Dear Mr Cornwell,

Perhaps you have seen recent articles in the BBC regarding the authenticity of history being taught to UK students. There has certainly been a lot of controversy! I remember you once gave an interview on which British monarch should deserve the title ‘the Great’. I believe your reply was Alfred and Elizabeth I. How do you feel towards ‘political correctness’ in the BBC, where they BBC Teach segments refuse to acknowledge Alfred as ‘the Great’, and put all emphasis on his daughter Æthelflæd being the driving force in uniting ‘Englaland’?

I suppose my real question is does political correctness and the risk of offending people come between an accurate portrayal and representation of our history?

I would like to clarify that I am a postgraduate student studying Ancient History in the UK and feel that this is indeed the case!

With very best wishes,

Mr T