2025 Talks Programme
We’re excited to announce the very first speakers for the 2025 Chalke History Festival. Sign up to the Festival newsletter for all the latest updates here.
Talks Programme
Over the festival we will host some of the finest and most distinguished historians, academics, authors and writers, in fabulous venues across the site.
Keep an eye on this page for all the latest announcements!
Max Hastings
Max Hastings is a journalist and historian, who has authored over thirty books, mostly about the Second World War.
Tom Holland
Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster, specialising in classical and medieval history. He is also the co-host of the top 10 Rest is History podcast.
Helen Castor
Helen Castor is a prize-winning medieval and Tudor, historian and broadcaster.
Tom Parker-Bowles
Tom Parker-Bowles is a British food writer and critic, and the author of numerous popular recipe books.
Ben Macintyre
Ben Macintyre is a journalist, broadcaster and best-selling author of works spanning Modern History – including Operation Mincemeat.
Kate Summerscale
Kate Summerscale is a journalist and award-winning author, best known for her non-fiction work including The Suspicions of Mr Whicher.
2024 Talks Programme
Take a look at the speakers we had for last year’s festival, to give you an idea of the kinds of talks we’ve presented at Chalke in the past.
Al Murray – The Pub Landlord: The First Draught of History
[SOLD OUT] Wednesday 26 June, 9pm. Standing up so you don’t have to take it lying down any more, the Pub Landlord will be making his Chalke History Festival debut, making sense of the questions you already had the answers to. As we all know history is written by the winners: French history books are blank from cover to cover. Strong language/nonsense from the outset. All proceeds donated to Finley’s Touch – in memory of Al’s nephew.
Al Murray will also be in:
42. WE HAVE WAYS LIVE!
James Holland, Al Murray
Wednesday 26th June, 7.30pm
The Rest is History: Live!
Tuesday 25 June, 7.15pm.
Ticketed entry is SOLD OUT, however for those unable to purchase a ticket for this event in the Hiscox Tent, we will be live broadcasting it on our big screen at the IPGL Stage (included in your day entrance ticket). Historians Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland, from the incredibly popular Rest is History podcast, will be appearing at the Chalke History Festival on the evening of Tuesday 25th June.
Tom Holland – will also be speaking in:
26. THE INFERNAL WORD: NOTES FROM A FALLEN ANGEL
Tom Holland, Nicholas Papadopulos
Wednesday 26th June, 12.15pm
32. SAVING THE PAST: THE FUTURE OF OUR HERITAGE
Tom Holland, John Orna-Ornstein, Rachel Spence
Wednesday 26th June, 2.30pm
38. POWER: EMPIRES
Ali Ansari, Tom Holland, Helen Thompson
Wednesday 26 June, 5.30pm
43. [SOLD OUT]MAGISTERIA: THE ENTANGLED HISTORIES OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION
“Ghosts”
Friday 28 June, 5.45pm
89B. GHOSTS
Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard, writers and stars of both the beloved Horrible Histories and the hit BBC1 sitcom Ghosts, take to the stage to discuss the history behind Ghosts and reminisce about the highs and lows of filming this hugely successful series. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to hear from these luminaries of comedy and storytelling!
Robert Peston
Monday 24 June, 5:45pm
5. BUST? SAVING THE ECONOMY, DEMOCRACY AND OUR SANITY
Fred Casella, Robert Peston
Robert Peston is political editor for ITV News, formerly Economics Editor for BBC News, and presents alongside Steph McGovern on The Rest is Money podcast. He has written seven books and won more than 30 awards for his journalism. At the festival Robert will be talking as part of a panel on “Bust?: Saving the Economy, Democracy and our Sanity”.
James May
Saturday 29 June, 5pm
112. THE CAR: DID WE GET IT WRONG?
James May
Broadcaster and car enthusiast, James May, will be speaking at the festival on his favourite subject – cars of course!
Max Hastings
Friday 28 June, 12.15pm
75. OPERATION BITING: THE 1942 PARACHUTE ASSAULT TO CAPTURE HITLER’S RADAR
Max Hastings
Sir Max Hastings is a journalist and historian, who has authored over thirty books, mostly about war. At the festival he will be talking about his new book on Operation Biting – which follows the dramatic events of 1942, when the British Intelligence services staged a raid to steal a German radar system.
Bettany Hughes
Sunday 30 June, 10am
118. THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
Bettany Hughes
Bettany Hughes is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster. She has taught at some of the world’s finest institutions and made documentaries for national and international broadcasters. At the festival Bettany Hughes will be talking about her lastest book the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
We Have Ways of Making You Talk
Wednesday 26 June, 7.30pm
42. WE HAVE WAYS LIVE!
James Holland, Al Murray
Comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland will be at Chalke History Festival to present a live episode of their popular podcast series – We Have Ways of Making You Talk. They discuss all things Second World War, exploring the war in a forensic and entertaining manner.
Frank Gardner
Sunday 30 June, 4:30pm
134. INVASION
Frank Gardner
It is the present day and China is massing troops on its coast across the Strait from Taiwan. If they try and take Taiwan by force then the result would be war between the People’s Republic and the United States and its allies, including the Britain. This is the premise of BBC security correspondent and Sunday Times bestselling author Frank Gardner’s latest thriller. But how close is his plot to a potential real life invasion? Frank Gardner explains: terrifyingly close.
Alice Loxton
Friday 28 June
92. HISTRIONICS – 7.30 pm
Charlie Higson, Alice Loxton, Ben Willbond
72. THE POWER BEHIND THE PORTICO: THE FEMALE PATRONS ON GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE – 10.30am
Alice Loxton, Amy Boyington
87. WRITING ON THE WALL: GRAFFITI, REBELLION AND THE MAKING OF 18TH-CENTURY BRITAIN – 5pm
Alice Loxton, Madeleine Pelling
Alice Loxton is an historian, author, broadcaster and social media sensation with over 2 million followers.
William Dalrymple
Saturday 29 June
101. EMPIREWORLD: HOW BRITISH IMPERIALISM HAS SHAPED THE WORLD – 11.45am
105. POWER: CORPORATIONS – 1.30pm
William Dalrymple, Helen Thompson, Jens Tholstrup
William Dalrymple is a Scottish historian and writer, art historian and curator, as well as a prominent broadcaster and critic. His books have won numerous awards and prizes. He presents on the Empire podcast alongside Anita Anand.
Zeinab Badawi
Tuesday 25 June, 5.30pm
19. AN AFRICAN HISTORY OF AFRICA: FROM THEIR DAWN OF HUMANITY TO INDEPENDENCE
Acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and President of SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), Zeinab Badawi will be talking about her new book – An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence.
Jonathan Dimbleby
Saturday 29 June, 10am
94. END GAME 1944: HOW STALIN WON THE WAR
Jonathan Dimbleby
Award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, Jonathan Dimbleby will be talking about his new book – Endgame 1944: How the Soviet Army Won World War Two.
Michael Palin
Thursday 27 June
67. GREAT UNCLE HARRY: A TALE OF WAR AND EMPIRE
61. HISTORY’S GREATEST EXPLORER? YOU DECIDE!
Alex Bescoby, Michael Palin, Levison Wood – 5pm.
Comedy legend and adventurer, Michael Palin will be talking about his book, which recreates the extraordinary life and tragic death of a First World War soldier—his great-uncle Harry.
Shalina Patel
Sunday 30 June, 10am
120. RESPECTFULLY YOURS: DISCUSSING DIFFICULT HISTORY
Shalina Patel, Kavita Puri, Sathnam Sanghera
Shalina Patel is a historian, teacher and writer. She has given talks about the importance of diverse histories including a TEDx talk and a panel event at Cheltenham Literature Festival. Shalina writes a history column for Eastern Eye, Britain’s number one Asian newspaper and has been interviewed and featured across the media including BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and the Guardian.
Sebastian Faulks
Monday 24 June, 7.30pm
9. THE SEVENTH SON: THE HISTORY OF HUMANS
Sebastian Faulks, Adam Rutherford, Rebecca Wragg Sykes
Sebastian Faulks, Adam Rutherford, and Rebecca Wragg Sykes discuss what Neanderthals tell us about our origins and nature, about evolution and fate, and what it means to be the last surviving form of humanity. Sebastian Faulks is an internationally best-selling and award-winning novelist, best known for his First World War epic – Birdsong.
Kavita Puri
Sunday 30 June, 10am
120. RESPECTFULLY YOURS: DISCUSSING DIFFICULT HISTORY
Shalina Patel, Kavita Puri, Sathnam Sanghera
Kavita Puri is an award-winning executive producer and broadcaster for the BBC. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed book - Partition Voices: Untold British Stories. Her latest podcast is Three Million on BBC Sounds which the Sunday Times described as “the best history podcast I have heard in years.”
Peter Pomerantsev
Saturday 29 June
113. HOW TO WIN AN INFORMATION WAR: THE PROPAGANDIST WHO OUTWITTED HITLER
Peter Pomerantsev – 5pm
Peter Pomerantsev is a Soviet born journalist and broadcaster. He has is the author of “Nothing is True and Everything is Possible: Adventures in Modern Russia”, and worked as a consultant for the EU and World Bank on development projects in Russia. Peter will be talking about his latest book “How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler”.
Hanna Shelest
Thursday 27 June, 12.30pm
51. THE TELEGRAPH PODCAST: UKRAINE: RHETORIC AND REALITY
Francis Dearnley, David Knowles, Hanna Shelest, Dominic Nicholls, Victoria Vdovychenko
Dr Hanna Shelest is a Director of Security Studies and Global Outreach Programmes at the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” and Editor-in-chief at UA: Ukraine Analytica. She is a regular presenter at international conferences and commenter for the international media.
Antony Beevor
Friday 28 June, 5.30pm
88. WAR MOVIES
Antony Beevor, Charlie Higson, James Holland
Antony Beevor is a best-selling author and well-known for writing on the Second World World. He was a regular in the 11th Hussars and his book Stalingrad was awarded the Samuel Johnson Prize, the Wolfson History Prize and the Hawthornden Prize. Among the many prestigious posts he holds, he is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
The Alphen Group
A network of leading strategic thinkers from Europe and the United States, including scientists, diplomats, generals, intelligence chiefs, academics and historians, working to consider the future of the trans-Atlantic relationship and European security and defence.
Ali Ansari
38. POWER: EMPIRES
Ali Ansari, Tom Holland, Helen Thompson
Wednesday 26 June, 5.30pm
57. IRAN
Ali Ansari
Thursday 27 June, 3.30pm
70. POLICY OF DECEIT: BRITAIN AND PALESTINE, 1914-1939
Ali Ansari, Peter Shambrook
Friday 28 June, 10.30am
89. POWER: THE PEOPLE
Ali Ansari, Lynne Jones, Erica Benner
Friday 28 June, 5.30pm
97. HISTORY IN FLAMES
Ali Ansari, Robert Bartlett
Saturday 29 June, 10am
Ali Ansari is professor of Iranian History and director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews; Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute; and president of the British Institute for Persian Studies. His latest book is a short history of Iran for Polity Press, published in 2024.
Tracy Borman
Tuesday 25 June
16. THE SECRETS OF THE ROYAL PALACES
Tracy Borman – 4pm
18. POWER: THE LEADER
Tracy Borman, Tim Bouverie, Michael Wood – 5.30pm
Tracy Borman is a best-selling author, historian and broadcaster, specialising in the Tudor period. Tracy is also Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces. She has presented a number of history television programmes and is a regular contributor to BBC History Magazine.
Saul David
84. SKY WARRIORS: BRITISH AIRBORNE FORCES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Saul David
Friday 28 June, 3.45pm
106. BATTLEGROUND LIVE
Saul David, Patrick Bishop
Saturday 29 June, 2.45pm
Saul David is a best-selling historian and broadcaster. His recent books include Operation Thunderbolt (turned into the movie Entebbe), SBS: Silent Warriors, Devil Dogs and Sky Warriors: British Airborne Forces in the Second World War. He co-hosts the Battleground podcast with Patrick Bishop.
David Gower
119. THE HISTORY OF TEST CRICKET
David Gower, Simon Hughes, James Holland.
Sunday 30th June, 10:00am
For the purists, test cricket is the ultimate form of the game. The only form that truly tests the mental and physical skills of the best cricketers in the world to the fullest. Former England captain David Gower and former England cricketer turned TV commentator Simon Hughes discuss with James Holland what makes test cricket so special, looking at its long history, how it has evolved and also considering its future.
Aziz Amin
93. AFGHANISTAN: WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
Aziz Amin, Nick Carter, Greg Mills
Friday 28th June 19:30
On 15th August 2021, Kabul was captured by the Taliban in what was the final act of the twenty-year war in Afghanistan. Aziz Amin, the Personal Secretary to President Ghani, was among those helped to safety by Greg Mills, who was working in the presidential palace and had previously served as an adviser to two British commanders, including General Sir Nick Carter, later the Chief of Defence Staff. In this special event, three men who were intimately involved with the war and its endgame discuss their personal memories, thoughts and opinions and ponder what lies in store for the future of this beautiful, culturally rich but troubled country.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
63. THE FUTURE OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY: LESSONS FROM THE BORDERLANDS
Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Tom Tugendhat
Thursday 27th June 17:30
68B. GOOD LUCK MR PRESIDENT: THE INSIDE TAKE ON LIFE AT THE TOP
Fred Casella, Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Thursday 27th June 20:30
Fred Casella, Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Thursday 27th June 20:30
We are delighted to welcome to the festival Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia between 2006 – 2016 and Security Minister Tom Tugendhat. Under constant threat of invasion from its neighbour Russia since its independence in 1991, Estonia is now a world leader in digital democracy and cyber-security. Former President Ilves explores the ways in which Estonia protects and enhances its flourishing liberal democracy. How has one tiny country repeatedly repulsed Putin’s intimidations, and defeated his attacks? What kind of leader inspires their people to such a contrarian outcome: the world’s most digitally advanced democracy thriving on Putin’s doorstep? Toomas Hendrik Ilves, is that leader
Michael Wood
14. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DU FU, CHINA’S GREATEST POET
Michael Wood
Tuesday 25th June 16:00
Du Fu (712-70) is one of China’s greatest poets. His career coincided with periods of famine, war and huge upheaval, yet his secular philosophical vision, combined with his empathy for the common folk of his nation, ensured that he soon became revered. Broadcaster and historian Michael Wood follows in his footsteps to try to understand the places that inspired Du Fu to write some of the most famous and best-loved poetry the world has known. The themes he wrote about – friendship, family, human suffering – are universal and in our troubled times are just as relevant as they were almost 1,300 years ago.
