Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Episodes
How to Get Cancelled in Ancient Judea
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What do we know about Jesus? Kate is joined for this episode by Professor of Christian Origins, Helen Bond, to find out more about the historical reco...
The Fake Princess Who Fooled Georgian England
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What you'll hear in today's episode is a story that strikes to the dark heart of the British Empire.Despite being set in the time of Jane Austen's ear...
Sex Work in Colonial India
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When the British Empire colonised India, how did it treat their different ideas about sex? How did they treat sex workers like the Devadasi, meaning '...
How Scandalous Were Masquerade Balls?
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Faces covered, identities unknown - masquerade balls sound like a place of anonymity and, therefore, SCANDAL.But how true is this in the 18th Century?...
The Brothels of Imperial Russia
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode we're taking you back to the brothels of 19th century St. Petersburg.Sex work was legalised under the Emperor Nicholas I, but what ...
Who was the first 'Lesbian'?
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Was Sappho queer? Or was this Ancient Greek poet just really really good friends with women?Today on Betwixt the Sheets, Kate is joined by Katherine H...
Sex Work in the American Revolution
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Where the American War of Independence raged, the camp followers...followed.Among them were sex workers, for both the American and British troops. Wha...
The Depravity of the Marquis De Sade
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sadism - the derivation of pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering and humiliation on others - is named after this man. So what exactly did he do?Kat...
Inside the Moulin Rouge
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Moulin Rouge opened its doors in 1889, at the height of the Belle Epoch - 'the Beautiful Age'.Its famous windmill structure stood on the fringes o...
The Truth About the Little Mermaid
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What is a mermaid? Do sirens, selkies and Aquaman fit into this category? And how far back in history do they go?Kate is joined by Diane Purkiss to di...
Inside the Brothels of New Orleans
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Storyville was the red-light district in New Orleans, created in 1897.What was it like in this neighbourhood, and inside the brothels there? How was r...
The Victorian Sex Trafficking Panic
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Was there really a boom in sex trafficking at the end of the 19th century? What was 'white slavery'? And how often did the traffickers get caught?Kate...
The Truth about Charlie Chaplin
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Chaplin had an extraordinary life: from the workhouses of Victorian London to the glamorous films sets of Hollywood's Golden Age.He revolution...
Did Fashion Kill Marie Antoinette?
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Marie Antoinette went to her death as one of the most hated people in the world, but in recent years she has inspired millions with her style. How did...
Hollywood's Shocking First Sex Symbols
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 100 years ago, films in Hollywood were so much sexier and shocking than you might think they were.One of the most shocking things was how empow...
Tiberius and his Island of Depravity
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Roman Emperor Tiberius has a harrowing reputation based on stories surrounding his latter years on the island of Capri. Stories of debauchery and ...
The Murder That Shocked Hollywood
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In post-war Hollywood, the film industry had a reputation for its dark side as much as anything happening on the big screen.So when Elizabeth Short wa...
Shag, Marry, Kill: Kings Edition (Live Show Recording)
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Henry VIII, Charles II and Richard the Lionheart. What do all of these men have in common?They're incredibly eligible bachelors! Well, if not that the...
Sex & Scandal in Hollywood’s Golden Age
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Over 100 years ago the Hollywood film industry was shiny, new and sexy.Sex and sexuality was present on screen, but as the 1920s drew to a close, scan...
Who Was The Witch Queen of Scotland?
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The 17th century witch trials in Scotland were many and they were brutal.Amongst the many people tried for being a witch, one woman's confessions stoo...
The Most Scandalous Author in 19th-Century France
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
By the age of 30, George Sand's literary career was soaring. She was internationally renowned, outselling Victor Hugo in English. So why is she now be...
A Very Borgia Break Up | History's Worst Breakups
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If people are still talking about your divorce and rumoured penis related issues 500 years later, it's safe to say you've had a bad break up.For the f...
The Medici vs. Tudor Rivalry
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Neither woman expected to rule, but Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici became two of the most powerful women in Europe.Was their relationship a fierc...
Who Makes a Doll of their Ex? | History's Worst Break Ups
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A 'bad boy' of Austrian art meets the 'loveliest girl in Vienna', what could possibly go wrong? Why did artist Oskar Kokoschka commission a life sized...
The Truth about Frida Kahlo
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Frida Kahlo is an icon of art, feminism and... eyebrows.Her art and imagery has entered into the mainstream like few artists have, and her life was as...
History's Worst Breakups | Lord Byron vs. Lady Lamb
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sending a lock of hair to your lover has fallen a little out of fashion. Sending a lock of pubic hair to your ex-lover ... well, we aren't sure that w...
Sex & Scandal behind Wuthering Heights
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Wuthering Heights is a story full of passion, violence and sexual tension.So it's no surprise that it shocked Victorian readers when it first came out...
Henry VIII vs. Catherine of Aragon | History's Worst Breakups
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a brand new mini-series on Betwixt the Sheets, where our host, Dr Kate Lister, takes you through the most catastrophic breakups in history....
How Filthy Were the Victorians?
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
They say people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. The Victorians might have done well to live by that rule.For all of the dirt that the Victoria...
The Most Notorious Sex Worker of 18th Century Dublin
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dublin in the 18th century was a wealthy colonial capitol, but only for a select few.Amongst this hugely divided and politically charged world was the...
How Filthy was the Renaissance?
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Renaissance, a period of transformation in art, learning, philosophy and science that brought us Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Dona...
The Syphilis Explosion of the American Civil War
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's been estimated that between eight and twelve percent of soldiers in contracted a venereal disease during the American Civil War. What on earth we...
How Filthy Were Medieval People?
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If there's one sure way to irritate an historian of the Medieval period, it's to ask why the people of the Middle Ages didn't wash.In this episode, we...
Thames Torso Murders - Lucy Worsley
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For over a century, a series of gruesome murders have gone unsolved. Until now?The Thames Torso Killer terrified Victorian Londoners by dismembering t...
How Filthy Were the Egyptians?
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lead in eyes, scented animal fat melting over wigs, teen circumcision - the Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths for beauty and hygiene. So how cle...
How to Survive as a Medieval Single Woman
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Being single in 2025 is a major disadvantage, so what was it like as a single woman in the Medieval period?!Joining Kate today is the always-fantastic...
How Filthy Were The Romans?
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Some of the key remnants of the Roman Empire are their public baths - huge complexes, multiple different rooms, the basis of many of our modern spas. ...
How Sexy Was Shakespeare?
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a bit of interest around Shakespeare at the minute - can we call this the Paul Mescal effect?The Bard’s work featured many references to sex...
How Hot Was Lord Byron?
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' was Lord Byron really?We know the Romantic poet had a bit of a reputation, but how true was it? And how unusual w...
How Has Porn Changed Through History?
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Christmas around the corner and everything being oh-so wholesome, we thought we would offer an episode from the archives of something not-so whol...
Who Was The Virgin Mary
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite virginity being a myth, why has Mary’s virginity been considered so important?What does this tell us about the relationship between Christia...
The Truth About Sigmund Freud
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's the one we've all been waiting for!The Oedipus Complex; the oral, anal and phallic stages; penis envy; psychoanalysis - we've all heard of Sigmun...
Inside the Royal Harems of the Ottoman Empire
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can't move for people talking about the Roman Empire or the British Empire, but what about the Ottoman Empire?It spanned a huge period of time and...
The Mother of All Tudors: Child Bride to Kingmaker
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever heard of Margaret Beaufort? Probably not. But whilst her name has been overshadowed by those of her son, grandson and great-grandchildren, her im...
Sex & Scandal in Ancient Egypt
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What did the Ancient Egyptians think about sex? Is there any truth to a rumoured royal sex scandal? What did they think of same-sex relationships?In t...
The Truth About Mythical Women
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Myths are incredibly powerful, especially when it comes to creating nations.Why are mythical women so central to how we think about our nations? When ...
Origins of Aphrodite: The Sex-Positive Goddess
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who was Aphrodite? She's often thought of as a goddess of sexuality, but there's so much more to this woman.Which ancient civilisation was she created...
The Truth About the Mitford Sisters
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Mitfords could rank as the strangest family of the 20th century.Unity and Diana were passionate fascists who became obsessed with Adolf Hitler, wh...
Did Henry VIII Have An Affair With Anne Boleyn's Sister?
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
She was 'the Other Boleyn Girl' - Anne's sister, Mary, who supposedly had an affair with King Henry VIII. Such drama!What evidence is there that the t...
The Truth About Roald Dahl
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda. Roald Dahl wrote some of the world's most loved children's books.But what do we know about the ...
Sex and Scandal of Medieval Royals
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What did Queen Isabella of France do to deserve the nickanem She-Wolf? What sex scandals happened in the 14th century? And why did the Black Death imp...
The Truth About Vincent Van Gogh
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
However you pronounce his name, one thing is for certain: Van Gogh made made his mark on the world.But how did he interact with the world around him? ...
Who was the Husband Poisoner of Renaissance Italy?
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Odourless, tasteless, colourless, lethal. In the mid-17th century, men were dropping like flies in Italy. And this wasn't just the plague - it was the...
The Truth About Mary Shelley
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frankenstein and his monster are household names - even if one is often confused for the other. But what of their creator?In this episode we are meeti...
Inside the Icelandic Witch Trials
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picture a witch. Chances are, you're thinking of a woman.But in 17th century Iceland, over 90% of the people killed for being a witch, were men.Why we...
How Bloody Was 'Bloody Mary'?
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before Mary I was Queen, no other woman had worn the crown of England.This made her a Tudor trailblazer, and a target.During her short reign she burne...
How To Fake Virginity
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why, just why, would one put a leech up their .. you know where? It's all in the name of virginity, or the faking of it.Kate is joined by Dr Julia Mar...
Inside Concentration Camp Brothels
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even among Holocaust researchers, this subject is taboo. Starting in 1942, the Nazis set up brothels inside some of the camps, not for the guards, but...
Wife-Swapping Magician of the Tudor Court
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 16th century was a dangerous time to be talking about magic and hidden forces, so how did John Dee end up being invited into Elizabeth I's court?H...
Inside a Wild West Brothel
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shoot outs, hard drinking and gambling. The Wild West is remembered for it's general lawlessness, but what might life have been like for the first wom...
The Boleyn Who Betrayed Henry VIII
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
She was executed on Henry VIII's orders alongside Catherine Howard, and was sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn and the King. She lived in the heart of the T...
Inside Imperial Japan's Brothels
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After the first licensed brothel opened in the 17th century, how was sex work thought of in Japan throughout the following centuries?From the brothels...
The Scandalous Royal Mistress Who Ruled France
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is this strangest threesome in royal history?!We're endlessly fascinated with the lives of royal mistresses, and this has to be one of the most notori...
Inside The 18th Century Brothel Ship
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did a British ship carry over 200 women to Australia in the late 18th century? In this episode, we are going inside the Lady Juliana, a convict tr...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Rasputin
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rasputin presented himself as a mystic healer, and preached that the only way to salvation was through sin — which sometimes, if rumour is to be bel...
Why Are We Scared Of Single Women?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where did the idea of the bunny boiler come from?In this episode we're exploring how single women got such a bad rap in popular culture. From Miss Hav...
Who Was The Naughtiest Pope In History?
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sex, scandal and ... the Sacraments? Renaissance Rome wasn't for the faint hearted. And the Vatican? For some that was the source of the drama.In this...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Nero
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where does Emperor Nero fit in the pantheon of history's worst f*ckboys?Does he measure up against the likes of previous episodes on Charles II or Rap...
Queer Georgians
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did the Georgians discuss sexuality? And how, and why, did they regulate it? In this episode, Kate talks to Dr Anthony Delaney about his new book ...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Raphael
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Renaissance is known for its heady combination of sex, art and exciting new ideas about the world.Was Raphael, one of the superstar painters of th...
Alexander the Great's Mummy Issues: Olympias
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
They say behind every great man is a great woman. In this episode, we meet the woman behind Alexander the Great's success. From securing his status, t...
History's Worst F*ckboys: Charles II
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our mini-series exploring the worst f*ckboys in history is back!In today's episode, Kate is joined by Dr. David Taylor of Oxford University to get to ...
Shag, Marry, Kill: Roman Emperor Edition
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Which would be better for a fling, which would you not touch with a barge pole, and which is marriage material? There's only one way to find out.This ...
How Hot Was Henry VIII?
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With SIX wives, Henry VIII must have had something going for him, right? Was he handsome? Charming? Intelligent? Just plain powerful?In this episode, ...
The Real Virgin Mary
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why has the idea of the Virgin Mary’s virginity been so important?What does this tell us about the relationship between Christianity and sex? And wh...
How Wild Were The Last Days Of Rome?
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Rome fell, was it really non-stop orgies and parties?That's become a popular connotation, and in today's episode Kate is joined by historian and fr...
The Strangest Tudor & Stuart Aphrodisiacs
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget oysters, have you tried eating sparrows with a side of phallic vegetables to stir your lust?!Getting in the mood isn’t just a modern preoccup...
Did Henry VI Have A Sex Coach?
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Henry VI didn't fit the medieval image of masculinity, or that much of a king, either.Who gave sex education to someone of this stature? How did his c...
Who Were The Vestal Virgins?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happened if a Vestal Virgin broke their pledge of virginity? How would a woman be chosen for the role? And were there any benefits to taking it?K...
Royal Sex: Cleopatra
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did Cleopatra have a bee-powered vibrator? Why did she marry both of her brothers? And how serious were her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark ...
How Incestuous Were The Habsburgs?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People will do crazy things to keep hold of power.The Habsburgs - one of the most powerful families in European history - were a prime example of this...
Royal Sex: Elizabeth I
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Was Elizabeth I really a virgin? When we talk about queens being remembered for their sex lives, we absolutely have to mention the woman so often reme...
Victorian Sex Work Scandal: The Prince And The Telegraph Boys
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the summer of 1889, a London police officer stopped and searched a telegraph boy, suspecting him of stealing from the Post Office he worked for. Wh...
Royal Sex: Catherine the Great
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did Catherine the Great really die having sex with a horse? Was she involved in her husband's death? And were her lovers selected for political reason...
Sex Lives of the Roman Legion
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the Roman Empire grew, so did the importance of its army - the Roman Legion.But what was life on the march like? What happened on the encampments a...
Royal Sex: Marie Antoinette
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Behind the wild accusations of extra-marital affairs and a lavish lifestyle, who was the real Marie Antoinette? Why did her marriage to King Louis XVI...
The Power of Medieval Gossip
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People have always gossiped, but what did they gossip about in medieval times? How were women punished for gossiping? And where does the term 'gossip'...
Royal Sex: Queen Victoria
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With NINE children, it can probably be assumed that Queen Victoria was no stranger to the sheets, but what do we actually know about her love (and sex...
Why Were Ancient Dicks So Small?
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been puzzled by proportions when looking at Ancient Greek statues? It can't just be us.From quarrying the stone to chipping away the fin...
Sex Work in Victorian London
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What were the lives of women like who sold sex in the Victorian era? How did the law makers and moral crusaders of the time try to control it? How did...
The History of the C-section
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Almost half of births in the UK are delivered via Cesarean section. But when was this operation first performed?Kate Lister is joined by Hannah Marsh,...
Sex Work in the Renaissance
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Early Modern Italy birthed artistic giants like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, saw architectural marvels like Florence's dome and St. Peter's Bas...
Inside America's Famous Sex Study
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How could recording people having sex be 'for science'? Same question for sleeping with your colleagues? Well, these were just two of the practices em...
Medieval Sex Work
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite Christianity coming in hot and heavy in the medieval period, sex work was thriving.In many places it was legal, even.In this second episode in...
What Did Jane Austen Know About Sex?
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
She wrote some of the most enduring romances in literature. But what did Jane Austen really know about love ... and sex?From longing looks and flirtat...
Sex Work in Ancient Rome
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What did it look like inside a Roman brothel? Who was the sex worker involved in a murder plot to kill an Emperor? And why was the Pope getting sex wo...
Could You Survive Medieval Childbirth?
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Childbirth isn't for the faint-hearted at the best of times, let alone in the medieval period. What was a birthing room like at this time in hist...
The Truth About The Minotaur
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Deep in an Ancient Greek labyrinth lurks the half bull half man monster: the Minotaur.What did this wild myth about a woman having a baby with a bull ...
The Murderous Affairs of King James
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Against the paranoid backdrop of the Scottish witch trials, a murder plot involving King James and some of his lovers took place.To make matters more ...
Victorian Beauty Standards
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did Victorians value pale skin so highly? And how were black bodies viewed by Victorian society?In this episode Kate is joined by author and histo...