Greg Jenner is a public historian, broadcaster, and author with a particular interest in communicating history through pop culture and humour. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS), an Honorary Research Associate at Royal Holloway, University of London, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of York’s Institute for The Public Understanding of the Past (IPUP). Greg is the creator and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s history-comedy podcast You’re Dead to Me, which pairs up top comedians with expert historians to cover global history. It launched in 2019 and reached number 1 on Apple Podcasts; the podcast has since grown to become a chart-topping, flagship show for BBC Sounds (over 90 million downloads). It also attracts a...
Greg Jenner is a public historian, broadcaster, and author with a particular interest in communicating history through pop culture and humour. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS), an Honorary Research Associate at Royal Holloway, University of London, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of York’s Institute for The Public Understanding of the Past (IPUP).
Greg is the creator and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s history-comedy podcast You’re Dead to Me, which pairs up top comedians with expert historians to cover global history. It launched in 2019 and reached number 1 on Apple Podcasts; the podcast has since grown to become a chart-topping, flagship show for BBC Sounds (over 90 million downloads). It also attracts a regular Saturday morning audience on Radio 4.
In 2023, You’re Dead to Me recorded a live episode about Leonardo Da Vinci at the BBC Radio Theatre, where Greg was joined by Dara Ó Briain, Prof Catherine Fletcher, and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Live episodes have also been recorded on Shakespeare and Mozart, again featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Greg has recently focused on audio projects, and his other Radio 4 projects have included the acclaimed children’s educational series Homeschool History (made during COVID-19 lockdown), the 20-part archive series Past Forward: A Century of Sound (which marked the BBC’s Centenary year), and his role as resident historian on The Origin of Stuff with Katy Brand. Greg also wrote and presented the 8-part podcast series A Somewhat Complete History of Sitting Down for Audible Originals in 2021, and Hilarious History: What’s so Funny About the Past? for Radio 4 Extra in 2019.
In 2025, Greg launched Dead Funny History, a family-friendly sister podcast to You’re Dead to Me, for BBC Sounds. Like its sister, the podcast blends comedy and history, but is aimed at children of all ages.
Greg has worked as an historical consultant for Film, TV and Interactive media. Most notably, from 2008 to 2019, he worked on CBBC’s phenomenally successful educational sketch show Horrible Histories, which has won over 50 international awards, as well as its BAFTA-nominated spinoff movie Horrible Histories: Rotten Romans. Greg was also the expert adviser for YouTube Kids’ animated educational comedy series Corpse Talk, which was nominated for a RTS award in 2023.
In front of the camera, Greg co-presented two series of Inside Versailles – each a 10-part historical companion piece to BBC Two’s lavish drama series Versailles – and was a panellist on BBC Two’s The Great History Quiz. He has also been an expert interviewee on several historical documentaries and news programmes.
Greg regularly speaks at literary and history festivals and events around the country, as well as at conferences and Universities.
Greg is the author (and audiobook narrator) of seven published books: A Million Years in a Day, Dead Famous, Ask a Historian; Children’s book You are History, and three books in his Totally Chaotic History! children’s book series.
Greg is also the voice of the Sky Glass adverts.
Greg studied at the University of York, earning a BA in Archaeology and History and a MA in Medieval Studies. He guest teaches at both the University of York and Royal Holloway, University of London, where he is an Honorary Research Associate.
