Suzannah Lipscomb

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is an accomplished historian, author, and broadcaster, holding the title of Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton, Senior Member at St Cross College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries. Born on December 7, 1978, Lipscomb developed an early fascination with the Tudors, growing up near Hampton Court Palace in Surrey. She pursued her academic career at the University of Oxford, earning a double First, MSt, and DPhil in History from Lincoln and Balliol Colleges. Her doctoral thesis, “Maids, Wives, and Mistresses: Disciplined Women in Reformation Languedoc,” was completed in 2009 under the supervision of Robin Briggs. This rigorous academic background laid the foundation for her extensive contributions to historical scholarship.

Lipscomb’s career has included diverse roles that blend academic research with public engagement. She served as a curator for Historic Royal Palaces at Hampton Court, where she played a key role in organizing exhibitions for the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession in 2009. This project earned a KTP Award for Humanities for the Creative Economy in 2011. She has held academic positions as a lecturer at the University of East Anglia, head of the Faculty of History at the New College of the Humanities, and was appointed Professor of History at the University of Roehampton in January 2019. Lipscomb’s commitment to historical inquiry is evident in her seven published books, including “1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII” and “The Voices of Nîmes: Women, Sex, and Marriage in Reformation Languedoc,” which received a Special Commendation from the Social History Society in 2021.

Beyond her academic roles, Lipscomb is a prominent media personality. She has presented numerous history series for major broadcasters such as BBC, ITV, More4, and Channel 5, including “Henry and Anne: The Lovers Who Changed History” and the “Hidden Killers” series. Since 2021, she has hosted the popular “Not Just the Tudors” podcast for History Hit, making historical topics accessible to a broad audience. Her contributions to television and radio have earned her critical acclaim, with Clive James noting her captivating presence in “Hidden Killers of the Edwardian Home.” Lipscomb also contributes a regular column to “History Today” and serves as a royal historian for NBC. In 2024, she chaired the judging panel for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, underscoring her influence in both academic and public spheres. She is a Trustee Director of the Mary Rose Trust, appointed in December 2020.