HistFest 2026: Living History with Ruth Goodman and Dr Wanda Wyporska

This event, originally titled ‘Living History with Ruth Goodman’, took place on 18 April 2026. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

We know what life was like for Henry VIII and Queen Victoria. But what was it like for a commoner – like you or me?

As the star of BBC series Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and Tudor Monastery Farm, Ruth Goodman has captivated audiences with her hands-on approach to exploring the lives of everyday people throughout British history, revolutionising the way we think about the past. In conversation with Dr Wanda Wyporska at Histest 2026, Ruth delved into the secrets, routines, and remarkable ingenuity of our ancestors, sharing personal anecdotes from her immersive television adventures and insights from her extensive research.

This event took place as part of HistFest 2026.

About HistFest:

HistFest is a dynamic history festival that celebrates the brightest and the best in the world of history over an exciting weekend of talks, discussions, performance and music.

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Speaker Bios:

Ruth Goodman is a historian who specialises in the everyday life of the past. She has written and presented numerous acclaimed BBC television series including Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm and Tudor Monastery Farm. She is the author of How to be a Victorian, How to be a Tudor and The Domestic Revolution.

Dr Wanda Wyporska is the Chief Executive of Black Cultural Archives. She previously led The Equality Trust, is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of York, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. An historian of the Early Modern period, her first book, Witchcraft in Early Modern Poland 1500-1800, was shortlisted for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award and she regularly contributes to a range of historical events, such as HistFest, podcasts and interviews. She was a Starun Senior Scholar at Hertford College, Oxford, has lectured at a number of universities and is a regular keynote speaker.

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