TV~RADIO~PRESS

I am often asked to be a contributor on television, radio and podcasts. I also fulfil media research requests sourced from my extensive collection of 20th Century ephemera. Anything relating to 20th Century society, food, popular culture and fashion. I am particularly skilled at interpreting retro recipes and recreating 20th Century dining experiences. Below are a selection of my recent media credits.

Please note, as of October 2016 I no longer post articles here on Come Step Back In Time.

I look forward to hearing from you:

E-mail: astepbackintimeinfo [@] yahoo.co.uk

TELEVISION CREDITS:

BBC News Channel (Contributor, May 2020). Street party food from 1945 for V.E. Day.
Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute (Discovery Channel/Woodcut Media). Major documentary, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of V.E. Day, 8th May, 1945. (Featured Contributor/Historical Consultant/Food Historian for Drama Reconstructions, May, 2020);
South Today (BBC South) (Contributor, August 2019). Film for the 40th Anniversary of the death of Lord Mountbatten.
BBC East/BBC South/BBC News Channel (research contribution, June, 2019). D-Day 75th Anniversary. Short film by Shaun Peel on two QAIMNS nurses, Sister Dorothy Anyta Field and Sister Molly Evershed;
South Today (BBC South) (Presenter/Commentator, November 2018). Armistice 100th Anniversary programme. Live broadcast from Bovington Tank Museum with Sally Taylor;
Inside Out (BBC South East) (Contributor, November, 2018);
BBC News (BBC South East) (Contributor, November 2018);
BBC News (BBC South East) (Historical Consultant for news coverage of ‘The 70273 Project’ in Rochester Cathedral, World War Two Holocaust community memorial project, November 2017);
Inside Out (BBC South East) (credited research contribution, BBC One, September 2017);
That’s Solent TV, regular live studio guest and on location Historical Consultant/Contributor. (Freeview Ch. 7, April 2015-December 2016);
Inside Out (BBC South East) (Contributor, BBC One, October 2015);
Inside Out (BBC South East) (contributor, BBC One, January 2015);
Weekend Kitchen With Waitrose (Channel 4) (credited research contribution, S2 Ep10, Spun Gold, November 2014);
World War One At Home: The Spies Who Loved Folkestone (BBC One & Four) with author Anthony Horowitz (credited research contribution, June & October 2014);
The End of The Pier Show (BBC One & Four) (Contributor, March 2014, further clips);
Gino’s Italian Escape (ITV 1) (uncredited research contribution, S1 Ep6, October 2013);
Food Glorious Food (ITV 1) (featured contributor, S1 Ep4, Optomen, March 2013).

RADIO INTERVIEWS:

Bridgitte Tetteh Morning Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, August 2022) – ‘Women’s football history & legal and social milestones in women’s emancipation’;
Breakfast Show with Mike Zeller (BBC Radio Cumbria, October 2020). ‘Crime, law-breaking and rule following on the Home Front in WW2.’;
Michelle Jordan Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, September 2020). ‘Living in the Victorian Era.’;
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, September 2020). ‘History of British Dining & Luncheon Voucher Scheme.’;
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, August 2020). ‘The Rise and Fall of the Pineapple’;
Phil Kennedy Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, May 2020). ‘Creating party food for a virtual V.E. Day event during lockdown.’;
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, May 2020). ‘V.E. Day 1945 – cooking on the ration and street parties.’;
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, March 2020). ‘Corvid-19 impact upon food supply chains. What can we learn about food rationing in WW1/WW2 to help us now?’
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, January 2020) – ‘Food trends that the Brits are falling-out of love with.’.
Bridgitte Tetteh Morning Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, January 2020) – ‘New Year’s Traditions’.
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, July 2019) – ‘History of Royal Feasts and Banquets’.
Trish Adudu’s Breakfast Show (BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, June, 2019). ‘Role of women in D-Day 1944’;
Julian Clegg’s Breakfast Show (BBC Radio Solent, June, 2019). ‘D-Day 75th Anniversary. Hampshire’s role in D-Day 1944’;
BBC Radio Solent (June, 2019) – ‘Southampton’s role in D-Day’. 11 pre-recorded vignettes re-telling Southampton’s D-Day story. Broadcast at regular intervals between 2nd and 9th June.
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, April 2019 – ‘The history of Easter food and dishes from around the world.’);
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, December 2018 – on location, live from Highclere Castle ‘Downton Abbey Christmas Special – Edwardian food.’);
Sarah Walker Show (BBC Radio Berkshire, November 2018, ‘WW1 home front and food rationing.’);
Georgey Spanswick Show (BBC Local Radio, July 2017, ‘Dinner parties making a comeback’);
Mark Forrest Show (BBC Local Radio, January 2017, ‘The office culture of cake consumption.’);
Good Morning Wales (BBC Radio Wales, May 2016, ‘WW2 home front, food rationing and diet.’);
Mark Forrest Show (BBC Local Radio, December 2015, ‘History of Christmas food.’);
Simon Mayo Drivetime (BBC Radio Two, July 2015, ‘History of retro pudding, blancmange.’).

PODCASTS

Hampshire HistBites (Winchester Heritage Open Days). ‘V.E. Day 1945 and Street Parties.’ (Season 1, Ep. 3, September 2020);
NearFM (Dublin) – Hosted by Berni Dwan, ‘Historical Blunders – Sugar’. (September, 2019);
The George Lamb Show (Little Grey Wolf for Apple iTunes, Ep 37, January 2015).
My interview starts 25 minutes in:

PRESS, DIGITAL MEDIA, PUBLICATIONS

‘Hidden In Plain Sight: The Fascinating Practice Of Huguenot Bible Concealment’, Guest Blog for The Huguenot Museum (30th April, 2018);
‘Are DIY Skills Becoming a Thing of The Past?’ by Conor Pope (The Irish Times, 26th March, 2018). (Quoted research contributions on D.I.Y in post-war Britain);
‘How To Start A History Blog’ (Bloggeration, April 2016);
‘You’re Amazing’ feature article on my blogging and retro food recreations (Asda’s Good Living magazine, February 2016);
‘The Sultan and The Showgirl: A Tragic Tale of Star-Crossed Love’ (BBC News on-line, expert comment, October 2015);
‘Carving-Up Tradition’ (Stylist magazine, quoted research contributions, November 2015);
Food Glorious Food: Delicious Family Recipes From All Over Britain (TV series tie-in, featured with my recipe for vintage lavender and lemon blancmange, Mitchell Beazley/Octopus Books, 2013);
The Bush Theatre, London (19 authored production history blogs for Theatre’s website, October 2010-November 2012);
The Lady magazine (digital & print versions, editorial and research, November 2010-April 2011);
This Is Where We Got To When You Came In, The Bush Theatre London (featured interviewee in production by Non Zero One theatre company, September 2011);
My blogs have featured in digital editions of Reader’s Digest and Homes & Antiques.

CORPORATE FILM

St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery (The Reel Media Deal Production Company, 2014).
Mu Collective (Portland Street, Southampton) ‘Gilbert’s Bookshop: A History’. Historical Consultant/Producer for a short film about the history of an iconic local bookshop and the surrounding area.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

‘Zoom virtual V.E. Day party, Home Front history and food rationing.’ Collaboration with Martin Jakeman, Artistic Director of theatre company, Historical Huzzahs. (May, 2020).
‘Dining at Downton’, 1920’s food, popular brands and kitchen equipment demonstrations in partnership with Bitterne Local History Museum. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September, 2019).
‘Historic Southampton Bike Ride: Pedal Power, Protests and Extraordinary Women.’ Co-led a historic bike ride around Southampton in partnership with Cycling UK. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September, 2019).
‘Strikes and Solidarity: 120 Years of People Power in Southampton’, guided walk around Southampton exploring the city’s militant past. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September, 2019)
‘Meet The Shirley Crew of RMS Titanic‘, guided walk around Shirley, Southampton visiting locations connected with crew members who worked aboard RMS Titanic. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September, 2019).
‘Dining at Downton Abbey: 1920’s Food Laid Bare’, public lecture, The Discovery Centre, Winchester. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Winchester, September, 2019).
‘Portland Street Southampton: A Hidden Georgian Architectural Gem’, guided walk around Portland Street, Southampton. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September, 2019).
‘Behind-The-Scenes of 2 and 1/2 Portland Street, Southampton’, guided public tours of this historic, former bookshop. Co-hosting craftivism workshop. (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September, 2019).
Insights Guest Lecturer, Queen Victoria (Cunard/Carnival Cruises) (V920 British Isles, August, 2019). Public lectures to 500+ guests on suffragettes, RMS Titanic and ocean liner stewardesses.
‘Meet the Inhabitants of Portland Street, Southampton.’ (Portland Street Arts and Literature Festival, June, 2019). Guided public walk.
HODx public talks for the National Trust’s Heritage Open Days scheme. London, Gloucester (Guildhall). ‘How to create an immersive heritage event.’ May, 2019;
Resident Social Historian at Mu Collective, 2 and 1/2 Portland Street, Southampton (2019);
‘Tea with Lady Laura’, (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Winchester, September 2018). Hosted two, sell-out, immersive, living history events, in partnership with Winchester College. Recreating a suffragette tea-room, serving authentic dishes and delivering back-to-back talks on topic;
‘Extraordinary and Radical Women of Southampton City Centre: 1860s to Present Day.’ (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Southampton, September 2018). Guided public walk;
‘Women’s Suffrage in Southampton: 1900-1914’. (Bitterne Local History Society, September 2018);
Extraordinary Women (National Trust’s Heritage Open Days, Foundling Museum, London, September 2018) Panel Member for National Trust Heritage Open Days event launch.
‘History of the British goose at Christmas’ talk and cookery demonstration with Michelin Chef Adam Gray, (Taste of London Winter Festival, November 2014);
For The Fallen Film Challenge, World War One inspired short films, (Ideas Test/HLF, Panel Judge alongside Sarah Phelps, Steve Nallon and BBC Executive Producer CBBC Josephine Ward, July 2014).