AN archaeologist was heard on the national airwaves to help settle a debate on an important historical figure and debunk a few myths.

Phillip Crummy of the Colchester Archaeological Trust appeared on Simon Mayo’s BBC Radio Two drive time programme on Wednesday after listeners were debating the pronunciation of the leader of the British Iceni tribe Boadecia.

Mr Crummy was phoned out of the blue by the radio host and said the call was a big surprise.

He said: “I have not got a clue how it came about – he just phoned up.

“The programme contains a section where phone in with questions and they ask an expert to try and answer them.”

Mr Crummy explained to the audience the various spellings and pronunciations would have come from people copying from other texts and making slight spelling mistakes.

He also explained that characteristics such as Boadecia having fiery red hair and single handily flayed the Romans.

He said: “I gave them the accepted answer that it came from people copying each other and letters morphing into different ones in texts.

“I think they really wanted someone with more orthodox views to mine where as perhaps I am a little unorthodox.

“If you ask any historian they would probably tell you that the accepted description probably isn’t correct.”