HistoryExtra

1. Thatcher, pubs and poverty porn: a gritty history of British sitcoms

   From Del Boy’s rags-to-riches-to-rags tale to The Royle Family’s quiet revolution, Laura Minor explores how British sitcoms have portrayed working-class lives down the years – and why it matters who tells these stories

2. This strange medieval ritual was designed to protect a mother from grief. How did it work?

   An early medieval text describes rituals intended to protect pregnancies and address the loss of a child. Historian Elinor Cleghorn explains what it can tell us about maternal grief and attitudes towards children

3. The slave ship that changed history

   Siddharth Kara tells the horrifying story of events on a slave ship – long mistakenly known as the Zong – which were to have consequences far beyond its murderous voyage

4. Elizabeth’s enemies: plots, rivals and the Spanish Armada

   Nicola Tallis explores how Elizabeth I's reign was defined by constant threat, both at home and abroad

5. Daily quiz: 23 September

   Test your history knowledge with our daily quiz – updated each morning at 7am UK time