With degrees in politics and history, Martin Farr teaches at Newcastle University and researches contemporary history: the history of the present. He's broadcast and published widely, including books and articles on the First and Second world wars; British politics, parties, and elections; the media, US-UK relations, foreign and defence policy, popular culture, Margaret Thatcher, and tourism. He's been particularly engaged with the Russia-Ukraine, and the Israel-Gaza, wars, in 2024 as the global year of elections - and in British responses to them, both popular and official.