Elinor Evans

I’m Elinor, an editorial lead at HistoryExtra, where I help to shape the direction of our digital content strategy, collaborating closely with our editorial team as we create historical coverage that feels fresh and accessible – across our website, app, and social media channels. Alongside writing and commissioning for the site, I’m a regular interviewer on the award-winning HistoryExtra podcast, with more than 200 episodes under my belt. I’ve had the privilege of leading conversations with many prominent historians, including Mary Beard, Kate Williams and Greg Jenner – and a particular career highlight was interviewing Ron Chernow about his definitive Hamilton biography that inspired the groundbreaking musical. I also write and present videos for HistoryExtra, and though I’m most often in a studio, I especially love visiting historical sites, speaking with curators and experts, and telling stories in the places where history happened – a passion cemented by a special morning filming in the stillness before opening hours at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. I’m especially drawn to 18th and 19th-century history, and I have a deep fascination with the history of the USA. This interest has shaped some of my favourite HistoryExtra projects, including producing in-depth podcast series on the Boston Tea Party and the Cuban Missile Crisis – exploring these dramatic, world-changing events with leading specialists. I joined HistoryExtra in 2016 as Acting Digital Editor, building on experience that ranged from digital development of specialist aviation publishing brands to editorial roles within the book publishing world. I hold a BA in English from the University of Exeter, and I spent a formative year at the College of William & Mary in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, immersing myself in US history and literature. This experience sparked a lasting interest in American history and mid-20th-century pop culture, which deepened further when I completed the Columbia Publishing Course in New York City. As a freelance journalist, I’ve contributed to The Telegraph online, and I’ve shared historical insight and editorial expertise through interviews on BBC Radio Wales and the BBC’s Global Story podcast.