NewsBeat
History podcast host becomes Durham Cathedral librarian
He has taken up the newly created role of Bede Librarian, which aims to promote the cathedral’s archives and collections and foster greater engagement with the legacy of the Venerable Bede—scholar, theologian, and the “father of English history.”
Co-host of ‘The Rest is History’, a podcast under Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger umbrella, he was a winner of Apple Podcasts’ Global Show of the Year in 2025 – the first time a non-American show carried home the gong.
Mr Holland said: “Bede is the father of English history – so what greater honour could there possibly for an English historian than to be appointed the Bede Librarian in the cathedral where he lies buried.”
He will be formally inaugurated as Bede Librarian during the Festal Evensong for Bede on Monday, May 25, at 5.30pm.
Did the Ancient Greeks have a ‘death ray’? pic.twitter.com/AlV5P2eISe
— The Rest Is History (@TheRestHistory) February 3, 2026
The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham, said: “I am thrilled that Tom Holland has accepted the role of Bede Librarian at Durham Cathedral and will be contributing to our life and mission in the years to come.
“Tom is not only an outstanding historian and communicator but also deeply committed to the North East, our saints, and our stories.
“It will be wonderful to have him speaking about such a vital topic as the renewal of our culture and what we can – and must – learn from the past.
“I am also delighted that he will be helping Durham Cathedral share our wonderful archives and collections with an even wider audience.”
Mr Holland will deliver his inaugural lecture in the role on Tuesday, May 26, at 7.30pm at Durham Cathedral.
Titled ‘Cuthbert, Bede and the Renewal of Culture,’ the talk will be a conversation with the Dean of Durham.
He will discuss the influence of Saxon saints Cuthbert and Bede on cultural renewal through leadership and scholarship, reflecting on their continuing relevance in today’s world, marked by “global insecurity, cultural tribalism, and political volatility.”
Mr Holland will be Anna Rowlands, St Hilda Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University.