In this episode of my podcast I get to talk about two of my great loves - words and language. My guest Susie Dent is an English lexicographer, etymologist, and the word referee in "Dictionary Corner" on the TV game show Countdown since 1992.  Susie is also a bestselling author having written many books on the English language including her latest which is aimed at children, "Roots of Happiness: 100 Words for Joy and Hope".  I was delighted she agreed to join me as a guest on my podcast here...

My guest this month is local nature writer Nicola Chester.  As Spring arrives at the real Downton Abbey it was lovely to sit down and talk about the beautiful countryside that surrounds us.  Nicola's Award Winning Memoir is called 'On Gallows Down: Place, Protest and Belonging'. You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

Behind the scenes at the real Downton Abbey this month I'm talking to raecehorse trainer Richard Hannon who is not only a good friend to my husband and myself but looks after some of the racehorses we've bred.  Racing is very close to our hearts here at Highclere Castle especially as my father in law was the late Queen's racing manager and Richard's father trained some of Her Majesty's horses. Richard took over from his father in 2014 and clocked up his 1000th winner on Derby Day in 2019...

This month I'm joined by my friend and respected interior designer Sarah Morris.  Sarah has been by my side as I've worked to restore and re-decorate the very many rooms here at Highclere Castle over the past 20 years. From wallpaper, Royal house guests and even ghosts, join me and Sarah on an interior design tour of the real Downton Abbey!  You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published on the first day...

Happy New Year! What better way to start 2024 than by welcoming historian, author, broadcaster and good friend Bettany Hughes to 'the real Downton Abbey'. You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

December is traditionally the month for giving so it's perhaps apt that my guest this month is the founder of a wonderful charity Starlight. Starlight raises funds for children’s play in healthcare, supporting children to experience the power of play to boost their wellbeing and resilience during illness. We've supported Starlight here at Highclere for at least 20 years so it was a great pleasure to welcome actress Emma Samms to tell me about how the charity started and the work they do to...

My guest this month is the author Victoria Hislop. Victoria has entranced us all with her wonderful stories about Greece. Her debut book 'The Island' became an international bestseller, and her latest is called 'The figurine'.  You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

This month's podcast is all about one of my favourite topics Egyptology.  Joining me at Highclere Castle is Dr Colleen Darnell, an Egyptologist, author and educator. Her latest book 'Egypt’s Golden Couple: When Akhenaten and Nefertiti Were Gods on Earth'  was co-authored with her husband, John Coleman Darnell, Professor of Egyptology at Yale University.  It's a fascinating read even for non-egyptologists! You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at...

My guest this month is one of best girl friends. I've known 'smiles' since I met her at university and she's remained a close friend ever since. Recently she's worked alongside me in the preparation of my book 'The Earl and the Pharaoh', so I thought an ideal time to sit down with her and reminisce on our friendship.  You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

It's August and my guest this month is the journalist and  best selling author Tim Marshall.  “Prisoners of Geography” has sold over 2 million copies and I have much enjoyed his recent  book the “Power of Geography”. Tim’s books offer fascinating insights into this world on which we are all trying to live and which we are all trying to share. Before his writing career Tim had established himself as a well respected TV foreign correspondent  as well as contributing to radio and newspaper I...

My guest this month is a dear friend, and renowned author, Shrabani Basu. Shrabani is an Indian journalist and historian who is perhaps best known for writing the true story of 'Victoria & Abdul' about Queen Victoria's friendship with an Indian attendant Abdul Karim.  It was a joy to sit down and talk to Shrabani - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published...

My guest this month is the WW2 history author James Holland. I've got to know James over the years having appeared as a guest on several occasions at the wonderful history festival he founded. The Chalke Valley history festival in the nearby county of Wiltshire has grown to be one of the biggest events of its kind in the world.  You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/ New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

Often the starting point for one of my books on the history of Highclere Castle is a conversation with David Rymill. David is our archivist and there's not much he doesn't know about the family history thanks to the extensive archive of documents and letters dating back to when the family first acquired the house in the 17th century. I find the archive here at Highclere fascinating so I was grateful to David for sitting down with me to discuss his work.  You can hear more episodes of Lady...

Jane Austen is one of England’s most celebrated and greatest novelists and Hampshire - the county where Highclere Castle is situated -  played an important part in her life, not just as the place she lived but as inspiration to many of her novels. Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors so I was thrilled to sit down with Lizzie Dunford - Director of Jane Austen's House - one of the most treasured Austen sites in the world. The cottage, in a village to the south-east of Highclere called...

We're back after a month away to recharge our podcast batteries!  My guest for March is someone very familiar to British TV audiences - weather presenter Laura Tobin.  Laura has just written a book called 'Everyday Ways To Save Our Planet' - and so I invited her to come along to Highclere and share some of her tips with me! 

Happy New Year!  We begin 2023 in conversation with one of the people who has helped me unearth the rich aviation history that surrounds Highclere Castle. I first met George Bacon at an event to commemorate Sir Geoffrey De Havilland's first flight on the Highclere Estate at Seven Barrows. Since then he's become a friend and contributor to many events here at the real Downton Abbey. 

My guest this month has just published a wonderfully amusing book that looks back on her incredible life. Susannah Constantine is best known as a TV fashion expert, but as she tells me in this podcast her years on television are the least interesting thing about her. Join us in the castle's morning room  for some extraordinary anecdotes involving Royalty, teapots and sobriety!

The theme of our recent Highclere Festival was the path to the discovery of  the tomb of Tutankhamun. It is an extraordinary tale of  two unconventional men, Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, neither of whom had studied archaeology at university but both of whom, through experience and passion, found the most extraordinary tomb of a Pharaoh. It's the subject of my new book 'The Earl and the Pharaoh'. Joining us over the festival weekend to help further our understanding was egyptologist...

The  death of Her Majesty the Queen last month was both sad and unsettling. My own experience of meeting her was entirely due to her long friendship with my father-in-law and mother-in-law. In fact my father-in-law was her racing manager at one time, and my husband had the great honour of being her godson. So for this month's podcast I'm joined by Geordie to share some memories of a remarkable person. 

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down in the castle library to speak to Gavin Thurston.  Combining lenses and penmanship, he has written a fabulous book called “Journey into the Wild, The Secret life of a cameraman” which shares stories of his time behind the scenes during the course of many years filming with Sir David Attenborough. 

The recent record high temperatures in the UK has brought climate change back into the headlines. Seasoned climatologists who knew we'd one day break through the 40C barrier have spoken about being stunned to see it happen so soon. Here at Highclere we're always thinking about what we can do to protect our fragile planet.  With that in mind my guest this month is very much on topic. Rod Rougelot is a good friend who has spent decades working in recycling and sustainability. I found our...

Last week I was in the US, and I was honoured to be  invited by the Newport Preservation Society to speak at a number of events in order to help them raise money to sustain some great houses they look after. Many of the houses were lost post WW2, but a number of determined women have helped save what is now left. From lunches to meetings, press conferences, filming, talks and presentations, it was a busy and fascinating schedule. I met some wonderful people and was made to feel extremely...

After 36 months it's been a joy to welcome back the Highclere Show.  It's a festival and celebration of country life that is always great entertainment for the thousands that come here every May. In this month's podcast I sat down with the organiser Jerome Roberts - do have a listen and maybe we'll see you here next year! 

My guest this month is a wonderful lady called Emma Kane. As well as being a hugely successful businesswoman Emma is Chair of Target Ovarian Cancer.  It's a charity I have a particular interest in having lost my mother to ovarian cancer.  I hope you'll find our conversation insightful and if you'd like to find out more about the charity please visit their website: targetovariancancer.org.uk/