Also on this day

Mother Teresa arrives in Calcutta to work among India’s poor shortly after the marriage was annulled. The tangled life of Henry VIII is a must-learn subject for any Chaser. So here we go.

Henry married Catherine of Aragon, then annulled the match after 23 years when she failed to produce a living male heir (their daughter, Mary, went on to be queen). The split brought about England’s schism with the Catholic church.

Next was Anne Boleyn, who lasted nearly three years before being beheaded for treason. She hadn’t produced a male heir (although daughter Elizabeth would go on to be one of our greatest monarchs). Third was Jane Seymour; she died shortly after giving birth to Edward, Henry’s longed-for heir. They had barely been married a year. Anne of Cleves was next, a seven-month stint, followed by Catherine Howard, a teenage bride. She was beheaded 16 months after the wedding, accused of adultery (equating to treason). Finally Catherine Parr, who managed to remain married until Henry’s death in 1547.

And Anne, too plain for a king? She outlived him by 10 years and was the last wife to die. “Generous and easy going”, she left money to her servants, even asking Mary and Elizabeth to employ them. She lies in Westminster Abbey.

Last week I asked which English poet and author was born in India on December 30, 1865? The answer is Rudyard Kipling. This week: Which comedian who starred in Not The Nine O’Clock News was born this day in 1955?

Watch Shaun and his colleagues on The Chase on ITV at 5pm every day of the week