Melanie Backe-Hansen is an independent historian, writer, and speaker, specialising in the social history of houses across the United Kingdom. The main focus of Melanie’s work involves original research for homeowners and corporate clients to provide bespoke house history books and research reports. Melanie was research consultant for television series A House Through Time (BBC Two) and co-authored the book of the same name with historian David Olusoga. She was series historical consultant and on-screen expert for Phil Spencer’s History of Britain in 100 Homes (More4) and contributing expert for BBC Radio 4 series, A Home of Our Own. She is also the author of House Histories: The Secrets Behind Your Front Door, Historic Streets and Squares: The Secrets on Your Doorstep, and Doors of London with photographer Cath Harries.

Melanie regularly contributes to national media, including The Times, The Telegraph, and The Daily Mail, as well as several history and lifestyle magazines, and appears regularly on television, radio and online media. She is also a regular speaker at events and festivals, as well as universities and history groups. Melanie is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the Royal Historical Society, and Associate Staff Member at the University of Dundee.