Series 2 Plot
This series will once again feature Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman, who will explore how wealth and class shaped everyday life across four key periods of British history, Roman, Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian. From city streets to grand estates, they’ll uncover how people from all walks of life experienced the past in very different ways.
Rich Lives, Poor Lives Series 2 aired on August 4th, 2026.
Series 2 Episodes
1. The Victorians with Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman
Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman discover how some of history's most famous events were experienced by the rich and by the poor. They start by exploring the 1840s Victorian era, when railway mania swept Britain. Rob follows the wealthy Victorians who poured their money into the railway boom, while Ruth investigates the lives of those who built and worked on the railways.
2. The Romans with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman
Rob and Ruth delve into 122 AD, when the Emperor Hadrian made a dramatic visit to Roman Britain, a moment that would change the fortunes of rich and poor alike. Rob follows the powerful figures at the heart of Roman Londinium, while Ruth investigates the lives of ordinary people living under Roman rule. Also, Rob also uncovers the story of Hadrian himself.
3. The Georgians with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman
A look at the coronation of King George IV in 1820 - one of the most lavish and controversial royal events in British history. Rob follows the fortunes of those at the heart of the royal court, while Ruth uncovers the lives of ordinary people caught up in coronation fever. The pair explore how rich and poor alike became part of a royal spectacle on an unprecedented scale.
4. The Tudors with Rob Rinder & Ruth Goodman
A look back at when England braced for the arrival of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Rob follows the story of wealthy London merchant Thomas Cordell, who risked everything when Elizabeth I called on private ships to face the Spanish Armada, while Ruth traces the experiences of sailor William Browne and his wife Margaret as war tore families apart.
