WE'RE NOT EXPERTS

Meet James, one half of the historical double act that begrudgingly calls itself "We're Not Experts." James' fascination with the past began somewhere around junior school, probably whilst everyone else was still mastering things like... well, anything other than the telly. Whilst he had a teacher constantly encouraging him to pick up a book, James readily admits he learnt more from the telly back then, devouring any history programme cable channels could throw his way. He soaked up facts like a sponge – albeit one that seems to retain more useless historical trivia than actual day-to-day helpful information.

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Whilst he might spend his working hours wrestling with paperwork, his real passion lies in the dusty, perplexing annals of history. James has a delightfully broad range of interests, from the surprisingly rich local history of Basildon Borough (a journey that began, rather fittingly, with a deep dive into his own impressively long family tree – apparently, he's at least 12th generation Essex, which probably explains a lot). He also harbours a particular soft spot for historic true crime – the gorier, the better, for purely academic reasons, of course – and possesses a somewhat obsessive knowledge of the American Civil War. And just to prove he's not entirely stuck in the past, he's also rather keen on heavy metal and football, which occasionally, and usually to Sarah's dismay, find their way into historical discussions.

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Beyond the podcast, James's historical obsessions spill over into a variety of niche projects. He curates his own Basildon History website, X, and Instagram, and has dedicated sites to Billericay Town FC and Billericay Town Women FC. His eclectic interests also extend to an online memorial for HMS E22, the fascinating story of the cleared hamlet of Peasedown (making way for Hanningfield Reservoir), and even a dedicated history site for the much-loved radio show, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

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On the podcast, James is often the one unearthing the most obscure facts or attempting to draw tenuous links between, say, a Roman emperor and a forgotten 80s rock band. He approaches every topic with the enthusiasm of an amateur detective and the self-awareness of someone who knows full well he's probably missed a crucial detail. Rest assured, his heart's in the right place, even if his historical compass occasionally points North by Northwest.

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