Dan Snow, the History Guy, believes that history is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to anyone on this planet. On his bestselling tour, which comes to the Radlett Centre on Friday, March 29, the historian and TV presenter will be telling audiences why.

Dan, who has a regular history slot on The One Show, will share memorable anecdotes from his career as a historian and broadcaster. Audiences are in for an additional treat as every show will have its own exclusive local element that will see Dan present historical facts about each town and area on the tour. There will also be a chance at the end of the show to engage with Dan during a 20 minute Q&A.

We put Dan under the spotlight ahead of his new show...

Talk us through the motivation behind doing your first live tour.

When you’re making television, it’s very lonely. You sit by yourself and think, “Is anyone watching?” That’s why TV presenters take to Facebook Live. That gives you the number of viewers at the bottom of the screen. It might be only five people, but at least you know someone is there!

Doing live events at book festivals and book launches is a huge treat because you get to meet people. It’s an enormous boost to the confidence to know there are people out there following what you do! The tour is the first time I’ve done this in an organised way where we’ve been able to build a proper show.

What will you be talking about in the show?

A large chunk of the show will be about local history. It will have direct relevance to the place we’re in. In every location I try and visit some local history during the day and then share my experiences in the evening.

Do members of the public help with your research?

Yes they do. I get lots of messages on my Facebook page. There is so much history out there it’s ridiculous and I find the stories that people send me fascinating.

Do people want to recount their personal histories, too?

Yes they often want to tell me all about their family history or the part their family played in history, like a soldier in the First World War. A huge number of people tell me stories about their ancestors. They will say something like, “My father was the first black RAF pilot.”

Is your hope that you can captivate audiences with your infectious enthusiasm for your subject?

Yes! History is not all about dead kings, old libraries and dust. It’s everything. It’s your parents’ eyes meeting across a crowded room and why we are who we are and why we are speaking English and why it’s acceptable for women and men to mingle together. I hope people walk out of the theatre saying that they had a really good time. I also hope they leave having thought deeply about the past of their town, their country and their world.

History has become fashionable again, hasn’t it?

Yes. In the 1990s history was very unfashionable. People thought that history was “finished”. But 9/11 changed all that. It reminded everyone that many people around the world felt that history was not finished. They felt enormous resentment about the fact that some people thought that the hands of history had stopped.

Does studying history also help us to understand more about the present day?

Definitely. It explains so much about today. Why can’t you book a boozy holiday in Somalia? That is down to history. The country’s instability is the result of colonial interference, food scarcity and the interference of America. In the same way, why can’t you go to a pub in Armagh and sing “God Save the Queen” without being glassed, while 20 miles away it would be fine? That’s all about history. If you’re curious about the world today, history can help you understand it. It will also make you realise that we are so lucky to be alive today. It gives things a real sense of perspective.

Is it important that children learn history at school?

Yes. History is a fantastic thing to teach kids. It teaches young people about the things they say and hear, and it teaches them to be profoundly distrustful of politicians – and also not to invade Russia! Literacy about history is vital. People are mad to believe politicians without checking the evidence first. Young people need to learn about the reliability of sources and sifting through people’s motivations and understanding why they are saying something you. There is nothing more important than questioning those in authority.

Did you inherit your love of history from your family?

Yes. My dad is fantastic on the heritage side. He was always taking us to different places as children. Also, my Welsh grandma, Nain, was a huge storyteller. She taught me to give history a human element and to bring it alive. I hope my history is very real and vivid because of her.

The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, Friday, March 29, 7.30pm. Details: 01923859291 radlettcentre.co.uk