William Richard Henry Hanson (born 2 September 1989) is a British etiquette coach, author and podcast host. He is best known for his podcasts Help I Sexted My Boss, which he co-hosts with Jordan North. He also hosts The Luxury Podcast (formerly known as Keeping Up Appearances: The Luxury Podcast), which he co-hosts with Jonathan Vernon-Smith. Hanson is owner of The English Manner, an etiquette and protocol coaching company.
Contents
Early years and education
William Richard Henry Hanson was born on 2 September 1989 in Bristol, England. His father was a property developer and land agent, and his mother a retail manager at House of Fraser. He boarded at Clifton College, a public school in Bristol, from 1996 to 2008 before attending the University of Manchester from 2008 to 2011.
Career
Hanson joined The English Manner, an etiquette and protocol coaching company, in 2008. He became the owner of the company in 2019. Hanson has appeared on various news outlets as an etiquette coach, including an appearance as a mystery guest in a 2011 episode of Russell Howard's Good News. He is also credited as being an etiquette advisor on Red, White & Royal Blue (2023).
On 20 March 2018, Hanson, with co-host Jordan North, began the podcast Help I Sexted My Boss. In April 2024, one night of their live-show inspired by the podcast was thought to be the first British podcast to be live-streamed from the London Palladium and shown in British, Irish and European cinemas. In November 2019, he was a visiting lecturer at the Georgetown University in Qatar teaching etiquette.
On 11 February 2021, the Acast-hosted podcast The Luxury Podcast (previously called Keeping Up Appearances: The Luxury Podcast) began with co-host Jonathan Vernon-Smith; it has since released 114 episodes as of 12 August 2025.
In May 2026, it was announced that Hanson will be joining the cast of the musical Titanique as Ruth DeWitt Bukater for a six-week run in London's Criterion Theatre from 9 June 2026.
Hanson's first novel, A Fatal Forking, is set to be released on 20 May 2027.
Personal life
Hanson came out as gay at the age of 16. He married Michael Worrall on 16 September 2022.
Works
Books
Bluffer's Guide to Etiquette (2014), Bluffer's Guides, William Hanson
Bluffer's Guide to Entertaining: Instant Wit and Wisdom (2019), Bluffer's Guides, William Hanson
Protocol to Manage Relationships Today (2020), Amsterdam University Press, William Hanson and Jean Paul Wijers
Help I S*xted My Boss (2023), Century, William Hanson and Jordan North
Just Good Manners (2024), Century, William Hanson
Just Good Manners (2025), Gallery, William Hanson
Einfach Gute Manieren (2025), Riva, William Hanson
Le Guide - So british - des bonnes manières (2026), Albin Michel, William Hanson
A Fatal Forking (2027), William Hanson
Podcasts
Help I Sexted My Boss, (2018), William Hanson and Jordan North.
The Luxury Podcast (formerly known as Keeping Up Appearances: The Luxury Podcast), (2021), William Hanson and Jonathan Vernon-Smith.
Board games
Help I S*xted My Boss: The Official Party Game (2024), Lucky Egg