Presidents, Prime Ministers, Monarchs & Dictators

Iain Dale talks to Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator for The Times about the life and career of the UK’s current prime minister.

Iain Dale talks to Sir Robert Buckland about the French Emperor who failed to live up to the reputation of his namesake predecessor.

I talk to Liz Truss’s biographer, James Heale, about Britain’s 56th and shortest serving prime minister.

In order to complete the Irish Taoiseach podcast series, Iain Dale talks to Irish Times Political Editor Pat Leahy about the 16th Irish Taoiseach, Simon Harris.

Iain Dale talks to former Conservative MP Brooks Newmark about the rule of the Syrian dictator who eventually fled to exile in Moscow. Brooks met Assad on nine occasions.

Iain Daie talks to Lewis Goodall about the life and brutal rule of the man who ruled the Soviet Union for close on three decades. Buy a signed copy of THE DICTATORS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024Buy a signed copy of THE PRIME MINISTERS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-prime-ministers-edited-by-iain-dale-paperback-coming-on-august-26-2022-signed-copy Buy a signed copy of THE PRESIDENTS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-presidents-signed-by-iain-dale Buy a signed copy of KINGS & QUEENS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/kings-queens-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-in-novemer-2023 Buy a signed copy of THE TAOISEACH here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-irish-taoiseach-ed-iain-dale-coming-31-october-2026

Iain Dale talks to Simon marks about the Father of apartheid in South Africa.

Iain Dale talks to political historian Alex Puffette about the French Emperor who is one of the most famous dictators in world history.Buy a signed copy of THE DICTATORS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024Buy a signed copy of THE PRIME MINISTERS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-prime-ministers-edited-by-iain-dale-paperback-coming-on-august-26-2022-signed-copy Buy a signed copy of THE PRESIDENTS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-presidents-signed-by-iain-dale Buy a signed copy of KINGS & QUEENS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/kings-queens-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-in-novemer-2023 Buy a signed copy of THE TAOISEACH here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-irish-taoiseach-ed-iain-dale-coming-31-october-2026 

Iain Dale talks to Justin King about the Eritrean dictator Isaias Afwerki, who is now 79, but has clung to power for more than 30 years.

Iain Dale talks to Nadhim Zahawi about the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Nadhim spent the first 11 years of his life living under Saddam before his family left Iraq for the UK Buy a signed copy of THE DICTATORS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024Buy a signed copy of THE PRIME MINISTERS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-prime-ministers-edited-by-iain-dale-paperback-coming-on-august-26-2022-signed-copy Buy a signed copy of THE PRESIDENTS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-presidents-signed-by-iain-dale Buy a signed copy of KINGS & QUEENS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/kings-queens-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-in-novemer-2023 Buy a signed copy of THE TAOISEACH here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-irish-taoiseach-ed-iain-dale-coming-31-october-2026 

Iain Dale talks to historian Dominic Selwood about the Khan of the Mongol EmpireThe Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to historian Jack Brown about Singapore’s first prime minister.The Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to documentary maker and author Jonathan Rugman about the Saudi ruler.The Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to Julia Langdon about the rise and rule of a man who ruled Albania for more than four decades.The Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to Vanda Wilcox about the life and rule of the man who tried to properly unite Italy but ended up ruining it by his alliance with HitlerThe Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to historian Dr Robert Waller about the first leader of the German Democratic Republic, East Germany, whose iron rule lasted for 21 years.The Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to historian Matthew Binkowski about the man who conquered an empire stretching from Europe into South Asia.The Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to former Guardian Latin American correspondent Rory Carroll about the Venezuelan dictator who brought his country to its knees.The Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to china expert Jonathan Clements about the dictator that saw 70 million people die during his long ruleThe Dictators, edited by Iain Dale is published in hardback by Hoddr & Stoughton. Signed copies can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/margaret-thatcher-a-short-biography-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-5-june-2025

Iain Dale talks to political journalist Harry Lambert about the life and rule of one of Africa’s most brutal dictators.

Iain Dale talks to former US diplomat and law professor Colleen Graffy about the life of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinchochet.

Iain Dale talks to political journalist Adam Boulton about the life and career of Paraquayan dictator, Alfredo Stroessner.

Iain Dale talks to János Kádár’s biographer Roger Gough about the life of the Hungarian dictator.

Iain Dale talks to journalist and historian Connor Hand about the extraordinary life of rule of Yugoslavua’s post war ruler, Tito, who started out in life as Josip Broz.

Iain Dale talks to historian C J Corn about the only female in the book THE DICTATORS, who he describes as “the most powerful woman the world has ever seen”.

Iain Dale talks to Emma Burnell about the man who ruled Romania with an iron fist for a quarter of a century.

I talk to US historian Alvin S, Felzenberg about the life and rule of a dictator who ended up in The Hague.

Iain Dale talks to Britain’s pre-eminent expert on the Third Reich, Professor Richard J Evans about the life of German dictator, Adolf Hitler.

Iain Dale talks to Charles Pitt about the thirty year rule of Syrian dictator Hafez Al-Assad.Buy a signed copy of THE DICTATORS https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to long time Moscow Correspondent Owen Matthews about the life and career of Vladimir Putin. Owen’s book is called ‘Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin’s War Against Ukraine”.Buy a signed copy of THE DICTATORS https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to Sam Marks about the life and rule of the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega

Iain Dale talks to former Conservative MP Daniel Kawzcynski about the life of the notorious Libran dictator, Colonel Gaddafi Buy a signed copy of the book THE DICTATOR https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to historian Gareth Russell about the life of the two time Argentinian dictator, Juan Peron Buy a signed copy of the book THE DICTATORShttps://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to Mark Fox about the life of possibly the most famous man in ancient history apart from Jesus Christ!Buy a signed copy of the book THE DICTATORShttps://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to American journalist Lewis M Simons about the extraordinary life of the Marcos familyBuy a signed copy of the book THE DICTATORShttps://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to David Walsh about the life and times of one of the few dictators to give his name to an actual country

Iain Dale talks to Rene Levanchy about the life of the Athenian tyrant PisistratusSigned copies of THE DICTATORS can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to Cindy Yu, the host of the Chinese Whispers podcast about the life and rule of President Xi Jinping of China. Signed copies of THE DICTATORS can be ordered here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024

Iain Dale talks to Salazar’s biographer, Thomas Gallagher about the man who ruled Portugal for 36 years

Iain Dale talks to historian Simon Heffer about the Spanish dictator, General Franco, who, after prevailing in the Spanish civil war, ruled Spain for the best part of 40 years.

Iain Dale talks to Yasmin Alibhai-Brown about the man who ruled her homeland, Uganda, and whom she also met.

In the final episode in the Kings & Queens series, Iain talks to journalist Julia Langdon about the life and reign of Britain’s longest serving monarch.  Buy a signed copy of KINGS & QUEENS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/kings-queens-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-in-novemer-2023

Iain Dale talks to the Royal Editor of The Times, Kate Mansey, about the life and reign of the last of the Stuart monarchs, Queen Anne.

Iain Dale talks to Professor Elaine Chalus from the University of Liverpool about the comparatively brief reign of the last of the Hannoverian monarchs, William IV

Iain Dale talks to Telegraph journalist Tim Stanley about the life of Queen Mary, who failed to provide an heir

Iain Dale talks to historian Gabby Storey about the life and disputed reign of the Empress Matilda.

Iain Dale talks to lawyer and historian Theo Barclay about the highly significant reign of the King who was determined to rid himself of a turbulent priest.

Iain Dale talks to LBC Presenter Shelagh Fogarty about the life of the reigning monarch King Charles III

Iain Dale talks to Professor Christopher Given-Wilson from the University of St Andrews about the rather turbulent reign of Henry IV.

Iain Dale talks to award winning historian Dan Jones about the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Dan’s new biography of Henry V is out now!