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'{{Infobox person |name = Lucy Worsley |image =Lucy Worsley.jpg |caption =Worsley in 2014 |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1973|12|18}} |birth_place = [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Berkshire]], England |alma_mater=[[University of Sussex]] <small><nowiki>(Doctor of Philosophy|PhD], 2001)</nowiki></small><br>[[New College, Oxford]] <small>([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], 1995)</small> |occupation = Historian, author, curator, television presenter |spouse = {{marriage|Mark Hines|2011}} |website = [http://www.lucyworsley.com/ LucyWorsley.com] |footnotes = |imagesize = }} '''Lucy Worsley''' (born 18 December 1973) is an English historian, author, curator and television presenter.<ref name="telegraph_april2011">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8445957/Dr-Lucy-Worsley-Im-just-an-historian-who-wandered-into-TV.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624070326/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8445957/Dr-Lucy-Worsley-Im-just-an-historian-who-wandered-into-TV.html |archivedate=24 June 2012 |last=Woods |first=Judith |title=Dr Lucy Worsley: 'I'm just an historian who wandered into TV' |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=13 April 2011 |accessdate=1 April 2013}}</ref> Worsley is currently Joint Chief Curator at [[Historic Royal Palaces]] but is best known as a presenter of BBC television series on historical topics, including ''Elegance and Decadence: The Age of the Regency'' (2011), ''Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls'' (2012), ''The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain'' (2014),'' A Very British Romance ''(2015) and ''Lucy Worsley: Mozart’s London Odyssey'' (2016). ==Early life and education== Worsley was born in [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Berkshire]]. Her father taught at [[Reading University]], while her mother is a consultant in educational policy and practice. She has a younger brother. Before going to university, Worsley attended [[St Bartholomew's School]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] and [[West Bridgford School]], [[Nottingham]]. She read Ancient and Modern History at [[New College, Oxford]], graduating in 1995 with a first-class BA honours degree. ==Career== ===Curator and academic=== Worsley began her career as a historic house curator at [[Milton, Vale of White Horse|Milton Manor]],<ref>SPAB News, Vol. 18., no. 2, 1997</ref> near [[Abingdon, Oxfordshire|Abingdon]], in the summer of 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucyworsley.com/tag/milton-manor/|title=Milton Manor - Lucy Worsley|publisher=LucyWorsley.com}}</ref> From 1996 to 2002, she was an Inspector of Historic Buildings for [[English Heritage]] in the East Midlands region. During that time she studied the life of [[William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle]] and wrote the English Heritage guide to his home, [[Bolsover Castle]]. In 2001 she was awarded a [[Doctor of Philosophy|DPhil]] from the [[University of Sussex]] for a thesis on ''The Architectural Patronage of William Cavendish, first Duke of Newcastle, 1593–1676''.<ref>{{Cite thesis |degree=D.Phil. |chapter= |title=The Architectural Patronage of William Cavendish, first Duke of Newcastle, 1593–1676 |url=http://www.opengrey.eu/item/display/10068/529218 |last=Worsley |first=Lucy |year=2001 |publisher= |accessdate=1 April 2013 |docket= |oclc= }}</ref> The thesis was later developed into Worsley's book ''Cavalier: A Tale of Chivalry, Passion and Great Houses''.<ref name=Inde>{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Charles|title=Cavalier: a tale of chivalry, passion and great houses, by Lucy Worsley|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/cavalier-a-tale-of-chivalry-passion-and-great-houses-by-lucy-worsley-462737.html|accessdate=24 September 2013|newspaper=The Independent on Sunday|date=26 August 2007}}</ref> During 2002–2003, she was Major Projects and Research Manager for Glasgow Museums<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/589z5my60mYb1L9bMWllzp8/dr-lucy-worsley|title=BBC Four - A Very British Murder with Lucy Worsley - Dr Lucy Worsley|work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://berksandbucks.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/lucy_worsley_on_her_passion_for_the_past_1_3238665|title=Lucy Worsley on her passion for the past|work=Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Life}}</ref> before becoming Chief Curator at [[Historic Royal Palaces]], the independent charity responsible for maintaining the [[Tower of London]], [[Hampton Court Palace]], [[Kensington Palace|Kensington Palace State Apartments]], the [[Banqueting House, Whitehall|Banqueting House]] in Whitehall and [[Kew Palace]] in [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Kew Gardens]]. She oversaw the £12 million refurbishment of the Kensington Palace state apartments and gardens.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/it-is-time-for-princess-diana-to-take-her-place-in-history-6463450.html | title=It is time for Princess Diana to take her place in history | last=Law |first=Katie | date=27 April 2010 | accessdate=1 April 2013 | newspaper=London Evening Standard }}</ref> In 2005 she was elected a Senior Research Fellow at the [[Institute of Historical Research]], [[University of London]]; she was also appointed visiting professor at [[Kingston University]].<ref name=Kingston>{{cite web | url=http://fada.kingston.ac.uk/staff/lucy_worsley/lucy_worsley.php | title=Kingston University – Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture | accessdate=1 April 2013}}</ref> ===Television programmes=== In 2011 she presented the four-part television series ''{{Citation/make link|http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/history_of_home.shtml |If Walls Could Talk}}'' exploring the history of British homes, from peasants' cottages to palaces; and the three-part series ''{{Citation/make link|http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0140vb9 |Elegance and Decadence: The Age of the Regency}}''. In 2012 she co-presented the three-part television series ''Antiques Uncovered'', with antiques and collectibles expert [[Mark Hill (antiques expert)|Mark Hill]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hbmsp |title=Antiques Uncovered |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=19 June 2012 |accessdate=1 April 2013}}</ref> and (broadcast at the same time) ''Harlots, Housewives and Heroines'', a three-part series on the lives of women after the Civil War and the [[Restoration of Charles II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j2fcq |title=Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls at BBC4.com |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=28 May 2012 |accessdate=1 April 2013}}</ref> Later that year she presented a documentary on [[Dorothy Hartley]]'s ''Food in England'' as part of the BBC Four "Food and Drink" strand. Her BBC series, ''A Very British Murder'', examined the "morbid national obsession" with murder. The series looked at a number of cases from the 19th century, beginning with the [[Ratcliff Highway murders]] which gained national attention in 1811, the [[Red Barn Murder]] of 1826 and the "Bermondsey Horror" case of Frederick and [[Maria Manning]] in 1849.<ref>{{cite news|last=Worsley |first=Lucy|title=How murder became a very British obsession: It was our bloodthirsty ancestors who turned us into a nation hooked on killers|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2426693/How-murder-British-obsession-It-bloodthirsty-ancestors-turned-nation-hooked-killers.html|accessdate=24 September 2013|newspaper=Daily Mail|date=20 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Owen|first=Pamela|title=A Very British Murder: How we became hooked on morbid mysteries |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/very-british-murder-how-became-2291022|accessdate=24 September 2013|newspaper=The Mirror|date=22 September 2013}}</ref> In 2014, the three-part series ''The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain'' explored the contributions of the German-born kings [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] and [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]. The series explained why the Hanoverian George I came to be chosen as a British monarch, how he was succeeded by his very different son George II and why, without either, the current United Kingdom would likely be a very different place. The series emphasises the positive influence of these kings whilst showing the flaws in each. ''A Very British Romance'', a three part series for BBC Four, was based on the romantic novels to uncover the forces shaping our very British happily ever after and how our feelings have been affected by social, political and cultural ideas.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06h1fys | title=A Very British Romance | publisher=BBC | accessdate=23 October 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Worsley presented the three-part documentary ''Empire of the Tsars: Romanov Russia with Lucy Worsley'' in January and ''Lucy Worsley: Mozart's London Odyssey'' in June.<ref>{{cite web|title=Empire of the Tsars: Romanov Russia with Lucy Worsley|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06vm9qp|publisher=BBC|accessdate=16 September 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, she was filming an upcoming series ''A Very British History'' for BBC Four.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC crews filming new documentary today in Exeter|url=http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/bbc-crews-filming-documentary-on-exeter-s-cathedral-green/story-29716881-detail/story.html|website=Exeter Express and Echo|accessdate=16 September 2016|date=14 September 2016}}</ref> In December she presented and appeared in dramatized accounts of the three part BBC series ''"Six Wives with Lucy Worsley"'' ===Writing=== In 2014, [[BBC Books]] published her book, ''A Very British Murder'', which was based on the series.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A Very British Murder, by Lucy Worsley. BBC Books, £20|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/a-very-british-murder-by-lucy-worsley-bbc-books-20-8803067.html|website = The Independent|accessdate = 2015-10-09|language = en}}</ref> In April 2016, Worsley published her debut children's novel, ''Eliza Rose'', about a young noble girl in a Tudor Court.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carpani|first1=Jessica|title=Historian Lucy Worsley: My life in eight objects|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/historian-lucy-worsley-my-life-in-eight-objects/|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wade|first1=Francesca|title=Tales of lecherous Tudors|url=http://www.lucyworsley.com/about-my-new-novel-eliza-rose/|accessdate=22 October 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 March 2016|via=lucyworsley.com}}</ref> ===Awards and honours=== In February 2015, the [[Royal Television Society]]’s nominated Worsley (best presenter) and ''The First Georgians'' (best history programme) in its annual awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11433985/Claudia-Winkleman-nominated-for-RTS-award-for-her-new-role-as-Strictly-presenter.html |title= Claudia Winkleman nominated for RTS award for her new role as Strictly presenter|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|author=Siobhan Palmer |date=25 February 2015 |accessdate= 17 March 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, she was made an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Sussex (where she completed her doctorate).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wadsworth|first1=Jo|title=TV historian given honorary Sussex Uni degree|url=http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2015/07/13/tv-historian-given-honorary-sussex-uni-degree-2/40994|publisher=Brighton and Hove News|accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref> ==Personal life== Worsley lives in Southwark<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/lucy-worsley-s-my-london-8688225.html |title=Lucy Worsley’s My London |publisher=Evening Standard |date=5 July 2013 |accessdate=23 August 2015}}</ref> by the [[River Thames]] in south London with her husband, the architect Mark Hines,<ref name="telegraph_april2011" /> whom she married in November 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucyworsley.com/on-being-2-5-famous/ |title=On being 2.5% famous |publisher=Lucy Worsley |date=22 July 2012 |accessdate=1 April 2013}}</ref> With reference to having children, Worsley says she has been "educated out of normal reproductive function".<ref>Times, 5/8/13</ref> She later said her statement had been "misinterpreted and sounded darker than I'd intended."<ref name="TG">{{cite news|last=Wintle |first=Angela |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/apr/12/lucy-worsley-my-family-values |title=Lucy Worsley: My family values |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 April 2013 |accessdate=10 November 2016}}</ref> As a TV presenter, she is known for having a [[Rhotacism (speech impediment)|rhotacism]], a minor speech impediment<ref name="telegraph_april2011" /> which affects her pronunciation of ''"r"''. When she made the move from BBC Four to BBC Two for the series ''Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History'', she worked with a [[Speech-language pathology|speech and language therapist]] to help with her pronunciation, but to no avail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucyworsley.com/in-which-my-speech-impediment-in-criticised-but-all-ends-happily/|title=In which my speech impediment is criticised, but all ends happily|publisher=LucyWorsley.com}}</ref> In her teens, Worsley represented Berkshire at [[cross country running]] and, as a pastime, is still a keen participant in the sport.<ref name="telegraph_october2011">{{cite news|last=Wintle |first=Angela |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/8828217/World-of-Dr-Lucy-Worsley-curator-and-broadcaster.html |title=World of Dr Lucy Worsley, curator and broadcaster |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=14 October 2011 |accessdate=1 April 2013}}</ref> ==Credits== ===Television programmes=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! scope="col" style="width:80px;"| Year ! class="unsortable" scope="col" style="width:450px;"| Title ! class="unsortable" scope="col" style="width:150px;"| Channel ! class="unsortable" scope="col" style="width:400px;"| Notes |- |style="text-align:Center;"|2016 |''Six Wives with Lucy Worsley'' |[[BBC One]] |Three-part series (December 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0854cjm|title=BBC One - Six Wives with Lucy Worsleyr|website=BBC|access-date=2016-12-13}}</ref> |- |style="text-align:Center;"|2016 |''Lucy Worsley: Mozart's London Odyssey'' |[[BBC Four]] |21 June 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hk1qx|title=Lucy Worsley: Mozart's London Odyssey - BBC Four|website=BBC|access-date=2016-06-25}}</ref> |- |style="text-align:Center;"|2016 |''The Real Versailles'' |[[BBC Two]] |30 May 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07dprr6|title=The Real Versailles - BBC Two|website=BBC|access-date=2016-06-25}}</ref> Co-presented with [[Helen Castor]]. |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2016 || ''Empire of the Tsars: Romanov Russia with Lucy Worsley'' || [[BBC Four]] ||6, 13 & 20 January 2016 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 || ''The Great History Quiz: The Tudors'' || [[BBC Two]] || 24 December 2015.<ref name=BBC2quiz>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06t3mh8 |title=The Great History Quiz: The Tudors|work=BBC}}</ref> Quiz team captain. |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 || ''Lucy Worsley's Reins of Power: The Art of Horse Dancing'' || [[BBC Four]] || 15 September 2015<ref name=BBC4Horse>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ccpzz?ns_mchannel=YT&ns_source=bbc_four&ns_linkname=description_link |title=Lucy Worsley's Reins of Power: The Art of Horse Dancing|work=BBC}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 || ''When Lucy met Roy: Sir [[Roy Strong]] at 80'' || [[BBC Four]] || 23 August 2015<ref name=BBC4Roy>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b067fm60|title=When Lucy met Roy: Sir Roy Strong at 80|work=BBC}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 || ''Dancing Through The Blitz: Blackpool's Big Band Story'' || [[BBC Two]] || 25 July 2015. Co-presented with Len Goodman and [[Jools Holland]].<ref name=BBC2danceblitz>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0645478|title=Dancing Through The Blitz: Blackpool's Big Band Story|work=BBC}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 ||''A Very British Romance''|| [[BBC Four]] ||8 October 2015 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 || ''Cake Bakers and Trouble Makers: Lucy Worsley's 100 years of the WI'' || [[BBC Two]] || 20 July 2015 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2015 || ''Britain's Tudor Treasure: A Night at Hampton Court'' || [[BBC Two]] || 7 February 2015. Co-presented with [[David Starkey]]. |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2014 || ''Dancing Cheek To Cheek: An Intimate History Of Dance'' || [[BBC Four]] || 17 November 2014. Co-presented with [[Len Goodman]]. |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2014 || ''Tales from the Royal Wardrobes'' || [[BBC Four]] || 7 July 2014 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2014 || ''The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain'' || BBC Four || 1 May 2014. Three part series. |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2013 || ''A Very British Murder'' || BBC Four || 23 September 2013. Three-part series.<ref name=RadioTimes1>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/programme/cnsj4t/a-very-british-murder-with-lucy-worsley|title=A Very British Murder with Lucy Worsley|work=RadioTimes}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2013 || ''Tales from the Royal Bedchamber'' || BBC Four || 5 August 2013<ref name=RadioTimes2>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cmk6nm/tales-from-the-royal-bedchamber|title=Radio Times|work=RadioTimes}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2013 || ''Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History'' || [[BBC Two]] || Part 1,<ref>The Telegraph Reviews [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/9980143/Fit-to-Rule-How-Royal-Illness-Changed-History-BBC-Two-review.html Part 1]</ref> Part 2, Part 3.<ref>The Telegraph Reviews [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10011282/Fit-to-Rule-How-Royal-Illness-Changed-History-BBC-Two-review.html Part 3]</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2013 || ''Secret Knowledge, Episode 3'' || BBC Four || [[Bolsover Castle]]; 27 March 2013<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vwzyb/secret-knowledge--bolsover-castle-with-lucy-worsley-secret-knowledge|title=Secret Knowledge|work=RadioTimes}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2012 || ''Food in England: The Lost World of Dorothy Hartley'' || BBC Four || 6 November 2012 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2012 || ''Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls'' || BBC Four || Three-part series (May 2012) |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2012 || ''Inside the World of Henry VIII'' || [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]] || |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2012 || ''Antiques Uncovered'' || BBC Two || May 2012 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2011 || ''Elegance and Decadence: The Age of the Regency'' || BBC Four || Three-part series (August–September 2011) |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2011 || ''If Walls Could Talk: The History of the Home'' || BBC Four || Four-part series (April 2011) |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2011 || ''When God Spoke English'' || BBC Four || 21 February 2011 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2010 || ''The Curse of the Hope Diamond'' || [[Channel 4]] || 24 May 2010 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2010 || ''King Alfred the Great?'' || [[BBC South]] || 17 May 2010 |- | style="text-align:Center;"| 2009 || ''Inside the Body of Henry VIII'' || |History Channel || |} ===Publications=== *''Eliza Rose'' (2016, fiction) *'' A Very British Murder: The Story of a National Obsession'' (2014). * ''If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home'' (2011). * ''The Secret History of Kensington Palace'' (2011). * ''Henry VIII: 500 Facts'' (2009) with Brett Dolman, [[Suzannah Lipscomb]] and Lee Prosser. * ''Cavalier: A Tale of Chivalry, Passion and Great Houses'' (2008). * ''The Royal Palaces of London'' (2008) with David Souden, Brett Dolman and Foreword by [[HRH The Prince of Wales]]. * ''Hampton Court Palace: The Official Illustrated History'' (2005) with David Souden. * ''Kirby Hall, Northamptonshire (English Heritage Guidebooks'') (2001). * ''Bolsover Castle'' (2001) with Louise Wilson. * ''Hardwick Old Hall'' (1998). ==References== {{reflist|33em}} ==External links== * [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27208339 BBC Historian Lucy Worsley explores her own past] * {{Twitter}} *[http://www.hrp.org.uk/ Royal Historic Palaces Official Website] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/authors/d116849a-88f1-320b-bb28-7b4dc98fe33e Lucy Worsley BBC Blog Page] *{{imdb name|3917687}} *[http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2011/mar/27/lucy-worsley-tv-history-interview 'Lots of historians are sniffy about re-enactors'] ''The Guardian'' 27 March 2011. {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Worsley, Lucy}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:Alumni of New College, Oxford]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex]] [[Category:English historians]] [[Category:English television presenters]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Reading, Berkshire]] [[Category:People educated at St. Bartholomew's School]] [[Category:People educated at West Bridgford School]]'