“Well Socrates is 70 when he dies. He's been allowed to philosophise freely in the city for almost 50 years. He clearly was - genius is an overused word - but he clearly did have something of the genius about him.”

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.