Showing results by author "Dominic Holland" in All Categories

From the chart-topping podcast The Rest is History, a whistle-stop tour through the past – from Alexander the Great to Agatha Christie, the Wars of the Roses to Watergate. The nation’s favourite historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook take on the most curious moments in history, answering the questions we didn’t even think to ask. Whether it is sending historical figures to Casa Amor in a series of Love Island, ranking history’s most famous eunuchs and pigeons, or debating the meaning of greatness, there is nothing too big or too small for Tom and Dominic to unpick.

This time Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook bring you an alphabetical miscellany, taking on some of history’s best and most bizarre moments. Charge forth against the traitors of the American Revolution, journey through Baghdad to discover the origins of the Arabian Nights and head to Sicily to witness the first face-off between Carthage and Rome.

Welcome to a shadowy realm where the divide between the noble and the nefarious isn't quite as clear as it seems. Where supposed saints appear suspiciously traitorous, and so-called scoundrels reveal unexpected glimmers of virtue. Prepare for sword fights, scandals and enough moral ambiguity to make Machiavelli blush – from the imperial court of eleventh-century Japan to the studios of twentieth-century Hollywood.

A series of happy coincidences and serendipitous events is the answer. A fluke, then? Yes, but not exactly, given that huge amounts of commitment and hard work have been required. Eclipsed is the unlikely but true story of an ordinary family, muddling through life without much of a plan and dealing with circumstances that confound normal expectations. Written by a dad who as a professional comedian took his own shot at show-biz stardom and called Eclipsed because his carefully honed plans didn't work out so well.

Since winning the Perrier Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Festival in 1993, Dominic Holland has gone on to become one of the UK’s best loved comedians. He’s worked with Armando Iannucci, Rob Brydon and supported Eddie Izzard on tour. He is also the father of Tom Holland (best known for starring in the blockbuster Spider-man movies) and made the brilliant 2017 Dominic Holland Eclipsed Edinburgh Fringe show out of the experience of being a superhero’s dad.

The final day of the Open Championship and storm clouds are gathering over the links of Muirfield. Fighting his way into the elite field of millionaire golfers, billionaire financiers, frenzied journalists and pompous officials is a journeyman golfer who is out of his depth and about to drown.18 short chapters, over 18 long holes of one extraordinary round of golf. All eyes divert from the game’s star players to a golfer no one has ever heard of. There is no precedent for what unfurls. Nothing about our hero is normal. Commentators are dumbfounded. Rules officials are apoplectic.

Dominic Holland's life has not panned out quite how he expected. An award winning stand up comedian with countless TV/Radio appearances and the author of 9 books and counting. His weekly blog has run over 20 years. He is married and has four sons, the eldest of whom is an actor called 'Tom' and explains why his best selling book on his life and career is called 'Eclipsed'.An unusual life then and yet this is a podcast for us all - a podcast on his unusual life and yours. Each episode is framed with a reading of a comic essay from his series of books - Takes on Life, followed by an interesting ...