The Classics Podcast

Scott Handcock is a TV and audio producer, writer, and director. Having recently worked as Assistant Producer on the BBC's 'The War Between the Land and the Sea', he has been Script Editor for Doctor Who and Head Writer on spin-off Torchwood.

He discusses how his Classics degree at the University of Birmingham has influenced his writing and his career in drama, his favourite chocolate, which ancient character he resonates with most, working on the iconic tenth doctor episode Fires of Pompeii, and meeting a very famous canine...

Find out more about Scott's work
Follow Scott on Instagram @scotthandcock1984
Enjoy the Fires of Pompeii on BBC i⁠Player⁠
Enter our ⁠⁠Poetry Competition⁠⁠ before 27 February 2026

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s), and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

With apologies for some audio issues in this episode.

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And find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠classicalassociation.org⁠

In this episode, Katrina is joined by Kamila Shamsie, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and award-winning novelist, including of Home Fire, for which she won the Women’s Prize for Fiction and was long listed for the Booker Prize. 

Enjoy a deep-dive into this modern adaptation of the story of Antigone and Ismene, where we discuss translations by Anne Carson and Seamus Heaney, the ancient explorer Scylax, the importance of book titles, and how Kamila's grandfather influenced her career as a writer.

Enter our ⁠Poetry Competition⁠ before 27 February 2026

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s), and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Classical Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access discounts, events and more
Follow the CA on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (podcast), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
And find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠classicalassociation.org⁠

Meet David Harry, aka 'The London Spy' and 'The Delusionist', a former Vice President of Deutsche Bank who went from photocopy-boy to member of the Magic Circle and social media star via ancient trade guilds and a love for Latin.

This is an episode not to be missed! We talk flatulence, London's secrets, Fishbourne Roman Palace, the joys of Classics and forging your own path.

Follow David on IG, TikTok and his website
The story of Teller the Magician
Enter our Poetry Competition

Please note: the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

Follow us on⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Classical Association⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access discounts, events and more
Follow the CA on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (podcast), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
And find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠classicalassociation.org⁠

Joining Dr Chella Ward this week are Dr Marcus Bell and Ronnais Lloyd to explore how dyslexia and learning difference has influenced their studies of the ancient past.

This UK Disability History Month, we're exploring experiences of disability and the study of the ancient world - follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and TikTok to enjoy clips and find all our episodes.

Ronnais' profile at the University of Leeds: https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/pgr/9810/ronnais-lloyd and her article on Asterion hub: https://asterion.uk/index.php/2021/09/24/reading-roman-history-while-autistic/

Marcus' profile at UCL: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/104704-marcus-bell and their recent article: https://academic.oup.com/crj/article/16/2/178/7471466

The views and opinions expressed in these podcasts are those of the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Learn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠how to start a podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here.

Joining Dr Chella Ward this week are Annis Wiltshire and Dr Ellie Mackin-Roberts for an episode of Talking Disability on autism and neurodivergence. They discuss ancient sensory experiences, retrospective diagnoses and the reliability of accessible adjustments.

This UK Disability History Month, we're exploring experiences of disability and the study of the ancient world - follow us on Instagram to enjoy clips and find all our episodes.

Ellie's article in the Institute of Classical Studies bulletin can be accessed here: https://academic.oup.com/bics/article-abstract/67/1/53/7977041?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false

Follow Annis' society Neuroinfinity Oxford here: https://www.instagram.com/neuroinfinityoxford/ and read her blog on Hephaestus

The views and opinions expressed in these podcasts are those of the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect those of the CA.

Podcast theme music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transistor.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠how to start a podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here. Apologies for the mic feedback in this episode.