Rich Lives, Poor Lives

This series, presenters Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman delve into pivotal moments such as the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and the Blitz, uncovering how individuals from different social backgrounds experienced and responded to these crises.

Rich Lives, Poor Lives Series 1 release dates →

1. E3

   3. The Blitz with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman

   Finale 1 year ago

   Rob and Ruth head back to wartime London to uncover how the Blitz was experienced by the rich and the poor. As the bombs rained down did your place in society keep you safe?

2. E2

   2. The Great Fire of London with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman

   1 year ago

   Over three quarters of London was destroyed by the fire. But did it have the same impact on the rich and the poor? Rob and Ruth step into their shoes to discover the truth.

3. E1

   1. The Great Plague with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman

   1 year ago

   The duo explore the devastating impact of 1665's Great Plague on London's rich and poor.

This series will once again feature Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman, who will explore how wealth and class shaped everyday life across four key periods of British history, Roman, Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian. From city streets to grand estates, they’ll uncover how people from all walks of life experienced the past in very different ways.

Rich Lives, Poor Lives Series 2 release dates →

1. E4

   4. The Tudors with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman

   Finale 2 months ago

   A look back at when England braced for the arrival of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Rob follows the story of wealthy London merchant Thomas Cordell, who risked everything when Elizabeth I called on private ships to face the Spanish Armada, while Ruth traces the experiences of sailor William Browne and his wife Margaret as war tore families apart.

2. E3

   3. The Georgians with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman

   2 months ago

   A look at the coronation of King George IV in 1820 - one of the most lavish and controversial royal events in British history. Rob follows the fortunes of those at the heart of the royal court, while Ruth uncovers the lives of ordinary people caught up in coronation fever. The pair explore how rich and poor alike became part of a royal spectacle on an unprecedented scale.

3. E2

   2. The Romans with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman

   3 months ago

   Rob and Ruth delve into 122 AD, when the Emperor Hadrian made a dramatic visit to Roman Britain, a moment that would change the fortunes of rich and poor alike. Rob follows the powerful figures at the heart of Roman Londinium, while Ruth investigates the lives of ordinary people living under Roman rule. Also, Rob also uncovers the story of Hadrian himself.

4. E1

   1. The Victorians with Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman

   3 months ago

   Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman discover how some of history's most famous events were experienced by the rich and by the poor. They start by exploring the 1840s Victorian era, when railway mania swept Britain. Rob follows the wealthy Victorians who poured their money into the railway boom, while Ruth investigates the lives of those who built and worked on the railways.