Philippa Gregory: Queen of Historic Fiction - Time Team extended interview

We revisit an interview with queen of historic fiction, Philippa Gregory CBE, with an extended chat including fascinating and previously unseen insights. Philippa discusses her bestselling novels, and experiences on Time Team at Syon House and Groby Old Hall - home of the ‘White Queen’, Elizabeth Woodville.
Philippa shares her wealth of knowledge, shedding light on the forgotten stories of women throughout history and discusses her recent novel, Dark Tides.
Note: This is an extended version of an interview originally recorded in July 2020, featuring many fascinating and previously unreleased moments.
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[@dinahfromkabalor]

What a fantastic conversation. Thank you both!

[@antmagor]

What I love about this conversation is how she’s explaining where the historical record ends, and her artistic license begins. Obviously, in historical fiction the onus is on the audience/reader to do their own research in terms of figuring out what parts are real and what parts are the writers imagination, but these days people expect a historical documentary every time they turn to the genre. I also love this conversation because anybody who is aspiring to write historical fiction is getting an idea as to how to master or at the very least conceive their creative process. Because when you really stop and think about it, how do you write dialogue and plot for events you weren’t present for.

[@sarahperkins2340]

I grew up in the thick of where King Phillips war territory is. I lived in the town that resulted from Captain Turner's mass examination of the American Indians on the Connecticut river. (Turner's Falls,Ma) and worked in the private school where the children were kidnapped by the Indians and brought to Canada ( I believe) in Deerfield. Yet we only covered the Indian war in one grade of school. I can't wait to read this new series that Phillipa has created for me to immerse myself in. I also wish that I would of thought to read all the placards that are all over the area that I lived because so many of the places that I saw everyday were involved with this intense moment of the American history. Everyone is more focused on the American Revolution time period than the Indian War. Now I live in Maine and I am discovering the rich History of my new surroundings.

[@mcgertylee]

What can I say!? Such a fantastic interview! So enjoy these glimpses into the thoughts and minds of brilliant, creative people!

[@gonefishing167]

Ooooh, I loved Time Team , watched every episode. Yes please, bring it back. Like everything, it’s all about money and tv studios seem to think so called ‘reality shows’ are the way to go. Some of them are bordering on repugnance! 👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@MsIvaana]

I do have to admit I share a great love and respect towards the work and life of this great lady! Watching her videos and interviews of history and historic fiction on KZbin has been such a great joy and lecture for so many years!🌹

[@XploringKB]

I have loved the Tea Time Team interviews but this is easily the best of them all.

[@joannrizkowski5985]

❤️P.G.!! She’s so well spoken and a brilliant writer. She brought history alive for me - and millions of others.

[@mariapazravaioli1634]

Great to listen to Philippa Gregory.. Thanks!

[@RobBoudreau]

Phillipa is such a fascinating person, it would be so wonderful to sit and talk with her. Great interview. Looks like you're going to have to plan a Tudor dig Tim, and invite Phillipa.

[@terri200]

So great full to hear from one of my favorite writers!! I have loved how you keep writing history into your work. History, it's archeology, and all of the missing pieces are so important!! Thank you, Time team and Phillipa!!👍👍👏👏🙏🙏🤩

[@RhapsodyOfJoy]

It was a very nice and interesting interview. Thank you @Time Team 🙏

[@kathybarker330]

Lovely to hear behind the scenes of her books, love them, thank you

[@shelleysykes5317]

Wonderful interview! Thank you.

[@jean96180]

Really enjoyed this interview. Bring back Time Team please.

[@TimeTeamOfficial]

Time Team IS back and we have two brand new digs coming up very soon!

[@phillipsofthedriver]

I assemble furniture and mount it to walls as required (live in earthquake country). My OCD is triggered by the bookcases behind her that are not lined up with each other. Being England, they're probably not attached to the wall. I'd get a less than 5 star review for that install. That said, I've tried to watch every single Time Team episode I can find. Some multiple times. Love archaeology and history.

[@stevebuk100]

Try turning it on and minimize the window down so you only hear it, less stressful that way.

[@sarahperkins2340]

Where do you live? I don't know what I would do without all my books if I lived in a place where earthquakes were happening. All of them would end up falling off the bookcase and some of them are very heavy.

[@phillipsofthedriver]

@@sarahperkins2340 California, very near the Hayward fault.

[@Toodle.Pipp001]

Brilliant interview 🌟

[@sarahperkins2340]

I absolutely love her books and have watched the series and movies based on her book religiously. She is one author who when I read I feel as if I was in the book. The White Queen is my absolute favorite book of all time.

[@lisagagnon1747]

Outstanding Discussion, Thank You! 🌞

[@allisonleader2453]

You are my absolute favorite writer of all time. Love you!!!!

[@Pembroke.]

Fantastic thanks for sharing 🎅

[@kiritanJ]

I have read her book and I though it was one of the most engaging that I have ever read. The Constant Princess. It has been years, and since then, I have dedicated myself to less jeweled, more laconic, academic, if you will, sources of historical information. And here she is. Combining the brilliancy of imagination with the expedience that only the experience of directly learning the true core of a subject(which might as well be the aforementioned brilliancy) can provide for that level of sophistication in simplicity. whisper: and vice versa

[@Michele49]

Why hasn't Time Time been on PBS? Isn't this thought provoking and educational!?

[@lindadillon3061]

I think her intuition is more than a hunch as she describes it. Based on a career of research it is a highly researched theory. Philippa is a lovely lady who is understated. I love her books and the tv series which I bought.

[@helenwood1]

Two greats of English history. What a joy... until Dark Tides. As an American whose family came out of the Civil Wars albeit not poor, and fled and settled in North Carolina in 1760ish, this story is a little silly but the rest is wonderful.

[@gonefishing167]

I do enjoy your books Phillipa, thank you. I, myself, travelled to Leicester to see Richards tomb. I so wish that somehow , even if it’s only the plaque, that Anne neville could join him. Do you really think that Elizabeth Woodville came to believe that Richard didn’t have anything to do with the murder of her children. I have to admit that I don’t think he did but no one likes my choice of murderer. Thank you 👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@TomLeg]

fascinating

[@H1X2N4]

Elizabeth I was not barren-she never wanted to marry. She even declared it as a young child.

[@jeannedomek4877]

Dear Ms. Gregory, I was wondering if you have any information about the Gray family here in America? I am the 16th great granddaughter of Sir John Gray and Elizabeth Woodville. The Gray's arrived in America in the 1620's in Essex, Virginia. I

[@Michele49]

Meant Time Team. 😝

[@lesleygrain2120]

Dear Tim, it’s pronounced “Grooby”. I know it’s spelt Groby but the second “o” was dropped a very long time ago.

[@duncangrainge]

Hi

[@archangel807]

Guess in person interviews are a thing of the past.....

[@philroberts7238]

.....for the moment, at least. But, you know, archaeologists and historians are only too well aware that nothing lasts for ever - not even pandemics.

[@joshschneider9766]

Well somebody killed those poor boys and Richie boy sure benefited. I know what a homicide Inspector would say or at least I think I do.

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

No, Richard had every reason NOT to harm them...and such an act was not in his character in the first place. 🙄 All of a sudden, Richard decided to become a villain, after years of first class administrating and defending the country ? Ridiculous!