Boys watching TV in the 1950s

Historical film TV and radio

From binge-worthy period dramas to award-winning documentaries, find out why historical movies, TV and radio programs are more popular than ever, with this series of articles, podcasts and video

8 historical reasons behind Anne Boleyn’s appearance in Princess Diana film Spencer

Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess of Wales

“It doesn’t fall into the trap of making Diana a saint”: a historian’s review of Spencer

Zazie Beetz and Jonathan Majors in the Netflix film The Harder They Fall

The Harder They Fall: the real cowboys who inspired the black Western

Black cowboys on screen.

Doctor Who through the ages.

Jodie Comer plays Marguerite de Carrouges in the upcoming film 'The Last Duel',

“A spotlight on historic societal misogyny and disbelief of women”: what The Last Duel gets right and wrong

Trial by combat: the real history behind The Last Duel.

A 14th-century illustration shows two bishops watching men fight to the death in a trial by combat.

Medieval trial by combat: the real history behind The Last Duel

Tony Robinson as Private Baldrick and Rowan Atkinson as Captain Blackadder

Q&AWas there a real Blackadder?.

Jodie Comer plays Marguerite de Carrouges in the upcoming film 'The Last Duel',

The medieval women who spoke out against sexual violence

Dev Patel stars as Sir Gawain in The Green Knight an adaptation of the Arthurian romance Sir Gawain and The Green Knight

“An intoxicating triumph true to the grandeur of the poem”: a historian’s review of The Green Knight

The Green Knight shows his severed – and still talking – head to King Arthur in this illustration of the beginning of the 14th century legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: what’s the story?

The Spartan king Leonidas at the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. The conflict has become the archetype for the courageous last stand, pitting around 200,000 Persians against 7,000 Spartans.

Your guide to the battle of Thermopylae

Historian Bettany Hughes in front of the Rock of Gibraltar

Bettany Hughes“We were trying to find stories that tell us about resilience – history as a kind of therapy”.

What’s next for period drama?.

William Wallace on trial in 1305

William Wallace: who was the Scottish rebel who defied Edward I?

The Scandalous BoleynsWhy Do They Continue To Fascinate Us?.

A composite of characters from 21st century period drama

What’s next for period drama?.

Dev Patel stars as Sir Gawain in The Green Knight an adaptation of the Arthurian romance Sir Gawain and The Green Knight

The Green Knight on screen: what can we expect from the retelling of an Arthurian epic?

George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla

Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla: the history behind The Current War

Actor Errol Flynn as Robin Hood in the film 'The Adventures of Robin Hood', 1938. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

What's the most accurate Robin Hood film?

Jodie Turner-Smith as Anne Boleyn. (Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh courtesy of Channel 5)

Jodie Turner-Smith as Anne Boleyn: colour-blind casting and historical accuracy.

'Sanditon' - an adaption of Jane Austen's unfinished novel of the same name – is currently airing in the UK on ITV. Pictured: Clara Brereton (played by Lily Sacofsky), Esther Denham (Charlotte Spencer), Lady Denham (Anne Reid) and Edward Denham (Jack Fox). (Photo by RED PLANET/ITV)

Your guide to Sanditon, Jane Austen’s last unfinished work

Outlander: the real history that inspired the time-slip drama

Peter O’Toole (top) plays Henry II alongside Richard Burton

"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?" The truth behind Henry II's notorious lament

Leonardo da Vinci’s private life.

Leonardo: bringing Da Vinci to the screen.

Aidan Turner as Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo: the real history behind the new Renaissance drama

The Irregulars. From left to right: Prince Leopold (Harrison Osterfield), Jessie (Darci Shaw), Bea(Thaddea Graham), Spike (McKell David), and Billy (Jojo Macari)

The Irregulars: the real history behind Netflix’s supernatural Sherlock spinoff

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, c1870. He was the youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany: the sickly fourth son of Victoria and Albert