Greg Jenner

Hello and welcome to You're Dead to Me, the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history seriously. My name is Greg Jenner. I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster. And today we are braving the brisk waters of the North Atlantic and following in the wake of Leif Erikson, the medieval Norseman who might have been the first European to visit America. He probably was.

And to help us, we have two very special guests. In History Corner, she's a historian, writer and broadcaster based at Bath Spa University, where she's Senior Lecturer in Environmental History. Her research focuses on the cultures, literatures and languages of the medieval North, particularly Viking history and the Old Norse sagas.

And to help us, we have two very special guests. In History Corner, she's a historian, writer and broadcaster based at Bath Spa University, where she's Senior Lecturer in Environmental History. Her research focuses on the cultures, literatures and languages of the medieval North, particularly Viking history and the Old Norse sagas.

She's the author of various books, including a new one, Embers of the Hands, Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. It's Dr. Eleanor Barraclough. Welcome, Eleanor. Thank you, Greg. Lovely to be here. And in Comedy Corner, he's a multi-talented actor, comedian and broadcaster.

She's the author of various books, including a new one, Embers of the Hands, Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. It's Dr. Eleanor Barraclough. Welcome, Eleanor. Thank you, Greg. Lovely to be here. And in Comedy Corner, he's a multi-talented actor, comedian and broadcaster.

As well as his fab stage performances in The Government Inspector, you'll also recognise him from hosting TV's The Great British Sewing Bee, or starring in the award-winning sitcoms Ghosts, Stafflet's Flats and Man Like Mobine, or delighting the nation on Series 15 of Taskmaster. It is the amazing Kyle Smith. Bino, welcome to the show, Kyle.

As well as his fab stage performances in The Government Inspector, you'll also recognise him from hosting TV's The Great British Sewing Bee, or starring in the award-winning sitcoms Ghosts, Stafflet's Flats and Man Like Mobine, or delighting the nation on Series 15 of Taskmaster. It is the amazing Kyle Smith. Bino, welcome to the show, Kyle.

You've not been on the show before, Kyle.

You've not been on the show before, Kyle.

How do you feel about history?

How do you feel about history?

What do you know about the man, the myth, the legend, Leif Erikson? I know that that's who we're talking about today. Great. So, what do you know? This is where I have a go at guessing what our listeners will know about today's subject. And even if the name Leif Erikson is not familiar, you might have heard that a Viking was the first person to probably reach North America.

What do you know about the man, the myth, the legend, Leif Erikson? I know that that's who we're talking about today. Great. So, what do you know? This is where I have a go at guessing what our listeners will know about today's subject. And even if the name Leif Erikson is not familiar, you might have heard that a Viking was the first person to probably reach North America.

You might be sitting there thinking, what about Christopher Columbus? Well, we'll get to him. But if you're listening from North America, hello. Maybe you know that in the USA and Canada, the 9th of October is Leif Erikson Day. You get today, which, of course, is celebrated in a much-loved episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, an important document. He also pops up in Netflix's Vikings Valhalla.

You might be sitting there thinking, what about Christopher Columbus? Well, we'll get to him. But if you're listening from North America, hello. Maybe you know that in the USA and Canada, the 9th of October is Leif Erikson Day. You get today, which, of course, is celebrated in a much-loved episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, an important document. He also pops up in Netflix's Vikings Valhalla.

Leif Erikson, that is, not SpongeBob. And the Norse presence in North America is referenced with a Viking character in the US remake of your sitcom Ghosts. Haven't seen it. That's fine. You were in the good one. That's brilliant. Thank you. The American one is fine. It's nice. When you said he gets a day as in not his birthday, just another one. Just a ceremonial day. Yeah, October 9th.

Leif Erikson, that is, not SpongeBob. And the Norse presence in North America is referenced with a Viking character in the US remake of your sitcom Ghosts. Haven't seen it. That's fine. You were in the good one. That's brilliant. Thank you. The American one is fine. It's nice. When you said he gets a day as in not his birthday, just another one. Just a ceremonial day. Yeah, October 9th.

So Leif Erikson shows up in pop culture. There's novels. But how do we separate the truth and the lies from Leif's life? Did Vikings really make it to North America? Or is this just a big story? And how many people do you need to kill before you're kicked out of Norway? Let's find out. When we talk about the Viking Age, what is it? How long is it?

So Leif Erikson shows up in pop culture. There's novels. But how do we separate the truth and the lies from Leif's life? Did Vikings really make it to North America? Or is this just a big story? And how many people do you need to kill before you're kicked out of Norway? Let's find out. When we talk about the Viking Age, what is it? How long is it?

Do you know why we call them Vikings, Kyle? No. Fair and honest answer. Thank you. Elena, there's no place called Vikingland?