Main content

Bridgerton and Georgian Entertainment

Shahidha Bari explores Georgian entertainment, from nights at the opera to music lessons at home, strolls in the pleasure gardens, gentlemen's clubs, and chess playing Turks.

As the hit period drama Bridgerton returns to Netflix for a second series Shahidha Bari explores what kept the Georgians entertained, from a night at the opera to music lessons at home, strolls in the pleasure gardens, hot air balloons, chess playing Turks, and perhaps most of all - if Lady Whistledown is to be believed - gossip, intrigue, and scandal. And from the Regency romances of Georgette Heyer to contemporary bestselling fiction set in the period, on screen adaptations of Jane Austen, and binge-worthy boxsets like Poldark and Bridgerton, just what is it about the Georgians that we find so enduringly entertaining?

Shahidha’s guests are - musicologist Brianna Robertson-Kirkland who has written a new book about Venanzio Rauzzini, a scandal ridden Italian castrato revered by Mozart who fled the continent to become one of Georgian England’s most celebrated singing teachers and a musical figurehead in the city of Bath. Writer Sophie Coulombeau who has researched Georgian novelist Frances Burney and bluestocking socialite Mary Hamilton. Biographer, playwright and actor Ian Kelly who has played George III in his own play Mr Foote’s Other Leg. And History Film Club podcast presenter Hannah Greig whose credits as a historical consultant in TV and film include The Duchess, Sanditon, and Bridgerton.

Producer: Ruth Thomson

Image: Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton
Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix

You might also be interested in previous conversations on Free Thinking exploring
Harlots and 18th-century working women /programmes/m000rdfz
Samuel Johnson's Circle /programmes/m000vq3w
The Value of Gossip /programmes/m000fwfb
18th century crime and punishment /programmes/b040hysp

Available now

44 minutes

Last on

Tue 5 Apr 2022 22:00

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 Apr 2022 22:00

Featured in...

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

The Arts & Ideas Podcast

You can download all the past episodes of Radio 3's Free Thinking

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Discussions and talks from the Free Thinking Festival 2019

Angry politics, what we can’t say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Click to listen to discussions, talks and music as the Free Thinking Festival 2019 Gets Emotional

Angry politics, what we can’t say, being diplomatic, weeping, emotion in music, film & TV

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE programmes from the Free Thinking Festival 2018: The One & the Many

We examine the fast-changing relationship between the individual & the crowd

CLICK to LISTEN & SEE all programmes, images, clips & features from 2017's festival

Free Thinking Festival 2017: The Speed of Life