Countdown's Queen: Rachel Riley on Numbers and Nonsense

Rachel Riley has become a household name thanks to her stint on Countdown. The brainy beauty isn't merely known for her dazzling style, though. Her sharp intellect and ability in solving those tricky numerical puzzles have earned her a legion of fans. From tackling the infamous Conundrums to revealing her knack for spotting patterns, Rachel has bec

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Britain's Bold Leap: The Great Calendar Change of 1752

In the year 1751, a most unusual event shook the very foundations of time itself in Britain. A bold leap forward, a radical alteration to the way they measured days and years - this was no ordinary change. The Gregorian Calendar, implemented by many European nations before, finally took hold on these shores. This shift was not merely a matter of co

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A Macabre Waltz: The Strasbourg Plague of 1518

In the heart amidst Strasbourg in the year marked by 1518, something most peculiar began to unfold. {A{ a woman, Frau Troffea, was seized with an feverish urge to dance. Days turned into weeks, and her relentless spinning became a sight that could not be ignored. As if driven by an unseen force, others began to yield to this strange affliction. Me

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