RSS Parrot

Why are we obsessed with work?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0032slz

Published: October 8, 2026 05:00

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…

Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0032gqc

Published: October 1, 2026 14:26

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…

Why Are We Dog Obsessed?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00324cy

Published: September 24, 2026 05:00

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…

Who Invented the “Whodunit”?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00327tm

Published: September 17, 2026 05:00

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…

Where Do Manners Come From?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0031xmj

Published: September 10, 2026 05:00

Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore how Renaissance books on courtly conduct inspired an era of civility.They untangle the 18th century age of politeness, and we’ll find out how the Victorians shaped the way we behave today.But are manners getting…

Why Do Scots Wear Tartan?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0031m29

Published: September 3, 2026 05:00

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson dig through the folds of time to understand how Tartan became so woven into Scottish history. Just how did the material become so intrinsically linked to the nation’s image? It’s a winding and dramatic story. There’s an…

Why Do We Love Pubs?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0031b0f

Published: August 27, 2026 05:00

How did the pub become so central to British culture?Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton reveal how women ran medieval alehouses, how the Reformation led to a golden age of boozers, and how competition from gin produced the iconic Victorian pub. Key Sources:Dr…

Why Does the Union Jack Look Like That?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00310xy

Published: August 20, 2026 05:00

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson delve into the history of the Union Jack - the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.It’s one of the most recognisable British icons, but just why does it look the way it does? What’s the story…

Why Do We Have ‘Ugly’ Buildings?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0030rrb

Published: August 13, 2026 05:00

Modern buildings are ugly - that’s what opinion polls suggest - but if it’s true, what’s the story behind it?Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton see how a Swiss architect turned the British establishment against traditional architecture, and how his followers…

Who Invented the Weekend?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0030ff3

Published: August 6, 2026 05:00

Have you ever wondered why we get Saturday and Sundays off each week? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson try to figure out who invented the weekend. We got Sunday, then Saturday afternoon.. Then finally the full two days - but how? We’ll be taking a look…

Why Do We Wear Suits?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00304d0

Published: July 30, 2026 05:00

From royal coronations to criminal trials, the suit is men’s go-to uniform. But why?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the suit’s origins in the court of Charles II, how the original dandy Beau Brummell shaped men’s style to this day, and how sporty…

Package Holiday: Why do Brits go to Benidorm?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0p018js

Published: July 23, 2026 05:00

For decades Brits have enjoyed package holidays in sunnier climes of Spain, in resort towns like Benidorm. But why is that? Where did the package holiday itself come from? Was it one person who invented it?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson unpack the stories…

Stiff Upper Lip: Do Brits Have Emotions?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nyx7ck

Published: July 16, 2026 05:00

There’s a well known stereotype that Brits don’t show their emotions. George Gershwin even composed a song about the famous ‘Stiff Upper Lip’.This week Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson delve into the history of emotions and ask where the British stiff upper…

Why Don’t Women’s Clothes Have Pockets?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nxhmrm

Published: July 9, 2026 05:00

To the frustration of many, a lot of women’s clothes don’t have pockets. But why on Earth is that the case? Especially when men’s clothing seems to be full of pockets.Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson track the tumultuous and muddy history of women’s pockets.…

Why Are Brits So Obsessed With Football?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nw3n7k

Published: July 2, 2026 05:00

Why are Brits so obsessed with football?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson explore the origins of football, how the game transformed from a gentleman’s hobby to the people’s game, and then how it became the most popular cultural phenomenon in the world.Key…

English Language: Why Do We Speak Like That?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0ntstgb

Published: June 25, 2026 05:00

Why do our spellings not match our pronunciations? Why are so many words just really weird?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson take us on a whistle stop tour of some of the key moments that forged the English Language as we know it today.We’ll be looking at…

Why does British food have such a bad reputation?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002yf04

Published: June 18, 2026 05:03

Is British cooking a crime against food? Or is this a foreign plot to do down Britain? Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton investigate the history behind Britain’s culinary reputation. They explore how British aristocrats turned towards French food from the…

Why do British people love tea?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002yf05

Published: June 18, 2026 05:00

How and when did tea arrive in the UK? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson take a look at the mythological origins, the role of a Portuguese princess and even going to war for a cuppa. We’ll start our journey with the first appearance of tea in England in the…

Are You Here For The History?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0ns1jkb

Published: June 15, 2026 08:30

Do you ever stop to think where the stereotypes, social norms, traditions, and beliefs that fill our everyday life come from?History lovers Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson uncover the origin stories behind all sorts of things - why we dress the way we do,…