Available to book
Tessa Dunlop
Unlock historical insights for modern leadership with Dr Tessa Dunlop, speaker and royal historian. Tessa works with organisations to apply historical lessons, navigate cultural change, and enhance protocol understanding, delivering Royal Television Society award-winning expertise and Sunday Times bestselling authority.
Dr Tessa Dunlop is a British royal and social historian whose work bridges academic insight with engaging storytelling, making complex history accessible to broad audiences.
Tessa is a Royal Television Society award-winning broadcaster and Sunday Times bestselling author, known for presenting history programs on BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, and UKTV History. She has written several acclaimed books, including "The Bletchley Girls," and gained national recognition for her contributions to BBC2's BAFTA-winning series "Coast."
With a Modern History degree from Oxford and an MA and PhD from Sheffield Hallam, Tessa combines rigorous scholarship with practical expertise, including formal training in royal etiquette and the creation of her own etiquette courses. Her knowledge helps organisations and individuals understand the relevance of historical context in today’s rapidly changing world, offering practical lessons from the past to inform present-day decision-making and cultural awareness.
Audiences leave Tessa’s presentations with a deeper understanding of British history, actionable insights into royal protocol, and practical strategies for applying historical lessons to modern challenges. Her talks also provide memorable stories that connect personal experiences with wider social trends.
Book Tessa to bring clarity, context, and fresh perspective to your next event.
Photo © Michael Cockerham
Topics, sessions and talks
In 1939 the British government failed to prioritise the recruitment of women; by 1941, female conscription had been introduced for the first time in the nation's history. Drawing on her acclaimed book The Bletchley Girls, Dr Tessa Dunlop retells the story of the Second World War from an overlooked angle: the women who staffed the factories, filled the forces and cracked the codes at Bletchley Park. Blending rigorous research with lively, first-hand testimony, Tessa reveals how female service reshaped both the war effort and women's place in British society — a story of duty, ingenuity and quiet revolution.
How is war remembered, and by whom? Royal historian Dr Tessa Dunlop unpacks the impact and legacy of Britain's wars, weaving together the stories of royalty, military commanders, veterans and the families of the fallen to explore the role remembrance plays in a contested national identity. She traces how the United Kingdom moved from internal conflict to a shared sense of nationhood forged through shared sacrifice — and, for international or travel-themed audiences, can widen the lens to draw contrasts with Italian history and monument-building. A thought-provoking talk on memory, identity and what it means to belong.
Dr Tessa Dunlop, award-winning royal historian and Sunday Times bestselling author, transforms complex historical narratives into accessible insights that help organisations navigate contemporary challenges through the wisdom of the past. Book this Oxford-educated expert for an intellectually stimulating experience that will give your team practical frameworks for applying historical precedent to today's most pressing leadership and social questions.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Tessa Dunlop, email tessa.dunlop@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Tessa's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Tessa Dunlop draws on first-hand testimony gathered through original research — as demonstrated in her book The Bletchley Girls — and weaves this primary source material into narrative-led talks that place overlooked or underrepresented perspectives at the centre of established historical events.
Dr Tessa Dunlop speaks on women's roles in the Second World War, war remembrance and national identity, and the intersection of royalty and British history. She is a Royal Television Society award-winning broadcaster and Sunday Times bestselling author, whose credits include presenting on BBC, Channel 4 and UKTV History, and contributing to the BAFTA-winning BBC2 series Coast.
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Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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