History

Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is truly a modern wonder of the world.

19 Oct 2026,·49 mins

Elizabeth I vs The Catholics: England’s Greatest Hero (Part 3)

Why is Sir Francis Drake enshrined as one of England’s greatest heroes?

20 Oct 2026,·71 mins

5. The Descent

A radical new look at how the Cambridge Five spies helped Stalin build his Red Empire.

23 Oct 2026,·14 mins

How Houdini Made Magic

10. Cement your legacy

Houdini’s untimely death sends shockwaves around the world and helps eternalise his fame

30 Oct 2026,·13 mins

History's Secret Heroes - Series 4

The Brothers Who Fought Mussolini

A band of Italian brothers fight fascism with pasta.

20 Oct 2026,·29 mins

John Dudley: Tudor England's Wicked Duke

Was John Dudley a villain, an opportunist, or Tudor England’s unlikely saviour?

20 Oct 2026,·42 mins

Evil Animals, Series 4

Crows

Are Crows - aka Seth Crowgans – evil or genius?

21 Oct 2026,·32 mins

Archive: Frederick Douglass

Misha Glenny selects a classic episode from the archive on Frederick Douglass

19 Oct 2026,·53 mins

A Tale of Blood and Ashes: The Exeter Vampires | Halloween Season

In 1800s America, something terrifying is feeding on the quiet town of Exeter.

16 Oct 2026,·36 mins

Where did the modern toilet come from?

The modern toilet is a technological marvel - where did it come from?

15 Oct 2026,·31 mins

The Mad Monk & the Witch Hunts

What was the Hammer of Witches?

20 Oct 2026,·46 mins

The Star Chamber: Murder, Witch & Libel Trials

What really happened inside England’s most feared court?

19 Oct 2026,·40 mins

Anne Bonny and Mary Read (Radio Edit)

Join Greg and his guests to learn about the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

16 Oct 2026,·28 mins

1853: At Home, Among Friends

1853, Düsseldorf. A young Johannes Brahms visits the home of Robert and Clara Schumann.

24 Oct 2026,·56 mins

Part Nine: Epilogue - 'Aberfan is different...'

55 years on, survivors of the disaster are looking to the future - as well as the past.

08 Dec 2021,·29 mins

Malta’s divorce referendum

In 2011, Maltese voters went to the polls to decide if divorce should be legalised

21 Oct 2026,·10 mins

Are teenagers ready for work?

A snapshot of how 15-year-olds are being prepared for work.

25 Oct 2026,·28 mins

3: Remembering

Experts call for a permanent memorial to remember the North East Witch Trial victims

31 Oct 2023,·12 mins

18th Century France's Most Outrageous Spy

Who was the real Chevalier d’Éon?

15 Oct 2026,·59 mins

3. High Art?

How false gods laid the cornerstones of Western civilisation.

08 Mar 2006,·30 mins

Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen

7. Vittorio Angelone's in his 20s

Can comedian Vittorio Angelone learn to like himself, after his tumultuous 20s?

02 Oct 2026,·15 mins

Tito Part 5: The Sun King

Tito becomes an international celebrity with a jet-set lifestyle.

15 Jul 2026,·56 mins

Lady on Trial

Ladies in Court

Lucy Worsley, Professor Rosalind Crone and barrister Nneka Akodulu KC discuss the cases.

18 Aug 2026,·28 mins

October 19th to October 25th

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

23 Oct 2026,·5 mins

6. By the Time You Get This Letter

Were their deaths, and these letters, their final creative collaboration?

08 Sep 2026,·42 mins

The chimpanzee who learned American sign language and monkeys in space

An hour of historical reporting told by the people who were there

17 Oct 2026,·60 mins

Real Vikings

10. 1066 and the Last Vikings

1066 ushers in the ultimate Norse showdown, bringing down the curtain on the Viking Age…

26 May 2026,·58 mins

Mel Giedroyc on Vera Gedroits

Famous guests pick someone they love or admire.

05 Oct 2026,·27 mins

The storied history of the Hackney Empire

Since opening in 1901, the Hackney Empire has hosted theatre, comedy and music.

13 Oct 2026,·13 mins

The Balkans

The Birth and Death of Yugoslavia

Misha Glenny returns to the Balkans to report on the birth and death of Yugoslavia.

13 Apr 2026,·42 mins