Matthew Lewis hosts BBC podcast on Guy Fawkes and the Yorkshire roots of the plot

Actor Matthew Lewis is presenting a three-part podcast that questions the accepted story of one of the best-known events in British history.

Gunpowder and Treason: The Real Guy Fawkes was released on 30 October. It looks at the events of 1605 from a fresh angle, considering new evidence, hidden family histories and the conspiracy’s lasting legacy.

Lewis, who is from Leeds and best known as Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, asks whether Fawkes was really the plot’s mastermind or whether he was set up.

“I’ve always been fascinated by history and felt that I already knew as much as there was to know about the Gunpowder Plot. Working on this series I discovered so many new elements, particularly with regard to the Yorkshire roots of the conspiracy,” he said.

“Much of which is still visible in the county today, if you know where to look. For those unaware of the story, this should be a rollercoaster of a ride, and for those that think themselves familiar with it, I’m sure there’ll be more than a few surprises. From desperate and audacious adventure to macabre and gruesome reality. As they say, it’s a story we should remember.”

The podcast, from BBC Local and BBC Radio York, is available on BBC Sounds under the Secret North Yorkshire menu.

It examines the theory that the plotters recruited Fawkes for his military skills and that he then became the face of a conspiracy involving many others.

Although history remembers a single name, the series looks at the powerful people working behind the scenes and stories that may have stayed hidden for centuries.

Yorkshire is central to the series, which visits several historic sites in the county. Fawkes was a native of York, while nearby Ripley Castle has links to the plot. The castle’s owner, Sir Thomas Ingilby, looks into his family’s historic connections to the conspiracy, while Tony Beacock, a descendant of plotters John and Christopher Wright, examines the brothers’ part in it.

Chris Burns, head of local audio commissioning, said: “This is exactly what BBC Local does best, uncovering remarkable stories hidden within our communities and bringing them to life through the voices of the people most closely connected to them. This podcast offers a fresh perspective on one of the most famous events in British history.”

The series is produced for BBC Sounds by Hannah Sackville-Bryant and Gemma Maull of BBC Radio York.