{"id":13796,"date":"2022-05-16T13:03:14","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T11:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=13796"},"modified":"2022-05-16T13:03:14","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T11:03:14","slug":"diary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/2022\/05\/16\/diary\/","title":{"rendered":"Diary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Diary<\/span><\/h1>\n\n
VISIT \/ WATCH \/ LISTEN <\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n
By Jonathan Wright <\/span><\/strong>and Rhiannon Davies<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <\/h5>\n\n
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Facing the past <\/span><\/strong>This year\u2019s Jorvik Viking Festival has a packed roster of events, from a lavish Viking banquet on 1 June to Best Beard and Strongest Viking competitions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
VISIT<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Here be Vikings<\/p>\n\n

This spring, the Jorvik Viking Festival returns to York after an extended pandemic-related hiatus, and it promises to be bigger than ever.<\/p>\n\n

Traditional highlights \u2013 such as the Viking camp in Parliament Street and the march to Coppergate, during which a fearsome band of re-enactors storm to the Jorvik Viking Centre \u2013 are augmented with new events including the Jorvik Games. Held on the Saturday evening, the Games will see competitors face off in bouts designed to test their endurance, strength and cunning.<\/p>\n\n

If you\u2019d prefer to take part in the festival from the comfort of your own home, on 22 May you can head online to watch leading academics giving lectures on Viking hoards.<\/p>\n\n

Jorvik Viking Festival <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

York \/ 28 May\u20131 June \/ Booking essential for ticketed events \/ jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk<\/a><\/em><\/h5>\n\n
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Queen Elizabeth II in 2015. Her seven decades on the throne are the focus of Roger Michell\u2019s final film<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
WATCH<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Crowning glory<\/p>\n\n

When he was making his final film, a feature-length documentary about Queen Elizabeth II, Roger Michell explained why he was drawn to the monarch as a subject. \u201cShe has been our constant,\u201d he said. \u201cI think she\u2019s drilled into our subconscious. She\u2019s like the world\u2019s biggest movie star, and you don\u2019t have to be a royalist to be amazed by her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Sadly, the director died in September 2021, but he had completed work on Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts, <\/em>which is being released this month to tie in with celebrations for the Queen\u2019s platinum jubilee. Expect a film rich in archive material, offering a fresh and inventive take on Elizabeth\u2019s life and times.<\/p>\n\n

Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In cinemas from Friday 27 May<\/h5>\n\n
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VISIT<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Sweet treatments<\/p>\n\n

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Now a new exhibition at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh explores how food itself has been viewed as medicine over the past six centuries. Using manuscripts, illustrations and unusual artefacts (such as Dr Gregory\u2019s Stomachic Powder patented laxative, pictured) it traces the complex relationship between diet and health. Through items such as 17th-century recipe books, we learn how food was thought to prevent and cure illness, and also discover the darker aspects of diet control.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Food: Recipe or Remedy <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh \/ Until 27 January 2023 \/ rcpe.ac.uk<\/a> <\/em><\/h5>\n\n
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Comedian Sue Perkins investigates her orphaned grandfather\u2019s moving story in the latest series of Who Do You Think You Are? <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
WATCH<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Meet the family<\/p>\n\n

When a show reaches its 19th series, it\u2019s clearly doing something right. That\u2019s certainly the case with Who Do You Think You Are?, <\/em>a genealogy programme in which celebrities trace their lineage \u2013 and often react with shock to what they discover.<\/p>\n\n

The series returns with five new episodes, kicking off with comedian Sue Perkins researching the poignant story of her orphaned grandfather. Novelist and gameshow whizz Richard Osman, The Great British Bake Off <\/em>co-host Matt Lucas, actor Anna Maxwell Martin and Ralf Little, the latest lead in Death in Paradise, <\/em>also feature.<\/p>\n\n

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Who Do You Think You Are?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

BBC One \/ From Thursday 26 May<\/p>\n\n

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An image of the influential abolitionist Olaudah Equiano from his autobiography<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
LISTEN<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Abolitionist and adventurer<\/p>\n\n

By any standards, the life of Olaudah Equiano was remarkable. Born in the kingdom of Benin (in what is now Nigeria) in c1745, Equiano was enslaved as a child. Transported to Barbados and then to the colony of Virginia, he was purchased by Michael Henry Pascal, a Royal Navy lieutenant. Renamed Gustavus Vassa, he became Pascal\u2019s unpaid servant and later wrote first-hand accounts of battles fought during the Seven Years\u2019 War.<\/p>\n\n

Equiano was literate thanks in part to Robert King, an American Quaker and merchant who, having bought Equiano, encouraged him to master reading and writing (which he\u2019d first learned on board naval ships). In 1766, Equiano bought his freedom from King.<\/p>\n\n

A life of travel and adventure followed, but it was as a freedman living in London in the 1780s that he found fame when he became involved in the abolitionist movement. His autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African <\/em>(1789), a bestseller in his own lifetime, has subsequently become a key text in understanding the era. Now a new BBC radio docudrama charts his life and times.<\/p>\n\n

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The Amazing Life of Olaudah Equiano <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

BBC Radio 4 \/ Tuesday 24 May<\/p>\n\n

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A 10th-century Khmer statue of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, from Cambodia. A new programme explores the fate of artefacts that were looted from the country<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
LISTEN<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Return of the living gods<\/p>\n\n

The question of whether and when antiquities should be repatriated is an issue that is occupying ever more of the attention of those who run the world\u2019s most famous museums. Usually, the artefacts in question left their countries of origin long ago. But that\u2019s not true in the case of Cambodia, where an investigative team is dealing with the thefts of prized treasures that may have happened as recently as the 1980s, 1990s and even the early 2000s.<\/p>\n\n

For a new BBC Radio 4 documentary, Celia Hatton reports on the Cambodian team now examining UK collections including those of the British Museum and the V&A. Over the course of its work, the team has built up a network of former looters, now government witnesses, with code names such as Red Horse and Iron Princess. At the centre of many of the sales was a rogue British art dealer, Douglas Latchford (1931\u20132020), who faced a US indictment on wide-ranging charges of trafficking and dealing in stolen goods but died before he could be tried.<\/p>\n\n

Underpinning the investigators\u2019 efforts is the idea that ancient statues taken from temples are not just pieces of stone but represent living gods \u2013 and the Cambodians want their gods back.<\/p>\n\n

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Crossing Continents \u2013 Cambodia: Returning the Gods <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

BBC Radio 4 \/ Thursday 12 May <\/p>\n\n

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A miniature Qur\u2019an with gold cover and carved jade case. Fifty lavishly decorated manuscripts are displayed in the British Library\u2019s new exhibition <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
VISIT<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Priceless words<\/p>\n\n

Whether it\u2019s the finely wrought jewellery piled high in the pharaohs\u2019 tombs of ancient Egypt, or the flakes that were brushed over medieval artworks to make them glimmer in the candlelight, gold has enthralled us for millennia.<\/p>\n\n

The British Library is exploring how the precious metal has been used to elevate the written word throughout history. Bringing together stunning examples of gold-adorned manuscripts, scrolls and sacred texts gathered from more than 20 countries, the exhibition also reveals the fascinating stories of the owners of these magnificent documents.<\/p>\n\n

Gold <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

British Library, London \/ 20 May\u20132 October \/ Booking advised \/ bl.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Oscar Wilde (left) with his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, in 1893. Two years later, Wilde was imprisoned for gross indecency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
WATCH<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Regret and defiance<\/p>\n\n

On 25 May 1895, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years\u2019 hard labour for gross indecency. Such were attitudes towards homosexuality at the time that the trial judge, Sir Alfred Wills, thought Wilde\u2019s sentence to be \u201ctotally inadequate for a case such as this\u201d. A brilliant career was ending in disgrace.<\/p>\n\n

But what did Wilde himself think about his situation? Exploring this question is a new one-man play directed by Trevor Nunn and written by Stuart Paterson, which is being filmed for BBC Four. Toby Stephens (Lost in <\/em>Space) <\/em>stars as Wilde, referred to throughout by his prisoner number in Reading Gaol: C33.<\/p>\n\n

The play portrays Wilde at his lowest ebb \u2013 condemned to solitary confinement because of his sexuality, filthy because he is denied water to wash himself, and on the verge of madness. It\u2019s the cue for the imprisoned writer to begin a conversation with his former self \u2013 the elegantly attired wit who was the toast of London society. Among the subjects across which he ranges are his abandonment by his wife and sons, his feelings towards his former lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, and, inevitably, his own humiliation.<\/p>\n\n

Prisoner C33<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

BBC iPlayer \/ Streaming now<\/p>\n\n

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John William Waterhouse\u2019s 1891 oil painting Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses.<\/em> She is one of many spiritual beings in the British Museum\u2019s new exhibition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
VISIT<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Female mystique<\/p>\n\n

Witches, goddesses, demons and saints have been woven into the fabric of our belief systems and myths since ancient times. Now the British Museum is making history with the first major exhibition dedicated to female spiritual beings. Among more than 70 sculptures, paintings and sacred artefacts from six continents, stand-out objects include an intriguing sculpture of Lilith, seen as Satan\u2019s consort in the Jewish tradition.<\/p>\n\n

The display seeks to examine the various ways in which our forebears grappled with femininity, spanning themes ranging from wisdom and passion to war and justice. To generate discussion about the themes, contributors such as classicist Mary Beard offer their thoughts throughout the exhibition through specially commissioned audio-visual think pieces.<\/p>\n\n

Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The British Museum, London \/ 19 May\u201325 September \/ Booking advised \/ britishmuseum.org<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Joan Rhodes tears a phone book in half to show off her strength in this 1953 photograph. The strongwoman features on the newest season of Great Lives <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
LISTEN<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Strength of purpose<\/p>\n\n

Life dealt Joan Rhodes (1921\u20132010) some terrible cards. Deserted by both parents, she landed in the workhouse. But from an early age she was a street performer and blessed with remarkable strength \u2013 both attributes that help explain her decision to become a strongwoman who toured the country and appeared on TV shows and in movies.<\/p>\n\n

Her fortitude is much admired by Anna Maxwell Martin, who approves of the fact that Rhodes never complained about her start in life. The Motherland <\/em>and Line <\/em>of <\/em>Duty <\/em>star selects Rhodes to be celebrated in Radio 4\u2019s ever-excellent historical biographical series Great <\/em>Lives. <\/em>In other forthcoming episodes, comedian Rob Newman speaks up for New Deal architect Franklin D Roosevelt.<\/p>\n\n

Great Lives <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

BBC Radio 4 & BBC Sounds \/ Tuesday 17 May<\/p>\n\n

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WEEKLY TV & RADIO<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Visit historyextra.com<\/a> <\/strong>for weekly updates on upcoming television and radio programmes<\/p>\n\n

PICTURE CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES\/ALAMY\/GALLERY OLDHAM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Diary VISIT \/ WATCH \/ LISTEN By Jonathan Wright and Rhiannon Davies VISIT Here be Vikings This spring, the Jorvik Viking Festival returns to York after an extended pandemic-related hiatus, and it promises to be bigger than ever. Traditional highlights \u2013 such as the Viking camp in Parliament Street and the march to Coppergate, during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":14107,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"84","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"84","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_84-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_84-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"June-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"June-2022","purple_external_id":"June-2022-84-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"June-2022-84-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000085632||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000085632||","purple_android_product":"com.im.historymag.282","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.historymag.282","purple_ios_product":"com.im.historymag.282","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.historymag.282","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"de2d4977-6998-4200-99aa-454f8dbebdf9","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-05-16T11:03:24Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"ce6febdf-8e03-48eb-9f57-f053e76e6931","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-05-16T11:03:24Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Azm_r344DSOufV_BT525pMQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[19],"tags":[46],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651752777499.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"9","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651752777499.jpg",843,632,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651752777499-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651752777499-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651752777499-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651669923367-769x1024.jpg",769,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/05\/JVF22-main-image-asset-big-e1651752777499.jpg",843,632,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Diary VISIT \/ WATCH \/ LISTEN By Jonathan Wright and Rhiannon Davies VISIT Here be Vikings This spring, the Jorvik Viking Festival returns to York after an extended pandemic-related hiatus, and it promises to be bigger than ever. Traditional highlights \u2013 such as the Viking camp in Parliament Street and the march to Coppergate, during…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13796"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13796"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13796\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14283,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13796\/revisions\/14283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}