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Greg Jenner appointed an Honorary Fellow in the Department of History

Greg Jenner appointed an Honorary Fellow in the Department of History

Posted on 18 December 2024

The public historian, author and broadcaster Greg Jenner has been appointed as a Fellow of the Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past (IPUP) in the University of York’s Department of History.

Greg Jenner at Hay Festival in 2022. Image credit: Tricia Yourkevich

Starting in January 2025, the Fellowship will run for two years. During that time, Greg will teach undergraduate and postgraduate History students and take part in public events with IPUP.

Greg was a student at the University of York between 2001 and 2005, gaining a BA in History and Archaeology followed by an MA in Medieval Studies. After graduating, Greg joined the TV industry and became the historical consultant to the multi-award-winning BBC comedy show Horrible Histories. He is also the creator of the BBC podcast You're Dead To Me and the author of several books, including a new children's comedy history book series, Totally Chaotic History.

Specialising in communicating the past to the public through pop culture and humour, Greg’s various projects have won 34 prizes over the course of his 18-year career, including 10 BAFTAs, an Emmy award, and two British Comedy awards.

Honoured

Greg said:"I feel so honoured to receive this wonderful Fellowship. York will always have a special place in my heart, it's where I first became a historian, first wrote a comedy sketch, first tried radio broadcasting, first learned to swerve belligerent water fowl, and first attempted being a functioning adult (still working on that last one...).

“My 4 years here as a student were hugely valuable, not least because of the unique interdisciplinary training I received, and it's been a pleasure returning to the seminar room for the past decade to pass on the things I've learned doing public history. Many years ago, I'd felt heartbroken that I couldn't afford my PhD or have my intended career as a teaching academic, so to have been welcomed into the department is thrilling. I'm so very proud to be associated with IPUP."

Fresh perspectives

Dr Victoria Hoyle, Director of IPUP, said: “We are really excited to be welcoming Greg to the Institute. As a skilled broadcaster and communicator, Greg will enrich our teaching and public events, offering fresh perspectives on promoting history to a diverse and inclusive audience”.

Professor Oleg Benesch, Head of the Department of History at the University of York, said: “Our teaching and research explore the various ways the past is represented in society, and I know Greg will provide valuable insights into how the histories we narrate influence our identities, shape our present, and inform our future. Additionally, Greg's career journey since graduating from the University will undoubtedly inspire our students, demonstrating just one of the many career paths available to History graduates from prestigious research-intensive universities like York."