Introducing the new Intoxicating History podcast

Exciting update from the world of booze: I am now doing a podcast with Tom Parker Bowles looking at where alcohol and history collide. Please listen and subscribe.

Ever since I had the idea for Empire of Booze, I thought that it would make a good series for radio or TV but I’ve never managed to get the project off the ground. A look at modern history through the lens of alcohol, beautiful locations like Oporto or Speyside and interviews with people from great booze dynasties like the late Anthony Barton. Who wouldn’t want to watch that? Or so I thought. Sadly the BBC wasn’t keen. They didn’t even want to serialise it for Book of the Week on Radio 4.

Happily these days you can cut out the legacy media through the magic of podcasting. My wife, ahead of her time as always, has been telling me for years that I should do one but I never had the chutzpah just to get on with it. Then about a year ago I was approached by Melaine Jappy asking if I’d be interested in hosting a drink history podcast. She’s the producer of ITV's ‘The Wine Show’ with Joe Fattorini, Matthew Goode and Matthew Rhys. I immediately jumped at the offer. Then it was only a question of coming up with a co-host as podcast hosts seem to hunt in pairs a la ‘The Rest is History/ Politics/ Entertainment/ Trousers etc.’

Her first choice was Tom Parker Bowles. I didn’t know Tom well but had always enjoyed his writing and on the few times we had met, he has been absolutely charming. The very opposite of another well-known food writer who is famously rude to waiters and unimportant people. Naming no names! Tom not only brings an extraordinary knowledge of food history but a degree of broadcasting professionalism and calm that I can only aspire to.

And thus Intoxicating History was born! We recorded an episode last year about port and it was clear we had a rapport as well as a deep love for all things Portuguese. The only trouble was money. We needed a sponsor. My wife suggested Taylor’s Port as we had become friendly with Adrian and Natasha Bridge, the CEO and former head winemaker respectively, after a visit to Oporto. Bridge had a listen to the pilot and thought there was something there so Taylor’s have signed up to sponsor 20 episodes.

Since then we’ve recorded three more episodes: Dickens, royal boozing down the years and a look at whether the English really invented sparkling wine. The episodes should go live on Thursday 5 December. You can sign up for by clicking on the link.

There’s 16 more episodes planned looking at drink in James Bond, the women who created the modern template for champagne and I’d love to do a whole show on Frasier. I hope you enjoy listening and will forgive any factual errors, repetitions or bizarre tangents. We are still finding our feet.

Sign up for Intoxicating History by clicking on the links and please do share.