Have you ever wondered what beautiful British edifice overtook the great pyramid as the

world's tallest building?

Or what Stalin did before he became leader of the Soviet Union, well you can find the

answer.

To these questions and hundreds more like them in our new book, The History Hit and Miss

Celeny.

It's the perfect present for any history fan.

It's available to buy now from your favourite bookshop or visit historyhit.com slash book.

Hello everyone, welcome to Dan Snow's history.

I've got a BAFTA award-winning actor, comedian, broadcaster and now history author on the

podcast today.

David Mitchell, national treasure here in the UK for his acting in the Hit TV show Peep

Show and he's gone on to many wonderful projects after that.

His latest project though is a history book, a history of England, Kings and Queens.

From the emergence of England, which as you'll hear we have a little discussion about,

he locates it sometimes during Atholstern's reign, others might say Edgar, who knows

the debate goes on, right the way up to 1600 with the passing of the tutors.

He is interested in kings and queens when they wielded power.

But his book is informative, it's also funny, it's a crush on a book, folks.

He points out that the Vikings were great, unless you met them, bit like Peter Sellers.

And I expect he is right.

He pleases that this former history student at Cambridge University has come home to history

...