History

Nancy Reagan

Is the former First Lady Evil, or Genius?

15 Apr 2026,·37 mins

Real Vikings

4. The Wild East: Rise of the Rus

A Viking state is established - the Rus. It comes with a fearsome matriarch, Olga of Kyiv…

14 Apr 2026,·46 mins

The American Civil War, Part 2 of 2

What would it take to resolve the bloodiest conflict ever fought on American soil?

13 Apr 2026,·54 mins

Revolution in Iran: The Hostage Crisis (Part 3)

Join Dominic and Tom for the climax of the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis.

14 Apr 2026,·70 mins

Episode 2

Ali Ansari continues his Persian grand tour from 3000 BC to the present.

02 Jul 2026,·28 mins

M.C. Escher

The graphic artist's amazing paradoxical world, and the interplay between maths and art.

16 Apr 2026,·42 mins

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

Felix Gallardo Part 1: The Mexican Godfather

Felix Gallardo is a deadly spider at the centre of a web of corruption.

15 Apr 2026,·36 mins

The Real Peaky Blinders

The gritty, complex reality of the Peaky Blinders.

16 Apr 2026,·37 mins

Haunted Pubs

Nat explores haunted pubs from Biggleswade.

13 Apr 2026,·68 mins

Alistair McGowan on HE Bates

Impressionist, poet and comedian Alistair McGowan on author HE Bates

13 Apr 2026,·28 mins

1182: Raising Notre-Dame

The year is 1182. Notre-Dame de Paris is consecrated, and new musical ideas are born.

11 Apr 2026,·56 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

Renaissance Medicine (Radio Edit)

Join Greg and his guests to learn all about medicine in Tudor and Stuart England.

10 Apr 2026,·28 mins

The Lovestruck Explorer's Deadly Guessing Game

Robert O'Hara Burke plans an expedition to map the mysterious blank in Australia.

10 Apr 2026,·37 mins

History's Worst Breakups | Lord Byron vs. Lady Lamb

Was this the most fiery breakup in history?

14 Apr 2026,·57 mins

April 13th to April 19th

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

15 Apr 2026,·5 mins

Series 2

Perfectionists: Martha Graham

Martha Graham was to modern dance what Picasso was to painting.

16 Jan 2026,·14 mins

Queen Anne: The Last Stuart Monarch

Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb sets the record straight about one of Britain's least known queens

13 Apr 2026,·39 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

The introduction of Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia

On 24 June 2005, the first Sharia law public caning took place in Indonesia

16 Apr 2026,·10 mins

About the Girls: The Puberty Puzzle

Laura Foster asks why puberty is arriving earlier and what this silent shift could mean.

12 Apr 2026,·28 mins

The Dark Truth about Wuthering Heights

How did the daughter of a clergyman create such a violent and passionate story?

09 Apr 2026,·33 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 2

Ripley and Heanor News, 2 July 1948

James Naughtie explores the history of the Amber Valley through front page small ads.

03 Sep 2019,·14 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

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

What to listen to next: Cautionary Tales

We're bringing you a listening recommendation.

23 Mar 2026,·43 mins

International football's biggest ever beating: 31-0

In 2001, the island nation of American Samoa took on Australia in a World Cup qualifier

11 Apr 2026,·10 mins

Hitler’s teeth and the Leaning Tower of Pisa

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

11 Apr 2026,·60 mins