The SCANDAL Mongers Podcast

Last week's sensational allegations about Thomas Markle have caused many commentators to look again at the fateful years of 2018-20, and the events surrounding the dramatic departure of Harry and Meghan from the Royal family, accompanied by angry books, TV documentaries and interviews.Should the new picture emerging of Thomas Markle - as a grubby sex tourist at best and allegedly far, far worse - change the way we see his daughter, and her struggles? Should it be a cause for sympathy, or does it question her public account of the intense unhappiness she felt while first living in the UK?Royal commentator extraordinaire Tom Sykes joins Phil to discuss and debate. You won’t agree with everything he says but he says it all very well!Then Phil continues with his Diana Chronicles, his uniquely well sourced investigation into a remarkable but controversial life. In this instalment, Diana meets the British public face to face as their new Princess - and starts to win their hearts. She also gives birth to William, a joyous event despite some continuing problems in her marriage to Prince Charles. Then comes an eventful tour of Australia and images that will set her on the road toward even more global fame - but is that what her ever-more eclipsed husband wants? Tom’s podcast is here...https://www.youtube.com/@TheRoyalistChannelPhil’s TV biography of Diana begins here...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U--XrOrNgNE&t=642sThere’s information and extracts from Phil’s recent WW2 book here, now published in paperback...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongersIf you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-1syXZANC0&t=191sPlease follow the Podcast (and Phil) below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/MongersPodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced by Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the build up to the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Phil is continuing his new regular feature - his Diana Chronicles. Based on his unique published - and unpublished - work on her life, he's going to re-examine all of the most important things you THINK you know about his remarkable and controversial woman in real detail. In this episode he delves into Diana and Charles’ big day - a global TV sensation and the beginning of the world’s fascination with her. How serious were her nerves? What was discussed when she met Camilla Parker Bowles just ten days before the wedding? Did she know what she was getting into?Then came a long and rather anguished honeymoon, in which Charles took her to his favourite places and talked about some of his favourite ideas…. And also revealed his continuing affection for Camilla in some very tactless ways. But there were happy and loving moments amid the growing tension, and the first signs of her extraordinary rapport with ordinary people. Including some never-before-published details from his secret briefings with courtiers who were ‘in the room’ as the marriage grew closer, then suddenly seemed to be threatened, Phil reveals all!Then Phil interviews Sian Evans again, this time to talk about QUEEN BEES, her lovely and colourful account of the great society hostesses of Britain and America between 1910-45, and how their legendary parties - and numerous scandals - helped change the world.Sian's book can be purchased here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Bees-Brilliant-Extraordinary-Hostesses/dp/1473618029Phil’s TV biography of Diana begins here...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U--XrOrNgNE&t=642sThere’s information and extracts from Phil’s recent WW2 book here, now published in paperback...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongersIf you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-1syXZANC0&t=191sPlease follow the Podcast (and Phil) below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/MongersPodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced by Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the build up to the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Phil is continuing his new regular feature - his Diana Chronicles.Based on his unique published - and unpublished - work on her life, he's going to re-examine all of the most important things you THINK you know about his remarkable and controversial woman in real detail. In this episode he delves into Diana and Charles’ courtship.Many call this effectively ‘an arranged marriage’ but was it? What forces drove this couple together, and what always threatened to derail them? How did Diana’s instant rapport with the media affect things, how much did she really know about Charles and his pre-existing girlfriends and mistresses, and did she really try to call the whole thing off? Including some never-before-published details from his secret briefings with courtiers who were ‘in the room’ as the marriage grew closer, then suddenly seemed to be threatened, Phil reveals all!Then Phil interviews the first ever comedian to appear on the podcast: 'Intel Lady' (aka Jenny) who had become an internet sensation with her parodies of leading politicians. In and amongst some very funny jokes, Phil and Jenny explore the realities of media bias and the double standard applied to entertainers depending on their political views.INTEL LADY’s channel is here...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmdP6DK_gBvx-RzkKkj1JGwPhil’s TV biography of Diana begins here...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U--XrOrNgNE&t=641sThere’s information and extracts from Phil’s recent WW2 book here, now published in paperback...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongersIf you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-1syXZANC0&t=191sPlease follow the Podcast (and Phil) below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/MongersPodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced by Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the build up to the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, Phil is launching a new regular feature - his Diana Chronicles. Based on his unique published - and unpublished - work on her life, he's going to re-examine all of the most important things you THINK you know about his remarkable and controversial woman in real detail.Starting with two statements that have become commonplace: that Diana had an unhappy childhood which damaged her in some way, and that she grew into an innocent ingenue, unaware of the sophisticated, decadent life of her future husband. Are either of these statements based on any real evidence? Do they fully explain the development of her character? And why did we come to believe them?Phil is then joined by Sian Evans, whose new book on the 1936 abdication crisis is a refreshing take on a much examined story. Sian’s main thrust is political, and she argues that Edward’s romance with Wallis Simpson (who never truly wanted to marry him!) was but an excuse for the political establishment to rid itself of a man who was always going to be trouble.Sian’s book can be bought here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1936-Three-Kings-Sian-Evans/dp/139972276X/ref=asc_df_139972276X?mcid=a8cfb4513e1e3fe29afe335ccbd21e1d&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=795367046375&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5897239346068441222&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045929&hvtargid=pla-2467755596789&psc=1&hvocijid=5897239346068441222-139972276X-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1Phil’s TV biography of Diana can be found here...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U--XrOrNgNE&t=2928sThere’s information and extracts from Phil’s own book here. It’s about to be published in paperback too...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#*We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work*Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongersIf you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, it will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-1syXZANC0&t=191sPlease follow the Podcast (and Phil) below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/MongersPodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced by Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last episode Phil explored one of the darkest chapters of the ‘War of the Waleses’, the post mortem ’thrashing of Diana’ by some of her ex husband’s closest advisors. He didn’t know then that this story would, within a week, become headline news all around the world because of the new book by Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer. With extraordinary claims flying around, and an apparently open war between the Spencers family and King Charles, who are we to believe, is it even right to air such allegations now, and what does it all mean for the ongoing family rift over the recently returned Harry and Meghan?Phil then leaves royal matters for one of his favourite periods - Regency Britain. Writer Peter Moore joins to discuss a remarkable new book he’s written about Thomas Cochrane, one of the greatest - and most scandalous - British military heroes of all time. Almost as famous as Nelson in his lifetime, Cochrane is the model for Hornblower and Patrick O’Brien’s Jack Aubrey. His life - one very much ‘lived on the edge’ - is packed with glory, passion, political intrigue, scandals, court cases and love affairs.His book can be found here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dangerous-Game-Thomas-Cochranes-Life/dp/1784743208Here is a link to a low-fi copy of Phil’s 2003 documentary with Patrick Jephson that he refers to (we make no claim to copyright andare circulating just for public information)...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fQQNoHZ0gI&t=590sThere’s information and extracts from Phil’s own book here. It’s about to be published in paperback too...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#*We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work*Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongersIf you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, it will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-1syXZANC0&t=191sPlease follow the Podcast (and Phil) below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced by Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil has discussed his feelings about ‘The War of the Waleses’ many times. But he’s never before gone into detail about the remarkable documentary project he made with Patrick Jephson over 20 years ago. Now, with Patrick's permission, he will do. The highlight is the story behind an astonishing interview with Penny Junor and what it revealed about efforts to trash Diana just a few months after her death, as part of an operation designed by the then Prince Charles' most trusted advisors to boost support for him and Camilla.It’s a dark and somewhat sinister story that infuriated Patrick, and it directly affected the upbringing of William and Harry and - Phil believes - lies at the heart of Harry’s own anger at his family. With Diana’s death anniversary in the news - and plans for a major biography by her brother for next year (the 30th anniversary of her tragic death), this is a story that will not be going away anytime soon.You can watch the 2003 programme here...(FREE sign up required)https://www.reutersconnect.com/app/item/charles-the-battle-with-diana/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMDM6bmV3c21sX01UM1pJTVBMRUlNR05WSURNQU01MjIPhil is then joined by his old friend and collaborator John Ware, one of Britain’s most distinguished investigative reporters. John has extraordinary access to details and personalities from the secret war in Ulster during the ‘Troubles’. In a new book he reveals some shocking and disturbing new evidence of how ‘agents’ run by the British state were allowed to carry out the most awful of crimes, and why details of that are still deeply protected.John’s book is available here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neither-Conf...Phil’s 2005 film on 911 is here...   • The Flight that Fought Back  There’s information and extracts from Phil’s own book here. It’s about to be published in paperback too...https://sites.google.com/view/1945the...You can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoni...*We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work*Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalM...If you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, it will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available on watch on youtube.Please follow the Podcast (and Phil) below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced by Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, six years after MEGXIT, the dynamic duo are headed back to Britain and - whisper it softly - maybe a return to some royal duties too. But will bygones ever be bygones and what’s really going on behind the scenes?Then Laura Thompson returns to the pod to discuss her new book ELEVEN DAYS, the most detailed investigation into the mystery of Agatha Christie’s famous. ‘Disappearance’ ever undertaken. To write it Laura stepped into the shoes and followed the same routes that Agatha herself did. Her conversation with Phil is a real treat for any fan of Christie’s books (Laura is a super-fan) or anyone interested in a brain-stretching psychological puzzle. Laura’s book is available here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eleven-Days-fascinating-mysterious-disappearance/dp/1835015735Here’s information and extracts from Phil’s own book here. It’s about to be published in paperback too...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongers*** If you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTMe9l4TEz0&t=2428sPlease follow the Podcast and Phil below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced By The Team at Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil thought that the controversy over Professor Jason Arday - allegations of plagiarism and a somewhat inflated resume - was simply a sad story of lowering standards at his old University. But then it was revealed that the UK police got involved to investigate a senior education correspondent just for sending the Prof questions in an email. Now Phil think’s this is a full blown scandal, with much wider ramifications.Phil is then joined by his American chum Gerald Posner to talk about his groundbreaking investigative work on the power and importance of the Pharmaceutical industry. Did you know you could get heroin and cocaine by mail order in the age of the Wild West? And that’s only that start of a saga of - in Gerald world - greed, lies and poisoning.Gerard’s book is available here...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pharma-Greed-Lies-Poisoning-America/dp/1501151894Here’s information and extracts from Phil’s own book here. It’s about to be published in paperback too...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongers*** If you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/@thescandalmongerspodcast/videosPlease follow the Podcast and Phil below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced By The Team at Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While Phil has been on his summer break it felt like there’s been an avalanche of royal news, especially concerning the House of Sussex. The humiliation of a failed court case, a on-off-on again visit to (some) family in Britain and now rumours of a possible Australian role for the rebellious Prince Harry. What to make of it all?Phil is then joined by the writer George Owers to discuss the birth of party politics in the 17th Century - the rumbustious age of Whig versus Tory. George’s book THE RAGE OF PARTY has been widely acclaimed as an insightful, funny and scandal-rich account of the beginning of modern politics. Expect big characters, sex, naughty poetry - and lots of bloody duels!George’s book can be bought here in our very own bookshop...https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-rage-of-party-george-owers/31e3c46fbe4183f1?ean=9781408719091&aid=12054Here’s information and extracts from Phil’s own book here. It’s about to be published in paperback too...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongers*** If you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/@thescandalmongerspodcast/videosPlease follow the Podcast and Phil below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced By The Team at Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite all their recent family scandals, Beatrice and Eugenie attended a high profile royal wedding last week. And Prince William made sure the press could see his friendly feelings toward them both.So is it right that these two young royals should - or could - be back into the fold, and what value could they bring to a rather under-staffed royal family? Or should they be made to stand outside the inner circle as a consequence of their own alleged mistakes, and the sins of their parents?Phil is then joined by Emma Southon, an expert on Ancient Rome who spoke on the podcast two year ago about Roman women. Now she has turned her attention to Rome’s millions of slaves and - in this very entertaining and enlightening conversation - she has a LOT to say about their lives and how historians have tended to romanticise them in the past. Her new book SERVUS can be bought here - in our very own bookshop!...https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/servus-the-moving-enthralling-true-story-of-slavery-in-the-roman-empire-by-acclaimed-ancient-historian-emma-southon-emma-southon/9691558e7e5e9245?ean=9781399741255&next=t&aid=12054Also, Information and extracts from Phil’s own new book here...https://sites.google.com/view/1945thereckoning/homeYou can order his book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia, India and NZ - and it is available all around the world as an e-book and an audio book...https://www.amazon.co.uk/1945-Reckoning-Empire-Struggle-World/dp/139971449X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#***We now have a Thank You button (next to the ’three dots’) for small donations that help support our work***Looking for the perfect gift for a special scandalous someone - or someone you’d like to get scandalous with? We’re here to help...https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ScandalMongers*** If you enjoy our work please consider clicking the YouTube subscribe button, even if you listen to us on an audio app. It will help our brand to grow and our content to reach new ears.THE SCANDAL MONGERS PODCAST is also available to watch on Youtube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0YHtSsmAgIPlease follow the Podcast and Phil below...The Scandal Mongers...https://x.com/mongerspodcastPhil Craig...https://x.com/philmcraigYou can get in touch with the show [email protected](place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading)Show Produced By The Team at Podcast World Soho, London W1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.