Chris Skidmore is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and Honorary Research Fellow at Bristol University. Since 2010 he has been MP for Kingswood.

Chris Skidmore’s work includes EDWARD VI: THE LOST KING OF ENGLAND (2007) which was the Guardian’s Book of the Week and the Good Book Guide Book of the Month. Hilary Mantel wrote of the book, “Skidmore leaves his reader convinced that Edward's reign is crucial in English history... he writes with clarity and verve” while David Starkey described it as 'Youth triumphant: one of our brightest young historian's impressive debut biography of England's boy-King, Edward VI'

Chris’ second book, DEATH AND THE VIRGIN: ELIZABETH, DUDLEY AND THE MYSTERIOUS FATE OF AMY ROBSART was listed as one of the Independent’s Books of the Year 2010 and the Daily Telegraph’s Books of the Summer 2010 with Andrew Roberts stating the work ‘is set to become a classic’. John Guy in the Sunday Times further described the book as 'a brilliant study', and 'a meticulous account of Amy’s death and its aftermath. Skidmore writes brilliantly and his research is impeccable.' DEATH AND THE VIRGIN was highly commended in the John Rhys Llewelyn Prize 2010, with the judges stating that it ‘was terrific … manages to provide a brand new slant on a familiar slice of Tudor history by combining evocative powers of description with a tonne of lucidly rendered research and, best of all, a murder story. Highly recommended.’

DEATH AND THE VIRGIN was televised as a Documentary for Channel 5 and National Geographic Television in November 2010 as The Virgin Queen’s Fatal Affair, winning the Royal Television Society Award for Best Specialist Factual Documentary 2011.

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