Upcoming Events
Warwick Words
John Brown arrived as a servant in Queen Victoria’s household but soon became known across the land as her loyal companion, her fierce protector and her right-hand man, their friendship immortalised in print and on-screen.
But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? And what has history been hiding from us?
In this provocative exploration of Victoria’s private passions, cultural historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain’s most iconic women.
A timeless romance and a deep dive into the secrets and scandals of the royal machine, this book is an unmissable account of a woman in love.
In Conversation with Festival Director Neela Mann.
BBC History Magazine Weekend
WEEKEND LIVE BBC History Magazine Weekend with Ruth Goodman, Dr Fern Riddell, Nina Ramirez and Mark Urban - enjoy talks and Q and As with the top historians, experts, broadcasters, authors and experience hosted events throughout the break
WATERSTONES - CANTERBURY
In this passionate and provocative exploration of Victoria's private passions, the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women. A timeless romance and an extraordinary retelling of the emotional life of a queen, Victoria's Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love.
£5 or £24 including book
BOOK TICKETS
Channel 4 presents Queen Victoria: Secret Marriage, Secret Child?
Rob Rinder and Fern Riddell to uncover the truth of Queen Victoria’s hidden love in Channel 4 history doc
Channel 4 has commissioned a 1x60 film to examine one of the great speculations of British royal history: how intimate was Queen Victoria’s relationship with her Highland servant John Brown? In Queen Victoria: Secret Marriage, Secret Child?, made by Impossible Factual, Rob Rinder and Dr Fern Riddell go on a journey across the country to uncover the truth behind the rumour of a romance between the widowed monarch and Scottish commoner.
Based on research undertaken for her forthcoming book, the programme sees Fern unearth groundbreaking evidence that will transform the long-established historical view of Victoria after the death of Prince Albert, from grieving widow to a woman in passionate midlife. Rob will cast a sceptical eye over the evidence as the revelations continue to grow.
Emily Shields, Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 says: “It’s so rare to find brand new evidence relating to well-known figures in history, but Dr Fern Riddell’s research into the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown is extraordinary. It will be thrilling to see Rob Rinder interrogate the details and ask if it’s time for the history of The Widow of Windsor to be re-written.”
Steve Maher, Creative Director of Impossible Factual and executive producer of the programme says: "This is a project that we’ve been developing with Fern for some time, and we are really excited to be working with Channel 4 to explore this compelling new take on the life and loves of Queen Victoria.”
Broadcast on Channel 4, 31st July alongside the same-day release of Dr Fern Riddell’s book, Victoria’s Secret, which will be published by Penguin.
Queen Victoria: Secret Marriage, Secret Child? is directed by Stephen Finnigan and produced by Hannah Richards. Steve Maher, Adam Luria and Jonathan Drake exec for Impossible Factual.
International distribution handled by Sphere Abacus.
PREVIEW - BLACKWELLS OXFORD
Acclaimed historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women.
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW - HistFest @ The British Library
To mark the release of her eagerly anticipated new book, Victoria’s Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen, this unmissable event sees historian and author Dr Fern Riddell draw from new evidence to challenge the prevalent image of Victoria as a grieving widow and instead create a compelling human portrait of a woman in passionate midlife.
£12