Aug 26, 2026 · 1 hr · 13 segments
What if Henry VIII’s two most famous wives had put aside their differences and joined forces against the man who destroyed both their lives? Imagine Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn — two women…
Jillian LaineGuest
Adam PenningtonHost
What if Henry VIII's two most famous wives put aside their differences and joined forces against the man who destroyed both their lives? Imagine Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, two women who in real life became bitter rivals, forming the most unlikely alliance in Tudor history.

Who's funding it? That would be Marguerite d'Angoulême, the sister of Henry's great French rival.

But beneath the intrigue, betrayal and dark humour is a fascinating question.

What if the women who knew Henry VIII best had decided that the only way to stop him was to take matters into their own hands? Today, I am joined by author Gillian Lane, who has explored that very question.

Her novel, Henry Tudor Must Die, brings Catherine and Anne together in an entirely new version of the Tudor story.

One where the wives aren't simply victims of Henry's reign, with the architects of his downfall.

Joining Catherine and Anne are a colourful cast of characters, including three of Henry VIII's other wives, one of which being a poisoner assassin.

So, sharpen your knives, keep your head down, and prepare for a very different take on the story we know so well.

MUSIC Welcome back to the Tudor Chess Podcast, episode 150, Henry Tudor Must Die, a discussion with author Gillian Lane.

This is your first time on the podcast and you're here to talk about a fabulous book that you have written, Henry Tudor Must Die.

Before we get into the discussion, though, around this book and the story behind it, a few questions to get to know you a bit better.
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What if Henry VIII's two most famous wives put aside their differences and joined forces against the man who destroyed both their lives? Imagine Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, two women who in real life became bitter rivals, forming the most unlikely alliance in Tudor history.

Who's funding it? That would be Marguerite d'Angoulême, the sister of Henry's great French rival.

But beneath the intrigue, betrayal and dark humour is a fascinating question.

What if the women who knew Henry VIII best had decided that the only way to stop him was to take matters into their own hands? Today, I am joined by author Gillian Lane, who has explored that very question.

Her novel, Henry Tudor Must Die, brings Catherine and Anne together in an entirely new version of the Tudor story.

One where the wives aren't simply victims of Henry's reign, with the architects of his downfall.

Joining Catherine and Anne are a colourful cast of characters, including three of Henry VIII's other wives, one of which being a poisoner assassin.

So, sharpen your knives, keep your head down, and prepare for a very different take on the story we know so well.

MUSIC Welcome back to the Tudor Chess Podcast, episode 150, Henry Tudor Must Die, a discussion with author Gillian Lane.

This is your first time on the podcast and you're here to talk about a fabulous book that you have written, Henry Tudor Must Die.

Before we get into the discussion, though, around this book and the story behind it, a few questions to get to know you a bit better.