EXCLUSIVE: Audible is launching new audio show Mistresses with Jameela Jamil and Dr Kate Lister.
The scandal-laced original will shine a light on the overlooked stories of six of history’s extraordinary ‘other women’, including mistresses, concubines, and courtesans who have been shamed, disparaged, and underestimated, divulging sex, scandal, murder, betrayal, poisoning, and witchcraft.
The duo are also joined on the podcast by Gen Z historian and author, Katie Kennedy, better known to her nearly 700K social media followers as The History Gossip. In Mistresses, Katie acts as a “historical gossip correspondent”, popping up at different points throughout the episodes to provide extra context.
Subjects range from Mary Boleyn, Anne’s hidden sister, whose scandalous affair with King Henry VIII offers a new perspective on “divorced, beheaded, died”, to Wu Zhao a 7th-century concubine who elevated herself to become the first and only female Emperor of China.
Presenter and actress Jamil said: “I’m excited to blow the minds of the audience with these outrageous and, at times, heartbreaking stories of the fascinating, resilient, and wild women that facilitated some truly pivotal moments in history. It is only our loss that they have, thus far, been largely erased, dismissed, or maligned.”
Dr Kate Lister added: “The history of mistresses is intriguing, challenging, and occasionally very dark. Thankfully, when you’re talking about it with Jameela, it’s also hilarious.”
