Rebecca Rideal

Glad it’s not just me

Anyone else completely overwhelmed by the news? Things are happening so fast that I don’t even know what is going on anymore.

Partner of sitting Labour MP among three arrested on suspicion of spying for China Exclusive: David Taylor, the husband of Joani Reid, MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, named as one of those arrested

Partner of sitting Labour MP among three arrested on suspicion of spying for China www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

If you’re part of a company, institution or other body and you’re interested in sponsorships or partnerships with @histfest.bsky.social, do get in touch.

We’d love to hear from you! histfest.org/contactus/

Event image Text: BIRTH, MOTHERHOOD AND CUSTODY: AN UNTOLD HISTORY. 11AM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. PROF. PRAGYA AGARWAL IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCY INGLIS AND PROF. LARA FEIGEL. HISTFEST 2026. Image: Headshots of Lucy Inglis, Pragya Agarwal and Lara Feigel against a purple, yellow and pink background.

Event image Text: THE LOG BOOKS: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened. 1PM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. DAN VO IN CONVERSATION WITH TASH WALKER AND ADAM ZMITH. HISTFEST 2026. Image: Headshots of Tash Walker, Adam Zmith and Dan Vo against an orange background.

Event image Text: THE BRONTE SISTERS. 3PM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. GREG JENNER IN CONVERSATION WITH DR TARA PURI AND ESSIE FOX. HISTFEST 2026. Image: Headshots of Greg Jenner, Tara Puri and Essie Fox against a background of heather.

Event image Text: Sir Michael Palin: Travels Through Time. 5PM, SUN 19 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. In conversation with Rebecca Rideal. HistFest 2026. Image: An image of Michael Palin against a blue background.

BOOK NOW histfest.org/histfest-2026/ #HistFest2026 2/2

Event image Text: Pharaohs and Empresses. 11AM, SAT 18 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. Sofia Robleda and Saara El-Arifi. HistFest 2026. Image: Headshots of Sofia Robleda and Saara El-Arifi against a green and gold background.

Event image Text: Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens’s Naval Mastermind. 1PM, SAT 18 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. A Special Lecture with Prof. Michael Scott. HistFest 2026. Image: Headshot of Michael Scott, next to a photo of a bust of Themistocles. Against a blue, wave-like background.

Event image Text: THE LOST VOICES OF POMPEII. 3PM, SAT 18 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. Dr Jess Venner and Raksha Dave. HistFest 2026. Image: Headshots of Dr Jess Venner and Raksha Dave with original artwork for Pompeii in the background.

Event image Text: LIVING HISTORY WITH RUTH GOODMAN. 5PM, SAT 18 APRIL | BRITISH LIBRARY. Chaired by Dr Wanda Wyporska. HistFest 2026. Image: Headshots of Ruth Goodman and Dr Wanda Wyporska against a brown and yellow background.

📣 HISTFEST 2026 | BRITISH LIBRARY | 18-19 APRIL

We’re thrilled to share full details of HistFest 2026 at the British Library.

BOOK NOW histfest.org/histfest-2026/ #HistFest2026 1/2

I’m the latter, in all honesty. I like the ones I know, but I’m really scared of the ones I don’t.

Absolutely agree

Dog owners, please don’t assume everyone is comfortable around dogs. That is all.

Come and join @katewilliamsme.bsky.social @nicolatallis.bsky.social and me this weekend in Oxford for a @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social day all about the history of queens! ⬇️

Rembrandt's Vision of Zacharias in the Temple rediscovered after 65 years The painting, created by the Dutch master in 1633, had disappeared after being sold in 1961.

Rembrandt revisited: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

At least 148 dead after reported strike on school, Iran says Iran has blamed the US and Israel for the strike; the US is looking into reports of the incident, while the IDF says it is

The mass murder of civilians in Gaza, the brazen attacks on hospitals and schools, without any accountability has created a new kind of warfare that should terrify and enrage all of us.

Every child lost is someone’s whole world. Every life lost matters www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scholar, seductress, alchemist: who was the real Cleopatra? The Egyptian queen has fascinated me from childhood, but following the archives led only to ancient gossip and Roman propaganda. Fiction was the way to liberate her from misogynist myth

Scholar, seductress, alchemist: who was the real Cleopatra? Excellent piece from Saara El-Arifi, who’ll be speaking at #HistFest2026 on 18 April. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...

Thank you x

Tony Devenport found guilty of murdering Stephanie Blundell Chester Crown Court has found Tony Devenport guilty of murdering his partner Stephanie Blundell in July last year.

I might say more one day, I might not. For now, I will remember my dear friend as she was - a glorious whirlwind, beautiful, funny, and the Hermia to my Helena. Stolen far too soon. 🤍 www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/2588646...

Photo of me and my best friend Steph

Photo of me and my best friend Steph

Photo of me and my best friend Steph

Photo of me and my best friend Steph

Literally no words to describe losing someone so dear. What a privilege to know you Steph. How lucky I was.

Spring, finally

If you haven’t tried a course at @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social yet, maybe this could be the one for you to dip your toe in…? It’ll be a great day

Photo of wunmi mosaku holding her bafta

Photo of robert aramayo holding his baftas

Ah! I’m so pleased about these wins! #bafta

I mean, yeah, but just anyone at this point

Oh my, yes

It’s really jarring.

I hate to be the broken record but class really is one of the greatest barriers to success in the creative industries right now. It intersects with so many other barriers too.

I keep imagining what a Wuthering Heights film might be like if it were directed by a working class filmmaker.

Nothing puts life into perspective more than following the murder trial for a best friend’s death.

Barely able to follow the news. But every time I glance, it’s basically just privileged men using their power over the less powerful. Sometimes aided by equally privileged women. Repeatedly.

📅#OTD 1644. London.
Parliament discusses the 'good Affections' of the Elector Palatine.
Though Prince Rupert's brother, the elector should have 'Expression' of reward.
Princes Rupert and Maurice, however, 'deserves ill from this Kingdom' on account of their service in King Charles I's armies.

B93: A Dark Interstellar Ghost apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26022...
The 93rd entry in Barnard’s Catalogue of Dark Nebulae, B93 lies within the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud (Messier 24), where its darkness stands in stark contrast to bright stars and gas in the background

Agree. It will make him more popular.

Rule Britannia: Queens, Power, Thrones From the Tudors to the twentieth century, join leading historians Professor Kate Williams, Dr Nicola Tallis and Rebecca Rideal for an absorbing study day spotlighting queens who ruled in their own rig...

📣 RULE BRITANNIA: QUEENS, POWER, THRONES
Sat 7 March | University of Oxford

Come and join Professor Kate Williams, Dr Nicola Tallis and myself in Oxford for a special study day exploring all things queens.

There’s still time to sign up lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/rule...

Thanks for sharing