Tom Holland, one of the world’s leading writers on The Roman Empire, is equally happy delving into the sectarian politics of 6th century Constantinople, or explaining which of Henry VIII’s wives would win Love Island.

Likes: cricket, buying dinosaur skeletons.

Dislikes: the ‘other’ Tom Holland.

Dominic Sandbrook, a best-selling modern historian, can effortlessly switch between explaining how an energy crisis led to the break up of the Soviet Union, and how the Kaiser’s poor choice of shoes led to the First World War.

Likes: British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin.

Dislikes: the poetry of John Lennon.