The Human Cost of Fame

You might think the idea of “celebrity” is a modern invention. In reality, its roots stretch back centuries... perhaps even millennia. People have always been fascinated by the rare individuals who rise above the crowd and capture public attention. Whether admired or despised, the famous have always held a powerful grip on our curiosity.

In this episode, we explore the dark origins of 'celebrity': where it began, how it has evolved, and the strange ways it has shaped people's lives. We delve into tales of the Ancient Gods of Gossip to the Georgian actor who hired haters to heckle his rivals…

And who better to take us through this episode than Greg Jenner? Greg is a public historian, broadcaster and author of works including ‘Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity From Bronze Age to Silver Screen.’ He’s the host of the BBC Podcast ‘You’re Dead to Me.’

This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. Produced by Tomos Delargy. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.

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