Titan's Venus of Urbino is just one of a number of Renaissance masterpieces that celebrate the beauty of the female form. But who were the women who modelled for such a painting? In an age where the Church demanded celibacy but turned a blind eye to chastity, and where rich high class men married late to virginal women they were not expected to be faithful to, where did all the male desire go? The answer, in cities like Rome and Venice, was the birth of courtesan culture: women as cultured, clever and fashionable as they were lovely. This lecture names names and tells stories, with wonderful images to match.

If you think of St Pancras International or New York Grand Central Terminus you imagine long romantic journeys. You know they are special places promising excitement and adventure. But there are dozens of other glorious stations in the UK and overseas. We will take a journey around some of the most evocative and splendid stations in the world. We will look not only at the magnificence of the architecture and brilliant engineering but will also discover numerous artworks within the stations and examine many depictions of stations in art- like Claude Monet's  Gare St Lazard or William Powell Frith's Paddington.It may sound a bit anoraky, but it's definitely not.

Mr Punch-the most puppet character of all time. His comical irreverence gave ' Punch' magazine its title. His anarchic vitality has inspired opera, ballet and punk rock and his enduring popularity has seen his likeness on goods ranging from Victorian silverware to computer video games. Appearing in England in1662, Punch is descended from the Italian Clown Pulcinella of the 15th century Commedia Del'Arte tradition. Even today This Lord of Misrule uses his slapstick to dispense with oppressive authority,be it politicians, political Correctness or the devil, while proclaiming his notorious refrain;' That's the way to do it!'

Not exclusively about the famous film genre but a revealing and often moving look at the lives of two much loved actors, Carry On star Peter Butterworth, and his wife, Britain's first female TV impressionist Janet Brown, best known for her impression of Mrs Thatcher.