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Wheelhouse partners with Goalhanger to adapt The Rest Is History for television

Press Release · via Wheelhouse ·

Wheelhouse has teamed with Goalhanger, the UK’s largest independent podcast production company, to bring its chart-topping podcast The Rest Is History to television.

Wheelhouse, whose numerous content labels produce series such as Max’s Smartless: On the Road, Netflix’s The Menendez Brothers and King of Collectibles, and Hulu’s upcoming Got to Get Out, will collaborate with Goalhanger to develop unscripted projects based on The Rest Is History and the hit podcast’s growing library (600-plus episodes).

The deal was orchestrated by Wheelhouse EVP of Business Development Fanny Baudry, who also serves as managing director of the company’s digital and audio division (DNA), Wheelhouse EVP of Development Kate Collier and Goalhanger Co-Founder Tony Pastor. Baudry and Collier will oversee the partnership for Wheelhouse. The deal was negotiated by WME (William Morris Endeavor), which represents both Wheelhouse and Goalhanger.

Hosted by lauded British historians-turned-pop-culture-sensations Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, The Rest Is History has been anointed “the world’s most popular history podcast” – garnering more than 12 million downloads per month and averaging two million monthly YouTube views – with a devout Gen-Z and Millennial audience (seven out of every 10 listeners are under 40), as well as passionate high-profile fans such as Conan O’Brien, Rachel Maddow, Bob Iger and Nick Cave. Launched in 2020, The Rest Is History has become Britain’s most subscribed-to podcast, consistently ranking among the top charts globally and frequently topping the U.S. history podcast charts.

The Rest Is History is a twice-weekly podcast that offers in-depth explorations of a wide range of historical events, people and topics – from the rise of the Nazis to the fall of the Aztecs, to debunking Hollywood myths about the Titanic and examining the lives and deaths of legendary figures like Julius Caesar and John F. Kennedy. With irreverent humor, world-class expertise, a variety of accents and the occasional impromptu reenactment, the hosts deliver captivating and easily digestible 50-minute episodes, making history so entertaining that listeners may not even realize how much they’re learning.

The Rest Is History’s success has also resulted in two best-selling spinoff books and in 2024, Holland and Sandbrook embarked on a completely sold out, live podcast tour across the UK and U.S.

Said Wheelhouse CEO and Pawn Stars creator Brent Montgomery, “‘The Rest is History’ is a unicorn. The podcast’s global popularity, propelled by Tom and Dominic’s rapport, dynamic and ridiculous knowledge and expertise, has paved the way for best-selling books and sold-out live tours across the UK and the U.S. This partnership fits squarely into our strategy of being a bridge between the creator economy and legacy media and we’re excited to work with Goalhanger to bring this incredible brand to yet another medium.”

The Rest Is History Hosts Holland and Sandbrook said, “We couldn’t be more excited at the thought of bringing ‘The Rest Is History’ to TV — who wouldn’t want to see Julius Caesar’s toga or Winston Churchill’s cigar in glorious 4K? Our show has always been about making history accessible, intelligent and entertaining, and we’re thrilled at the chance to bring our favourite stories to life on screen. This partnership with Wheelhouse will allow us to make history unforgettable for a whole new audience, showcasing all the best elements that make our podcast so enjoyable – both for us and for audiences all over the world.”

Pastor added, “The global success of ‘The Rest Is History’ proves there’s a strong demand for entertaining and intelligent storytelling, dispelling the myth that younger audiences only want short-form content. Watching audiences respond to Tom and Dominic during their recent U.S. tour confirmed they are truly the rockstars of history. We’re thrilled to partner with Wheelhouse, who deeply understand the show’s unique dynamic. Together, we aim to introduce the show to new audiences who love history and enjoy it with the most engaging historians around.”

Listen

The Rest is History Club Bonus episodes, early access and ad-free listening

This is a press release which we link to from Podnews, our daily newsletter about podcasting and on-demand. We may make small edits for editorial reasons.

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