Michel de Nostradame, a 16th century astrology and seer, lived in Provence, Southern France. He wrote one of the most popular astrological books of all time, “The Prophecies”. This book contains 942 strange prophecies which foretell of bizarre events running far into the future. Since Nostradamus’ death, many people have attributed his predictions to major world events like the Great Fire of London, Hitler, Napoleon, the Atomic Bomb and the assassination of American President John F Kennedy. Such is the belief in Nostradamus’ popularity, he was even turned to soon after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 11th September 2001.
Mystery Files undertakes to investigate the man behind these prophecies, to test his astrological skills and to reveal the secret of his prophetic powers. We call on leading experts like Ian Wilson - Nostradamus biographer, Peter Lemesurier - translator of his prophecies and historical investigator, Monica Azzolini – Renaissance Historian and Paul Wade – professional astrologer.
Ian Wilson - Author Nostradamus: The Man Behind The Prophesies
Ian Wilson graduated in history at Magdalen College, Oxford, England, in 1963. He has published many historical books on a wide variety of subjects including on Nostradamus:
Monica Azzolini - Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
Lecturer, European History 1500-1800 at the University of Edinburgh.
She obtained her PhD from the University of Cambridge. She taught for a term in Cambridge and spent a brief period in Sydney, Australia before taking up her first academic post at the University of Washington, Seattle, in 2002.
In 2004 she moved back to Sydney, this time to take up a lectureship in the School of History at The University of New South Wales. In 2005/6 she was appointed Ahmanson Fellow at Villa I Tatti at The Harvard Center for Italian Renaissance Studies in Florence. She joined the University of Edinburgh as a lecturer in 2007. Since 2002 she has been involved in the study of Renaissance court astrology.
Peter Lemesurier - Author, The Unknown Nostradamus
Peter Lemesurier is an author who has been studying Nostradamus for over 30 years. He has published many books on the subject of Nostradamus including: Nostradamus: The Next Fifty Years, Nostradamus in the 21st Century: Featuring the Coming Invasion of Europe, Nostradamus: Including 128 New Prophecies Based on His Techniques, Nostradamus and Beyond, The Unknown Nostradamus: 500th Anniversary Biography, The Nostradamus Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference Guide to the Work and World of Nostradamus.
Paul Wade - Professional Astrologer and Author
Paul Wade has been a fulltime, professional astrologer since 1989. Working initially with colleges of further and higher education in the public sector, he has focused in recent years towards private tuition for individuals and small groups. Paul was visiting lecturer for Goldsmiths’ College of the University of London from 1992-2000 and ran courses accredited via the University of Brighton from 1996-2001.
Nowadays Paul runs a busy astrological practice, with clients coming from all walks of life and also from all over the world. He is a frequent contributor to various publications internationally, often appears on TV shows and is regularly on the radio. He is a published author, his titles including Home Astrology and Be Your Own Astrologer.
Henry II Of France
King of France in the 15th Century, He consulted Nostradamus Almanacs on a daily basis.
Catherine de Medici
Italian born, Queen consort to the the French King Henry II. Famed for her ruthlessness massacre of thousands of Protestants throughout France.
Rudolph II
Ruled as Holy Roman Emperor in the 16th Century, whose life long quest was to discover the Philosophers Stone.
Nostradamus allegedly treated plague sufferers with tablets he’d concocted of rose petals.
In the mid 16th Century, Nostradamus published a book called ‘An excellent And Most Useful Little Work’. The book consisted of a number of recipes for Cosmetics, perfumes and cooking.
Nostradamus Alamanc wasn’t published until a year after his death in 1567
It has been suggested that Nostradamus has predicted some the biggest events that either have or will take place including the Rise of Hitler and the 9/11 attacks .
Nostradamus Has predicted the world will end in 3797.
- Producer & Director KATE HADDOCK
- Series Producer RICHARD SATTIN
- Executive Producer CARL HALL
- Director of Production DANNY TIPPING
- Unit Manager PETER GUEST
- Director of Photography HAYDN DENMAN
- Sound Recordist DEREK EDWARDS
- Narrator STRUAN RODGER
- Editor IAIN KITCHING
- Original Music LENNY WILLIAMS CHRIS BIONDO
- Facilities BARCUD DERWEN
- Online Editor BLEDDYN RHYS
- Final Mix TREVOR BARBER ROBERT THOMPSON RUSS SKELLON
- Associate Producer LISA HALLATT
- Production Coordinator EMILY RUDGE JO-JO ELLISON
- Post Production Supervisor DAVID WHITEHEAD
- Production Assistant ELEANOR DAVIS
- Production Team ANDREW PEAK CHRIS DUNDON DELMI THOMAS EITHNE McCRORY HAYLEY GLASS JO CLARK MILES HOWITT-DRING SEAN WHEATLEY
- Drama Director BEN MOLE
- Drama Line Producer JENNY THOMPSON
- Director of Photography PETER ALLIBONE
- Production Designer JO MANSER
- Art Director VERITY SCOTT
- Costume Designer JAN MARSHALL
- Costume Assistants BET HUWS BETHAN CHARLES JUNE USHER
- HELEN PRITCHARD ANDREA WILD
- Make-Up Designer ERIKA OKVIST
- Make-Up Assistants ANNIE MAYCOX JENNY RHODES ALISON HANKEN
- Special Thanks BIBLIOTHEQUE INTERUNIVERSITAIRE DE MONTPELLIER BILBLIOTHEQUE MUNICIPALE DE LYON BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE CORBIS DAILY MAIL/ SOLO SYNDICATION BERGER COLLECTION AT THE DENVER ART MUSEUM KAZUHIKO TERAMOTO MARIO GREGORIO, LIBRI BOOKS MASTER AND FELLOWS OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART/SCALA, FLORENCE NASA NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SWEDEN NOAA RMN PHOTOAGENCY STÄDEL MUSEUM, BLAUEL/GNAMM – ARTOTHEK U.S. AIR FORCE US NAVY V&A IMAGES, VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM WELSH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURAL GLASS WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
It's on again tonight I believe! ...
By ads321. 2010-02-04reply
I'm really disappointed I missed this episode, this man is one of those debating points that always comes up, and this programme might have explained the truth vs the myth for me... will NGC be doing a repeat of the series again soon? ...
By Atlantic. 2010-02-04reply
His rise to prominence is based on the human need to believe that there's meaning in everything and that things happen for a reason. There isn't and it doesn't. It's all post rationilisation and the fact we're still talking about Nostradamus in 2010 is beyond me. You'll be reading your star signs next. ...
By foxtrot. 2010-02-03reply
Just goes to show what power the media have! They decided to make him famous, therefore he was. ...
By MythBuster. 2010-02-02reply
lol that's fantastic- Nostradamus never actually predicted anything specific. People have looked to his almanac after horrific events have taken place, and found something vaguely describing the event and everyone then thinks Nostro's predicted it! Are we really all that Naive???? ...
By MysteryObsessed. 2010-02-02reply
I predicted where my husband would find his lost bag after having a dream about it being in a freezer... does this put me on a par with big N? ...
By rescueremedy. 2010-02-02reply
I just watched the first episode of Mystery Files... thoroughly enjoyed it! I will be glued to the TV for the rest of them! Well done to the team! ...
By emily001. 2010-02-01reply
If it's all rubbish how come he predicted so many events like the WWII and the Twin Tower attacks? There must be something in in it? ...
By the sentinel. 2010-02-01reply
OK- I don't believe anything he says! It's all rubbish. ...
By ads321. 2010-02-01reply