History

The Spanish-American War 1898

How a war that began in Cuba saw the US acquire the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico.

02 Apr 2026,·42 mins

The Mad Mystic and the Last Battle on English Soil - with Ian Breckon

As the Victorian era dawns, modernisation erodes the old ways of life and poverty rises.

03 Apr 2026,·42 mins

Real Vikings

2. Ragnar Lothbrok and the Siege of Paris

Charlemagne launches a Christian crusade against the heathens on his northern border.

31 Mar 2026,·49 mins

Emperor Nero (Radio Edit)

Join Greg and his guests in ancient Rome to learn all about Emperor Nero.

03 Apr 2026,·28 mins

Brigitte Bardot

Is the screen siren evil or a genius?

01 Apr 2026,·37 mins

Women's Football

After a catastrophic FA ban in 1921, how did the women’s game rise from the ashes?

03 Apr 2026,·45 mins

Joan of Arc: For Fear of the Flames (Part 4)

Tom and Dominic discuss the terrible culmination of the life of Joan of Arc.

03 Apr 2026,·58 mins

1150: Songs of the Troubadours

In the 1150s, the King of the Troubadours meets Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.

04 Apr 2026,·56 mins

What are the Balkans?

Misha Glenny returns to the Balkans, powder keg of eastern Europe.

30 Mar 2026,·42 mins

Commanders: Yamamoto

How did the mastermind of Pearl Harbour hasten Japan’s downfall?

02 Apr 2026,·58 mins

Matta Ballesteros Part 1: The Faceless Phantom

In 1981, a raid throws up clues that point US agents towards a Honduran cocaine chemist.

01 Apr 2026,·39 mins

Israel and the Palestinians

10: From 2010 to the present day

Jonny Dymond and guests explore the complicated back-story of the Middle East conflict.

13 Apr 2026,·28 mins

What are the Balkans?

Misha Glenny returns to the powder keg of Europe, Sarajevo in Bosnia

03 Apr 2026,·41 mins

Road Ghosts

Nat examines two road ghost encounters, and a miraculous incident with a ghost...

30 Mar 2026,·52 mins

Al Capone and the Valentine's Day Massacre

Find out how the massacre played out.

02 Apr 2026,·37 mins

Portmeirion

It's 100 years since the village of Portmeirion opened in Wales.

15 Oct 2003,·30 mins

Rose Heilbron QC and The Cameo Murder

Can the first woman to lead a murder case in England prove herself in court?

31 Mar 2026,·28 mins

Series 4

60. True Crime on Trial

Lucy Worsley puts true crime on trial and asks are we so obsessed with true crime?

17 Feb 2026,·28 mins

The President's Path: Trump’s address over the Iran war

What the president said and didn’t say in his address over the Iran war

03 Apr 2026,·22 mins

How filthy were the Victorians?

Were the Victorians as grimy as we imagine?

31 Mar 2026,·40 mins

Charles II: Restoration of the Monarchy

An in-depth exploration of the life and times of the Merry Monarch Charles II

23 Mar 2026,·57 mins

The first commercially successful electronic cigarette

In May 2004, pharmacist Hon Lik's vape went on sale in China

03 Apr 2026,·10 mins

How Reading Made Us

3. How Reading Made Our Politics

Did reading create democracy? And what does it mean for our politics if reading dies out?

23 Mar 2026,·42 mins

6. Moral Courage

Diane Foley must decide whether to face a man linked to her son’s murder - or not.

10 Feb 2026,·31 mins

March 30th to April 5th

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.

01 Apr 2026,·5 mins

The discovery of the Terra Nova shipwreck and Echo the elephant

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History episodes

04 Apr 2026,·60 mins

What to listen to next: Cautionary Tales

We're bringing you a listening recommendation.

23 Mar 2026,·43 mins

'Fan man' crashes heavyweight championship

In November 1993, a highly anticipated boxing match turned into a strange spectacle

04 Apr 2026,·10 mins

Power to The People: Rewiring Britain

Douglas Fraser explores the scale and the challenges of rewiring Britain's national grid.

30 Mar 2026,·28 mins

Slumlord: The murky world of Peter Rachman

A new book paints a portrait of the man at the heart of London's post-war underworld.

04 Apr 2026,·16 mins