Tom Holland (historian)

Tom Holland is a British historian, author, translator, and broadcaster. He co-hosts The Rest Is History with Dominic Sandbrook, a podcast that has become one of the most popular history programmes in the world. He is not to be confused with the English actor Tom Holland.

Academic and literary career

Holland is an award-winning popular historian whose work spans the ancient and medieval worlds. He has translated classical texts including works by Herodotus and Suetonius. His published histories cover subjects ranging from the late Roman Republic to the origins of Islam and the development of Western Christendom. His writing is characterised by narrative drive and an emphasis on the strangeness of the past, treating historical figures and their motivations on their own terms rather than through a modern moral lens.

Broadcasting

Prior to podcasting, Holland established a career as a television and radio presenter, appearing in history documentaries for the BBC and Channel 4. His broadcast work shares the accessible, story-driven approach of his books.

The Rest Is History

Holland and Sandbrook launched The Rest Is History in November 2020, produced by Goalhanger Podcasts. The show has grown to over 20 million monthly downloads and views, with more than 800 episodes completed. It covers topics from antiquity to the modern era, often prompted by current events or listener requests.

In 2025 Apple Podcasts named The Rest Is History its Global Show of the Year, the first non-American show to receive the designation. In 2023 the podcast received the President's Medal from the British Academy, the first time the honour was awarded to a podcast.

Audience

The show's audience skews younger than might be expected for a history programme: seven out of ten listeners are under 40. Holland and Sandbrook have credited the podcast format (informal, conversational, and available on demand) with reaching people who would not typically read popular history books.

Revenue

Holland earns an estimated $100,000 per month from the podcast. The show also operates a subscription tier with approximately 45,000 paying members as of 2025.

Style

Holland's on-air manner is enthusiastic and digressive. He frequently expresses delight at historical details, draws connections across periods and cultures, and avoids moralising about historical actors. His dynamic with Sandbrook is complementary: Holland tends toward the ancient and classical world while Sandbrook anchors discussions in modern British history. Both hosts prioritise accessibility and narrative over academic jargon.

See also

• The Rest Is History
• Dominic Sandbrook, co-host