Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society Shag, Marry, Kill: Kings Edition (Live Show Recording)
Mar 10, 2026
Eleanor Janager, historian who illuminates royal lives, guides a lively live show round about Henry VIII, Charles II and Richard the Lionheart. Short takes on their looks, sex lives, hygiene and reputations. Audience votes and playful debates about whom to shag, marry or avoid spark historical context and social color.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Henry VIII's Peak Looks Mask Later Decline
- Henry VIII was famously athletic and handsome in youth, described as over 6'2" with auburn hair and celebrated legs that matched Tudor fashion.
- A jousting accident and subsequent infected leg ulcers transformed him into an obese, malodorous, and sexually dysfunctional later ruler, changing his public persona.
Charles II's Image Outshone His Governance
- Charles II cultivated an extravagant, fashion-forward image: tall, dark-featured, and obsessed with silks, wigs, and pearls despite limited funds.
- His public sexual reputation — numerous mistresses and poetic insults — amplified his persona more than statecraft.
Richard the Lionheart As Arty Long Distance Suitor
- Eleanor Janager describes Richard I as a courtly, long-limbed redhead who preferred his French domains and cultural life over England.
- His court featured music, wine and troubadour-style poetry, making him an attractive, artsy long-distance partner.