The secret lives of the British aristocracy, with Eleanor Doughty
Eleanor Doughty has spent years getting to know the aristocracy of Britain — and she joins us on the Country Life Podcast to talk about their lives.


Eleanor Doughty started her career writing about life as an impoverished student. It didn't take long to turn that specialism on its head, however: within a few years, Eleanor had turned her hand to writing about Britain's great country houses, and — more importantly — the people who live in them.
Over a decade later she has travelled to over 150 of the finest country piles in Britain, interviewing their owners to discover the ups and downs of their lives.
Listen to the Country Life podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Country Life podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Country Life podcast on Audible
Heirs & Graces by Eleanor Doughty is ought in September 2025.
Eleanor has a book coming out in September, Heirs and Graces: A History of the Modern British Aristocracy, which details some of her most fascinating experiences. Ahead of that, she joined James Fisher on the Country Life podcast to talk about the people in Britain — and there are fewer than 5,000 of them in existence — who can claim to be members of the aristocracy.
From dinner with dukes to the peer who programmed his car to welcome him by saying 'Good morning, your Lordship', it's a fascinating glimpse in to a mysterious world that's hidden from view for most of us.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Eleanor's book Heirs & Graces will be published by Penguin in September 2025. See more details or pre-order it here.
Episode credits
Host: James Fisher
Guest: Eleanor Doughty
Producer and editor: Toby Keel
Music: JuliusH via Pixabay
Special thanks: Adam Wilbourn
James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
A remarkable $100 million numismatic collection reappears after being buried for more than 50 years
A collector hid his treasure from the Nazis, his widow kept it secret for decades, but now Roman aurei, Greek staters and British pounds so rare that some have never been sold at public auction have resurfaced and will go under the hammer.
By Carla Passino Published
-
The Hollywood legend with an even more famous daughter: Country Life Quiz of the Day
From buns to bubbly in Wednesday's Quiz of the Day.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Chloe Dalton: The woman who swapped top-level geopolitics to rescue a baby hare
As an expert foreign policy adviser, Chloe Dalton's life revolved around international travel and walking the corridors of power. Then a chance encounter while out on a walk changed her life forever.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
From California to Cornwall: How surfing became a cornerstone of Cornish culture
A new exhibition at National Maritime Museum Cornwall celebrates a century of surf culture and reveals how the county became a global leader in surf innovation and conservation.
By Emma Lavelle Published
-
Cath Harries — The photographer on a 15-year quest to find the most incredible doors in London
By Toby Keel Published
-
Constance Spry, Harry Styles and rescue dogs: Florist and founder of the Wild at Heart Foundation Nikki Tibbles’s consuming passions
Nikki Tibbles reveals the possession she would never sell and who would play her in a film.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
The Royal Family's gold jewellery all comes from a single mine in Wales — and for the first time in 25 years they're selling to the public
The Welsh gold mine synonymous with select members of the Royal Family are auctioning off three 24-carat gold coins.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
Britain's whale boom and and the predator that's far scarier than a great white shark, with wildlife cinematographer Dan Abbott
The wildlife cinematographer Dan Abbott joins us on the Country Life Podcast.
By Toby Keel Published
-
British racing driver and F1 commentator Jamie Chadwick’s consuming passions
Jamie Chadwick reveals who inspires her, what gets her up in the morning and why she’d never sell one of her race helmets.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
Why do the English constantly say sorry?
What is that makes the people of this island so overly fond of apologising? Deborah Nicholls-Lee finds out.
By Deborah Nicholls-Lee Last updated