William Marshal: The Greatest Medieval Knight

At the age of 70, does England’s greatest knight still have what it takes to save the realm from invasion?

In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.

The young Sir William Marshal was handsome, charming, captain of the England Tourney team a sporting hero and right-hand man to many a king of England including Henry the Young King, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart and Bad King John. He was a brilliant rider and very good at jousting. He was even famed for having a ‘large crotch’. But towards the end of his life, in his 70s, when he might have wanted to wind down, the realm was in trouble facing the threat of a French invasion. William Marshal was called upon to fight the ultimate battle and save the day in the Battle of Lincoln.

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Producer: Suniti Somaiya

Development Producer: Georgina Leslie

Executive Producer: Paul Smith

Written by Imogen Robertson

Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts