This episode of the REST is History is sponsored by the Financial Times.

Now Tom, it's fair to say that we're living in pretty challenging times,

but there's very good news because the FT can help you make sense of global issues

like geopolitics, inflation, tech, climate change, and more.

Now, their writing investigates the different and often pretty unexpected ways

that different stories interconnect to have an impact on your life, Tom, and the world around you in Brixton.

It is also very important to remember that the Financial Times isn't actually just about

financial news or even political news. It actually covers an incredibly diverse range of subject.

In fact, you know Dominic what I was reading just the other day. It was their best history books

of 2022 list. And I noticed that it included Paul Corners book on Mussolini and Italian fascism.

Plus Emily Greble's book, Mussolini's and the Making of Modern Europe, both of which are subjects

that we covered on the podcast last year, no less. Did they include the Avengers in Time,

Children's History series and their history books of the year? I think I would have remembered

if it had. But for many listeners, Dominic, that may well be a selling point. And the great news

is that as well as being very, very, very good, they have a special offer exclusively for REST

as history listeners. So all you have to do is to visit ft.com slash rest to read free articles, Tom,

free and what's more, you'll get 50% off an annual digital subscription. That's ft.com forward slash REST.

History they say repeats itself first as tragedy second as fast. And today we're looking at the

fascical angle of things, both the history of comedy and the way in which history itself has been

made the subject of comedy. Hello and welcome to the REST is history with me, Tom Holland. And my

straight man, the Ernie Wyze to my Eric Malkham Dominic Sambrick. Dominic, how are you?

I'm very well. Thank you, Tom. I prefer to think of myself as well. I mean, what are we? We're basically

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