12 Facts About Helen Castor

Helen Ruth Castor was born on 4 August 1968 and is a British historian of the medieval and Tudor period and a BBC broadcaster.

Helen Castor taught history at the University of Cambridge and is the author of books including Blood and Roses and She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth.

Helen Castor was born in Cambridge and attended The King's High School for Girls, Warwick, from 1979 to 1986, and then completed a BA and a PhD at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Helen Castor was elected to a Research Fellowship at Jesus College.

Helen Castor was a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College for eight years, and is a Bye-fellow.

Helen Castor has worked extensively for the BBC including presenting Radio 4's Making History and She-Wolves on BBC Four.

Helen Castor has written for the books pages of The Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times, The Times Literary Supplement and The Times Educational Supplement.

Helen Castor was part of the judging panel for the 2022 Booker Prize.

Helen Castor wrote the volume on Elizabeth I for the series Penguin Monarchs, Elizabeth I: A Study in Insecurity, published in 2018.

Helen Castor was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2017.

In 2022 Helen Castor was chosen alongside four other 'superb readers' to judge the 2022 Booker Prize competition for best novel of the year.

Helen Castor's sister is the children's author, Harriet Castor Jeffrey.