-940)
Iain Dale talks to George Trefgarne about the short lived reign of one of the early Anglo Saxon monarchs
15/07/24•18m 23s
160. Henry V (1413-1422)
Iain Dale talks to historian Lauren Mackay about the life and reign of the King who defeated the French at Agincourt.
08/07/24•32m 25s
159. Sweyn Forkbeard (1013-1013)
Iain Dale talks to historian Justin Hill about the life and five week reign of the gloriously named Sweyn Forkbeard.
01/07/24•31m 24s
158. Edward VI (1547-53)
Iain Dale talks to historian Elizabeth Norton about the life and reign of King Edward VI, a king who few know anything about.
24/06/24•26m 26s
157. Edward the Elder (899-924)
Iain Dale talks to historian Gareth Streeter about the important reign of Edward the Elder.
17/06/24•24m 20s
156. Edward VII (1901-10)
Iain Dale talks to the Telegraph’s Assistant Editor Camilla Tominey about the life and relatively brief reign of Queen Victoria’s son, Bertie, who reigned for 9 years as King Edward VII.
10/06/24•36m 35s
155. George VI (1936-52)
Iain Dale talks to royal biographer and historian, Jane Ridley, about the man who saved the monarchy following the abdication crisis.
03/06/24•38m 14s
154. Lady Jane Grey (1553)
Iain Dale talks to historian Nicola Tallis about the 9 day long reign of Lady Jane Grey.
27/05/24•24m 12s
153. Eadred (946-55)
Iain Dale talks to historian Annie Whitehead about the Anglo Saxon monarch, King Eadred, who ruled for 9 years in the mid tenth century.
20/05/24•27m 56s
152. Henry III (1216-72)
Iain Dale discusses the long reign of King Henry III with the historian Sharon Bennett Connolly.
13/05/24•45m 24s
151. Edward III (1327-77)
Iain Dale talks to Mark Fox about the life and reign of one of England’s most long serving monarchs, King Edward III.
06/05/24•31m 48s
150. George II (1727-60)
Iain Dale talks to former cabinet minister Sir Robert Buckland about the life and reign of King George II.
29/04/24•33m 55s
149. King Charles I (1625-49)
Iain Dale talks to Leanda de Lisle about the life and reign of one of Britain’s most famous kings, Charles, not least because of the civil war and the fact he had his head chopped off.
22/04/24•52m 8s
148. King Stephen (1135-54)
Iain Dale talks to political historian Robert Waller about the life and reign of King Stephen
15/04/24•42m 26s
147. Harthacnut (1040-42)
Iain Dale and David Walsh discuss the life and brief reign of Harthacnut, who ruled for only two years in the middle of the eleventh century
08/04/24•21m 8s
146. Canute (1016-1035)
Iain Dale talks to journalist and broadcaster Sue Cameron about the life and reign of the King who tried to hold back the tide. Or did he? Listen and find out!
01/04/24•43m 11s
145. Charles II (1660-85)
Iain Dale talks to historian Charlotte White about the restoration of the monarchy after the resignation of Richard Cromwell, and the reign of King Charles II.
25/03/24•49m 47s
144. Edward II (1307-1327)
Iain Dale discusses the controversial reign of King Edward II with political historian Nigel Fletcher and they try to work out if some of the stories about Edward are real or based on myth, including the fact he allegedly died from having a red hot poker shoved up where the sun doesn’t shine!
18/03/24•41m 4s
143. Henry VII (1457-1509)
Iain Dale talks to Tudor historian Nathen Amin about a monarch who is largely forgotten but undeservedly so. Henry VII’s memory is eclipsed by his son – he of the six wives, but he deserves to be better remembered than he is, as Nathem explains.
11/03/24•47m 17s
142. George I (1714-27)
Iain Dale talks to Newsagents podcast presenter Lewis Goodall about the life and reign of the first Hanoverian king, George I.
04/03/24•27m 28s
141. John (1199-1216)
Shadow cabinet minister and political biographer Nick Thomas-Symonds talks to Iain Dale about the life and failures of the reign of King John
26/02/24•34m 59s
140. Alfred the Great (871-899)
Iain Dale talks to Conservative MP and historian Alex Burghart MP about the reign of the man who many claim to be the first King of England, Alfred the Great.
19/02/24•43m 46s
139. Edward V (1483)
Iain Dale discusses the life and very brief reign of King Edward V with historian and former MP, Chis Skidmore.
12/02/24•35m 2s
138. William the Conqueror (1066-1087)
Iain Dale talks to military historian Peter Caddick-Adams about the Norman invasion of 1066 and the reign of the first Norman king, William I
05/02/24•54m 22s
137. Oliver Cromwell (1653-58)
Iain Dale talks to historian Miranda Malins about the life of Oliver Cromwell who became Lord Protector of England during the Protectorate.
29/01/24•1h
136. Henry VI (1421-1471)
Iain Dale speaks to historian Josh Provan about the 50 year reign of King Henry VI
22/01/24•44m 18s
135. Henry VIII (1509-47)
Iain Dale talks to Tudor expert Dr David David Starkey about the life and reign of one of Britain’s greatest, and most notorious monarchs, Henry VIII.
15/01/24•53m 53s
134. Eadwig (955-959)
Iain Dale talks to The ‘I’ Newspaper’s Hugo Gye about the life and brief reign of King Eadwig, who is best known for allegedly having a threesome on his wedding night with his new wife and his new mother in law.
08/01/24•27m 47s
133. Edward IV (1461-70, 1470-83)
Iain Dale talks to historian Charlotte Gauthier about the life and two reigns of King Edward IV.
01/01/24•29m 13s
132. Victoria (1837-1901)
Iain Dale talks to co-presenter of the History Hack podcast Alex Churchill about the life and reign of Queen Victoria
25/12/23•48m 56s
131. William III & Mary II (1689 - 1702)
Iain Dale talks to Conservative MP Bim Afolami about the reign of William of Orange and Queen Mary.
18/12/23•34m 3s
130. Edward the Martyr (975-978)
Iain Dale talks to Charles Pitt about the short reign of King Edward the Martyr.
11/12/23•19m 5s
129. Richard III (1483-1485)
Iain talks to historian Matthew Lewis about the life and reign of one of Britain’s most controversial monarchs, King Richard III.
04/12/23•46m 1s
128. Edward VIII (January 1936-December 1936)
Iain Dale talks to historian and Conservative MP Damian Collins about the life and very short reign of King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne before being crowned in December 1936.Kings & Queens, edited by Iain Dale is available in hardback at £25.00. Signed copies available at https://www.politicos.co.uk
27/11/23•39m 40s
127. Henry I (1100-1135)
Iain Dale talks to historian Dominic Selwood about the life and reign of one our lesser remembered monarchs, King Henry I.Kings & Queens, edited by Iain Dale is available in hardback at £25.00. Signed copies available at https://www.politicos.co.uk
20/11/23•32m 39s
126. Edward the Confessor (1042-1066)
Iain Dale talks to Lord Stephen Parkinson about the life and reign of one of the new Anglo-Saxon kings we have heard of, but whose reign was rather unmemorable.
13/11/23•20m 52s
125. George V (1910-36)
In this first episode of a new series on Kings & Queens, Iain Dale talks to historian and Telegraph columnist Professor Simon Heffer about the reign of King George V.
06/11/23•58m 59s
Coming soon: Kings and Queens
Good news!64 new podcasts will be coming to this feed, featuring UK Kings and Queens since Alfred the Great.Featuring Simon Heffer, Jane Ridley, Lewis Goodall and many more.Coming mid-October!
29/09/23•1m 28s
Micheál Martin
Iain Dale talks to Gavan Reilly, political correspondent for Virgin Media News and a presenter on Newstalk about the life and career of Ireland’s 15th Taoiseach, Micheal Martin who for two and a half years from June 2020 until December 2022, and is now Tanaiste, deputy to Leo Varadkar. He remains leader of Fianna Fáil.
11/07/23•1h 24m
Leo Varadkar
Iain Dale discusses the life and career of Ireland’s 14th, and youngest, Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, with the Group Political Editor of Independent Newspapers in Dublin, and Varadkar’s biographer, Philip Ryan. MLeo Varadkar served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and is currently serving a second ter, which began on 17 December 2022.
28/06/23•1h 6m
Enda Kenny
Iain Dale talks to John Downing columnist for the Irish Independent about the life and career of Enda Kenny, Ireland’s 13th Taoiseach, who served from 2011-2017. John Downing’s biography of him is titled Enda Kenny: The Unlikely Taoiseach.
21/06/23•1h 4m
Brian Cowen
Iain Dale talks about the life and career of Ireland’s twelfth Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, with Theresa Reidy, lecturer in politics at University College Cork.
14/06/23•1h
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern served as Taoiseach between 1997 and 2008, and was the second longest serving Taoiseach in the history of the Republic of Ireland. Iain Dale discusses his life and career with journalist and author Mick Clifford, who, in 2009 co-wrote a book titled BERTIE AHERN AND THE DRUMCONDRA MAFIA
07/06/23•1h 4m
John Bruton
Iain Dale talks to the Irish Independent’s Ireland Editor Fionnan Sheahan about the life and career of Ireland’s tenth Taoiseach, John Bruton, who served in the office from 1994-1997.
31/05/23•1h 5m
Albert Reynolds
Iain Dale discusses the life and political career of Ireland’s ninth Taoiseach, Albert Renolds, with former civil servant. Government adviser, minister and member of the Dail and Senate, Martin Mansergh.
27/05/23•1h 18m
Garret Fitzgerald
Iain Dale speaks to Associate Professor of Political Science at Dublin City University, Eoin O’Malley, about the life and career of Ireland’s eighth Taoiseach, Dr Garret Fitzgerald, who served for two terms, 1981-82 and 1982-87.Catch the Irish Taoiseach Podcast releases a month earlier over on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast channel.
17/05/23•1h 12m
Charles Haughey
Iain Dale talks to Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at Dublin City University, about the life and career of Ireland’s most colourful and controversial Taoiseach, Charles J Haughey, who served as Taoiseach three times, from 1979-1981, 1982 and 1987-92. Gary Murphy’s recent biography of Ireland’s seventh Taoiseach is called HAUGHEY and is published by Gill Books.Catch all episode of the Taoiseach Podcast a month earlier over on the Taoiseach Podcast channel
10/05/23•1h 47m
Liam Cosgrave
Iain Dale talks to Deirdre Foley, Irish Research Council Fellow at University College Cork, about the lefe and career of Liam Cosgrave, who served as Taoiseach from 1973-77.
03/05/23•49m 39s
Jack Lynch
Iain Dale talks to Irish Times columnist Stephen Collins about the life and career of Ireland’s fifth Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, who served two terms in office - 1966-73 and 1977-79.
26/04/23•1h 1m
Sean Lemass
Iain Dale talks to Bryce Evans, professor of modern history at Liverpool Hope University, about the life and career of Ireland’s fourth Taoiseach, Sean Lemass. Bryce has written a biography of Sean Lemass called ‘Democratic Dictator’.Catch the latest episode of the Irish Taoiseach podcast over on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast Channel
21/04/23•1h 14m
John Costello
Iain Dale talks to Sheffield University’s Caoimhe Nic Dhaibheid about the life and career of Ireland’s third Taoiseach, John Costello. Costelloserved as Taoiseach for two terms, 1948-51 and 1954-57.Hear episodes of the Irish Taoiseach Podcast a month earlier on the Irish Taoiseach Podcast channel.
14/04/23•1h 4m
Eamon de Valera
Iain Dale talks to Eamon de Valera’s biographer David McCullagh about the life and times of Ireland’s most long serving Taoiseach.
05/04/23•1h 21m
W T Cosgrave
Iain Dale talks to Irish political historian Ciara Meehan about the life and politics of W T Cosgrave, the man who became President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State in 1922 and served in the office for ten years until losing the 1932 general election to Eamon De Valera and Fianna Fail. Although the office of Taoiseach wasn’t formally inaugurated until 1937, Cosgrave is widely considered to be the first holder of the post. Over the coming 13 weeks, Iain will be interviewing experts on the lives of the other 13 Taoisigh (which, for the uninitiated, is the plural of Taoiseach).All these podcasts are available a month earlier on their own podcast channel 'The Irish Taoiseach Podcast'
30/03/23•57m 30s
Series 3 – The Irish Taoisigh
Iain Dale trails ahead to the next series of the Presidents & Prime Ministers podcast, which will revolve around the 14 men who have served as Irish Taoiseach over the last century. The series will start in early January.
22/11/22•1m 15s
Joe Biden
in the final Presidents podcast Iain Dale talks to Labour peer and political biographer Andrew Adonis about the life and presidency of Joseph P. Biden.
07/11/22•41m 27s
Introducing: Sweeney Talks
Hey listener, we’ve got a new LBC podcast that we think you’d like called Sweeney Talks with old-school reporter, John Sweeney.
John is trouble. He's taken on Vladimir Putin, challenged Donald Trump, and after months of uncovering hard truths in Ukraine, he’s back. John is never silent about what he’s experienced. Sweeney talks, and in this podcast, so do his guests. John speaks to people like him, who are not prepared to be part of the silent majority. They refused to toe the line, and have found themselves in trouble. Big trouble. Activists, agitators, heroes… or villains. You decide.
Listen and subscribe to Sweeney Talks on Global Player. https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42KuWd/
Go to Global Player for exclusive bonus episodes where John offers candid reflections on what he's discovered during each interview, what surprised him and what we can learn from it all.
https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42KuWb/
Download it from the App Store or go to globalplayer.com
03/11/22•1m 47s
George Washington
Iain Dale talks to US diplomat Mitchell Reiss about the life and presidency of America’s first president, George Washington.
31/10/22•45m 52s
Harry S. Truman
Iain Dale talks to Alvin S Felzenberg about the life and presidency of Harry S. Truman who served as president from 1945-1953.
24/10/22•1h 7m
Andrew Johnson
Iain Dale talks to Alvin S. Felzenberg about the life and presidency of America’s 17th president, Andrew Johnson (1865-69).
13/10/22•44m 28s
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Iain Dale talks to military historian Peter Cadddick-Adams about the life and presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961).
03/10/22•56m 32s
John Quincy Adams
Iain Dale talks to Mark Fox about the life and presidency of America’s 6th president, John Quincy Adams.
26/09/22•32m 39s
Donald Trump
Iain Dale talks to BBC presenter and former North America editor Justin Webb about the life and presidency of Donald J Trump (2017-2021)
20/09/22•1h 9m
John F. Kennedy
Iain Dale talks to former Conservative MP Sir Simon Burns about the life and presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1961-1963).
12/09/22•45m 47s
Bonus : The Queen & The Presidents
Presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg, talks to Iain about the Queen's connections with the 13 Presidents who served during her reign.
09/09/22•7m 45s
Rutherford B. Hayes
Iain Dale talks to historian Robert Waller about the life and presidency of Rutherford B.Hayes, America’s 19th president who served for one term from 1877-1891.
01/08/22•35m 58s
Abraham Lincoln
Iain Dale talks to presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg about the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln who was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.
25/07/22•59m 16s
Barack Obama
Iain Dale talks to writer and author Toby Harnden about the presidency of Barack Obama, who was president from 2009-2017.
18/07/22•53m 32s
Grover Cleveland
Iain Dale talks to presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg about the life and presidencies of Grover Cleveland, America’s 22nd and 24th president. He remains the only president to serve two separate terms of office, from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
11/07/22•52m 13s
Calvin Coolidge
Iain Dale talks to historian Leo McKinstry about the life and presidency of Calvin Coolidge, who served from 1923-1929
04/07/22•51m 23s
Woodrow Wilson
Iain Dale talks to Alvin D. Felzenberg about the life and career of Woodrow Wilson, who served as president from 1913-1921. Apologies for the notification alert at Alvin’s end during the first half of this podcast.
27/06/22•1h 14m
Herbert Hoover
Iain Dale talks to Conservative MP and former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland about the life and Presidency of Herbert Hoover, who served as President from 1929 to 1933.
20/06/22•40m 12s
James Buchanan
Iain Dale interviews military historian and former Conservative MP Keith Simpson about the life and presidency of the man who is considered by most to be America’s worst president, James Buchanan, who served as president from 1857-1861.
13/06/22•26m 36s
Benjamin Harrison
Iain Dale talks to Alvin S. Felzenberg about the life and presidency of President Benjamin Harrison, who served between 1889 and 1893.
06/06/22•44m 46s
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Iain Dale talks to Neil Stockley about the life of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served as president from 1932-1945.
30/05/22•58m 23s
Millard Fillmore
Iain Dale talks to Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran about the life and presidency of America’s 13th president Millard Fillmore, who served from July 1850 to March 1853.
23/05/22•38m 18s
James Garfield
Iain Dale talks to broadcaster Anne Alexander about President James A. Garfield who served for only six months as president in 1881. He was the second of four presidents to be assassinated.
16/05/22•22m 3s
Richard Nixon
Iain Dale talks to Freddy Gray, deputy editor of The Spectator about the life and presidency of Richard Nixon who served from 1969-74.
09/05/22•46m 3s
Gerald Ford
Iain Dale talks to journalist Andy Silvester about the life and presidency of Gerald Ford, who served as president from August 1974 to January 1977.
02/05/22•36m 29s
Zachary Taylor
Iain Dale talks to broadcaster and journalist Michael Crick about the life and very short presidency of Zachary Taylor, who served as president from March 1849 to July 1850.
25/04/22•29m 15s
James Madison
Iain Dale talks to Matthew Binkowski about the life and presidency of America’s fourth president, James Madison, who served from 1809-1817.
18/04/22•48m 17s
Warren G. Harding
Iain Dale talks to broadcaster Adam Boulton about the life and career of the 29th President of the United States Warren G. Harding, who was president for only thirty months from 1921 to 1923.
11/04/22•43m 53s
Lyndon Baines Johnson
Iain Dale talks to former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and LBJ obsessive about the life and career of Lyndon Baines Johnson, who served as US president from 1963-1969.
04/04/22•57m 54s
John Adams
Iain Dale talks to American author and strategist Daniel Forrester about the life and presidency of one of the Founding Fathers, John Adams, who served as America’s second president from 1797-1801
28/03/22•39m 40s
Bill Clinton
Iain Dale talks to former Treasury adviser and broadcaster Poppy Trowbridge about the life and presidency of William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton, who was president from 1993-2001.
21/03/22•49m 30s
Chester A. Arthur
Iain Dale interviews broadcaster and journalist Sue Cameron about the life and presidency of Chester A. Arthur who served as America’s 21st president from 1881-1885.
14/03/22•36m 56s
Franklin Pierce
Iain Dale talks to former Obama strategist Karin Robinson about the life of Franklin Pierce, America’s fourteenth president, who served from 1853-1857
07/03/22•29m 15s
James Monroe
Iain Dale talks to former Conservative MP Brooks Newmark about the life and presidency of James Monroe, who was America’s 5th president. He served for two terms from 1817-25.
28/02/22•42m 12s
George W Bush
Iain Dale talks to former British Ambassador to Washington Sir Christopher Meyer about the life and presidency of President George W Bush, who was president from 2001-2009
21/02/22•40m 50s
Ulysses S. Grant
Iain Dale talks to playwright and author Bonnie Greer about the life of the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S Grant (1869-1877)
14/02/22•34m 24s
Thomas Jefferson
Iain Dale talks to American political historian Alvin S. Felzenberg about the life and presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson served from 1801-1809 as America’s third president.
07/02/22•1h 22m
James K. Polk
Iain Dale talks to Professor Brian Klaas about the life and presidency of President James K. Polk, who served for one term from 1845-1849.
31/01/22•31m 57s
Theodore Roosevelt
Iain Dale talks to Damian Collins MP about Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the USA who was in office from September 1901 through to March 1909.
24/01/22•41m 12s
George H W Bush
Iain Dale talks to Colleen Graffy about the presidency of the 41st President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush, who was President from 1989-1993.
17/01/22•40m 1s
William Howard Taft
Iain Dale talks the political historian Lord Philip Norton about the life of William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States, 1909-1913.
10/01/22•28m 24s
William McKinley
Iain Dale interviews biographer and historian David Torrance about the life and Presidency of William McKinley who served as President from 1897-1901.
03/01/22•29m 0s
John Tyler
Iain Dale talks to veteran political journalist Peter Riddell about the life and Presidency of John Tyler, who served as President from 1841-1845.
27/12/21•23m 46s
William Henry Harrison
Iain Dale talks to Emma Burnell about William Henry Harrison, America’s ninth President, who only served as President for one month, between March and April 1841.
20/12/21•19m 25s
Martin Van Buren
Iain Dale interviews broadcaster and podcaster Roifield Brown about the life and Presidency of Martin Van Buren who served as President from 1837-1841.
13/12/21•36m 34s
Andrew Jackson
Iain Dale talks to LBC US Correspondent Simon Marks about the life of Andrew Jackson. 7th President of the United States, 1829-1837.
06/12/21•46m 59s
Ronald Reagan
iain Dale talks to Professor Simon Heffer about the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan, America’s 40th President. He served two terms, from 1981-1989
29/11/21•48m 47s
Jimmy Carter
Iain Dale talks to former British Foreign Secretary David Owen, now Lord Owen about the life and career of America’s 39th President, who served for one term from 1977 to 1981.
22/11/21•49m 33s
Introducing 'The Presidents'
As the Prime Ministers conclude, the podcast moves into season 2 with The US Presidents.
The introduction includes audio from every US President since the very first recording of Grover Cleveland (1885–1889, 1893–1897) Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) William McKinley (1897–1901) Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) William Howard Taft (1909–1913) Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) Warren G. Harding (1921–1923) Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) Herbert Hoover (1929–1933) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961) John F. Kennedy (1961–1963) Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) Richard Nixon (1969–1974) Gerald Ford (1974–1977) Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) Bill Clinton (1993–2001)George W. Bush (2001–2009) Barack Obama (2009–2017) Donald Trump (2017–2021) Joe Biden (2021–)
17/11/21•3m 24s
Boris Johnson
Nigel Fletcher talks to Iain Dale about the political career and premiership (so far!) of Boris Johnson.
15/11/21•53m 2s
Viscount Palmerston
Iain Dale talks to historian David Brown about the life of Henry Temple, Viscount Palmerston, who served as Prime Minister from 1855-1858 and 1859-1865.
08/11/21•1h 8m
Stanley Baldwin
Iain Dale talks to political historian and biographer John Barnes about the life and premierships of Stanley Baldwin who served as Prime Minister from 1923-24, 1924-29 and 1936-37
01/11/21•1h 23m
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Iain Dale talks to political historian David Dutton about the life and short Premiership of Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who served for just under a year as Prime Minister from October 1963
25/10/21•39m 1s
Earl Grey
Iain Dale talks to political historian Professor Gerry Hassan about the life and premiership of Earl Grey, Charles Grey, who was Prime Minister from 1830-34, and oversaw the introduction of the 1832 Reform Act and the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act.
18/10/21•30m 17s
Margaret Thatcher
Iain Dale talks to political journalist and biographer Julia Langdon about the life and career of Margaret Thatcher. She was, of course Britain’s first woman prime minister, and she served as Britain’s prime minister for 11 years, from May 1979 to November 1990.
11/10/21•1h 35m
George Canning
Iain Dale talks to Theo Barclay about the life and career of George Canning, who is our shortest serving Prime Minister, having chalked up a premiership lasting only 3 months in 1827.
04/10/21•30m 50s
Earl of Rosebery
Iain Dale talks to social commentator, biographer and historian Leo McKinstry about the life and premiership of Archibald Primrose, better known as the fifth Earl of Rosebery, who served for only fifteen months as Prime Minister from March 1894 to June 1895.
27/09/21•46m 34s
Bonus: Steve Richards on the ‘Nearly Prime Ministers’
Iain Dale talks to Steve Richards about his book THE PRIME MINISTERS WE NEVER HAD: SUCCESS & FAILURE FROM BITLER TO CORBYN which features chapters on 11 politicians who didn’t quite make it to Number 10 – Rab Butler, Roy Jenkins, Barbara Castle, Denis Healey, Neil Kinnock, Michael Heseltine, Michael Portillo, Ken Clarke, David & Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn.
24/09/21•1h 1m
John Major
Iain talks to biographer, journalist and historian Julian Glover about the life and career of John Major, who served for six and a half years as Prime Minister from November 1990 to May 1997.
20/09/21•1h 20m
Duke of Devonshire
Iain Dale talks to Elaine Chalus, Professor British History at the University of Liverpool about the life and premiership of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire who was Britain’s fifth Prime Minister but whose period in office was one of the shortest - only seven months from November 1756 to June 1757.
13/09/21•22m 29s
Harold Wilson
Iain Dale talks to Labour politician Nick Thomas-Symonds about the life and career of Harold Wilson who served as Prime Minister from 1964-70 and 1974-76.
06/09/21•1h 2m
Tony Blair
Iain Dale talks to Lord (Andrew) Adonis about the life and Premiership of Tony Blair, who served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007.
30/08/21•55m 41s
Earl of Shelburne
Iain Dale talks to historian Dr Nigel Aston about the life and rather short premiership of William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne. He was Britain’s 12th prime minister, who served for eight months from 1782 to 1783.
23/08/21•31m 7s
Henry Pelham
Iain Dale talks to historian Stuart Handley about the life and premiership of Henry Pelham, who was Britain’s second Prime Minister and served from 1743 to 1754.
16/08/21•26m 29s
Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington
Iain Dale talks to historian Robin Eagles about the short-lived premiership of the Earl of Wilmington, who served as Prime Minister from February 1742 to July 1743.
09/08/21•25m 11s
Edward Heath
Iain Dale talks to public affairs consultant Wilf Weeks about the life and premiership of Edward Heath, who served as Prime Minister from June 1970 to February 1974.
02/08/21•38m 1s
Ramsay MacDonald
Iain Dale talks to author and historian Robert Waller and the life and Premierships of Labour’s first Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald. He served as Prime Minister for 9 months in 1924, then from 1929 to 1931 as leader of a minority Labour government, and then from 1931 to 1935 as Prime Minister of a National government.
26/07/21•1h 3m
Marquess of Rockingham
Iain Dale talks to historian and Conservative MP Jesse Norman about the life and premierships of Charles Watson-Wentworth who served twice as prime minister, from 1765-66 and for three months in 1782.
19/07/21•26m 18s
David Cameron
Iain Dale talks to Sky News presenter Adam Boulton about the premiership of David Cameron, who served as prime minister from 2010-16.
12/07/21•44m 39s
Earl of Aberdeen
Iain Dale talks to Jon Parry, Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, about the life and political career of George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen who served as Prime Minister from December 1852 to January 1855.
05/07/21•44m 21s
Viscount Goderich
Iain Dale talks to Professor Gordon Pentland about the life and career of Viscount Goderich who served as Prime Minister for nearly five months from August 1827 to January 1828.
28/06/21•26m 47s
Duke Of Grafton
Iain Dale talks to historian Andrew Thompson about the life and political career of Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton who served as Prime Minister for 16 months from 1768 to 1770.
24/06/21•27m 33s
H H Asquith
Iain Dale talks to David Laws about the life and political career of Herbert Henry Asquith, who served as Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916.
14/06/21•49m 57s
Duke of Newcastle
This week Iain Dale speaks to Professor Jeremy Black, Emeritus Professor of history at the University of Exeter about the life and Premiership of Thomas Pelham-Holles, better known as the first Duke of Newcastle, who served as Prime Minister for more than 7 years in two separate terms from 1754-56 and from 1757 to 1762. He was our fourth Prime Minister.
07/06/21•49m 54s
Sir Anthony Eden
Iain talks to Lord Norton of Louth and the left and career of Sir Anthony Eden, who served as Prime Minister for 22 months between April 1955 and January 1957.
31/05/21•42m 7s
Lord Grenville
Iain Dale talks to historian Arthur Burns about the life of William Wyndham Grenville, Lord Grenville, who served as Prime Minister for thirteen months from 1806 to 1807.
24/05/21•27m 46s
Arthur Balfour
Iain Dale talks to historian Jack Brown about the life and career of Arthur Balfour who served as Prime Minister for three years from 1902-05, but whose whole career spanned 56 years.
17/05/21•33m 3s
Marquess of Salisbury
Iain Dale talks to historian Tony Little about the Marquess of Salisbury, who served as Prime Minister on three occasions in the latter years of the 19th century. At thirteen years in total he is one of our longest serving Prime Ministers.
10/05/21•52m 53s
Harold Macmillan
Iain Dale talks to historian and former Conservative MP Keith Simpson about the life and Premiership of Harold Macmillan, who served as Conservative prime minister from 1957-63.
04/05/21•1h 5m
300 years of the office of Prime Minister
Iain Dale in conversation with journalist Sue Cameron, author Steve Richards, and academic Sir Anthony Seldon on his LBC show about the 300th anniversary of the office of Prime Minister.
26/04/21•46m 28s
Sir Robert Peel
Iain Dale talks to Robert Saunders, reader in British history at Queen Mary University of London about the life and career of Sir Robert Peel, who served as Prime Minister twice, from 1834-5 and 1841-6. He is most remembered for creating the modern police force and for the repeal of the Corn Laws. He is also seen by many as the founder of the modern Conservative Party.
19/04/21•49m 55s
Duke of Portland
Iain Dale talks to Richard Gaunt, Associate Professor in History at the University of Nottingham, about the life of William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, who served twice as Prime Minister, from April-December 1783 and 1807 to 1809.
12/04/21•37m 11s
Lord North
Iain Dale talks to former Education Secretary Baroness Nicky Morgan about the life and career of Lord North, the Prime Minister who “lost the colonies”. He served as PM from 1770-1782, but was he the complete failure that we imagine?
05/04/21•52m 23s
BONUS Sir Anthony Seldon & Mark Garnett
Iain Dale talks to Sir Anthony Seldon and Mark Garnett on the 300th anniversary of the office of Prime Minister. Sir Anthony’s new book is called THE IMPOSSIBLE OFFICE and Mark Garnett’s book is THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER IN AN AGE OF UPHEAVAL.
02/04/21•1h 9m
George Grenville
Iain Dale talks to Stephen Conway, professor of history at UCL, about the life and career of George Grenville, who served as prime minister from 1763-1765.
29/03/21•42m 29s
William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham
Iain Dale talks to Charles Pitt (no relation) about William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham, who served as Prime Minister from July 1766 to October 1768.
22/03/21•30m 47s
David Lloyd George
Iain Dale talks to historian and Conservative MP Damian Collins about the life of David Lloyd George who served as Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922.
15/03/21•1h 4m
Benjamin Disraeli
Iain Dale talks to Edward Young about Benjamin Disraeli who served as Prime Minister for nine months in 1868 and then from 1874 to 1880.
08/03/21•1h 4m
Gordon Brown
Iain Dale talks to Labour peer Lord Wood of Anfield, Stewart Wood, about Gordon Brown, who served as Prime Minister from June 2007 until May 2010.
01/03/21•55m 10s
The Earl of Bute
Iain Dale talks to historian David Torrance about John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute who served as Prime Minister from May 1762 to April 1763
22/02/21•25m 47s
Spencer Perceval
Iain Dale talks to Lord Bellingham, Henry Bellingham, about the life and premiership of Spencer Perceval who served as Prime Minister from 1809 until his assassination by Henry Bellingham’s kinsman, John Bellingham, in 1812.
15/02/21•46m 36s
Viscount Melbourne
Iain Dale talks to Secretary of State Robert Buckland about the life and times of Viscount Melbourne who served as Prime Minister in 1834 for a few months, and then from 1834-1841.
08/02/21•39m 6s
Clement Attlee
Iain Dale talks to historian Sir Anthony Seldon about the life and premiership of Clement Attlee, who held the office of Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951.
01/02/21•59m 25s
Neville Chamberlain
Iain Dale talks to Professor John Charmley about Neville Chamberlain, who served as Prime Minister from 1937-1940.
25/01/21•54m 59s
William Pitt the Younger
Iain Dale talks to political academic Mark Garnett about the life and premiership(s) of William Pitt the Younger who became Prime Minister at the age of 24 in 1783. He resigned in 1801 and served briefly again as Prime Minister between 1804 and his death in late 1805.
18/01/21•54m 36s
Andrew Bonar Law
Iain Dale talks to Theresa May’s former speechwriter Keelan Carr about the so-called “Unknown Prime Minister” Andrew Bonar Law, who served as Prime Minister for only seven months 1922-23.
11/01/21•34m 6s
The Earl of Liverpool
Iain Dale talks to veteran political journalist Peter Riddell about the Tory Prime Minister Lord Liverpool from 1812-1827, and was the longest serving Prime Minister of the 19th century.
04/01/21•40m 25s
Lord John Russell
Iain Dale talks to Liberal historian Duncan Brack about Whig/Liberal Prime Minister Lord John Russell, who serves as Prime Minister from 1846 to 1852 and 1865-66.
21/12/20•38m 47s
Winston Churchill
Iain Dale talks to military historian Peter Caddick-Adams about the life and premiership of Winston Churchill, who served as Prime Minister from 1940-45 and 1951-55.
14/12/20•57m 38s
Henry Addington
Iain Dale talks to Stephen Parkinson, Lord Parkinson, about Henry Addington who was Prime Minister from 1801-04.
07/12/20•28m 8s
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Iain Dale talks to David Campbell Bannerman about the Liberal Prime Minister who was Prime Minister from 1905-1908.
30/11/20•29m 10s
Theresa May
Iain Dale discusses the premiership of Theresa May (2016-2019) with Times columnist Rachel Sylvester.
23/11/20•36m 31s
Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Iain Dale talks to political academic Nigel Fletcher about the Earl of Derby who served three times as Prime Minister from 23 February to 17 December 1852, 20 February 1858 to 1 June 1859, and 28 June 1866 to 25 February 1868.
16/11/20•34m 59s
Sir Robert Walpole
Iain Dale talks to Mark Fox about Britain’s first Prime Minister who served in the office from 1721-1742. You can order the book, THE PRIME MINISTERS, which accompanies this podcast series from all good bookshops.
09/11/20•38m 11s
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Iain talks to the 18th century political historian Jacqueline Reiter about the reluctant Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington.
02/11/20•32m 52s
Leonard James Callaghan
Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC, often known as Jim Callaghan, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980. Iain discusses his impact with political analyst Lewis Baston.
26/10/20•41m 57s
William Ewart Gladstone
In the first of this series of 55 podcasts on British prime ministers, LBC’s Iain Dale talks to historian and Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer about the life of one of Britain’s greatest prime ministers, the Liberal William Ewart Gladstone. He served as prime minister for a total of 12 years in four separate terms between 1868 and 1894.
19/10/20•47m 19s
The Prime Ministers -The Trailer
Starting on Monday 19th October, a podcast series on every Prime Minister
07/10/20•2m 7s
