“The massive grassroots success of movies such as Zack Snyder's Spartan gore-fest '300' demonstrates there is a vast appetite among 15-25 year olds to share in the experience of the long-dead.”

English historian, author, and broadcaster

Bettany Hughes is an English historian, author, and broadcaster, known for her work on classical history. She writes about the ancient world, especially classical antiquity and myth, and has also explored the history of Istanbul. Her books and broadcasts bring historical subjects to a broad audience. She has also been involved in efforts to support the teaching of the classics in UK state schools, and was appointed OBE in 2019.