Main content

Witness History Episodes

  1. Today 16:00GMT
    BBC Radio 4

    The discovery of Mungo Man

    On 26 February 1974, Dr Jim Bowler discovered a 42,000-year-old skeleton in Australia.

  2. Tomorrow 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Surviving the Long March

    In 1935, thousands who had followed Mao Zedong on the Long March struggled to survive

  3. Tomorrow 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Surviving the Long March

    In 1935, thousands who had followed Mao Zedong on the Long March struggled to survive (R)

  4. Tomorrow 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Surviving the Long March

    In 1935, thousands who had followed Mao Zedong on the Long March struggled to survive (R)

  5. Tomorrow 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Surviving the Long March

    In 1935, thousands who had followed Mao Zedong on the Long March struggled to survive (R)

  6. Tuesday 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Surviving the Long March

    In 1935, thousands who had followed Mao Zedong on the Long March struggled to survive (R)

  7. Tuesday 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The 'moving' statue of Ballinspittle

    In 1985, reports of a moving Virgin Mary statue drew thousands to a small Irish village

  8. Tuesday 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The 'moving' statue of Ballinspittle

    In 1985, reports of a moving Virgin Mary statue drew thousands to a small Irish village (R)

  9. Tuesday 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    The 'moving' statue of Ballinspittle

    In 1985, reports of a moving Virgin Mary statue drew thousands to a small Irish village (R)

  10. Tuesday 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    The 'moving' statue of Ballinspittle

    In 1985, reports of a moving Virgin Mary statue drew thousands to a small Irish village (R)

  11. Wednesday 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    The 'moving' statue of Ballinspittle

    In 1985, reports of a moving Virgin Mary statue drew thousands to a small Irish village (R)

  12. Wednesday 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Bayeux Tapestry: the lost Nazi archive

    In 1994, a French curator helped recover documents thought lost since World War Two

  13. Wednesday 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Bayeux Tapestry: the lost Nazi archive

    In 1994, a French curator helped recover documents thought lost since World War Two (R)

  14. Wednesday 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Bayeux Tapestry: the lost Nazi archive

    In 1994, a French curator helped recover documents thought lost since World War Two (R)

  15. Wednesday 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Bayeux Tapestry: the lost Nazi archive

    In 1994, a French curator helped recover documents thought lost since World War Two (R)

  16. Thursday 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Bayeux Tapestry: the lost Nazi archive

    In 1994, a French curator helped recover documents thought lost since World War Two (R)

  17. Thursday 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The weather report that changed the date of D-Day

    In 1944, a weather report predicted a storm that changed the course of WW2 history

  18. Thursday 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The weather report that changed the date of D-Day

    In 1944, a weather report predicted a storm that changed the course of WW2 history (R)

  19. Thursday 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    The weather report that changed the date of D-Day

    In 1944, a weather report predicted a storm that changed the course of WW2 history (R)

  20. Thursday 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    The weather report that changed the date of D-Day

    In 1944, a weather report predicted a storm that changed the course of WW2 history (R)

  21. Friday 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    The weather report that changed the date of D-Day

    In 1944, a weather report predicted a storm that changed the course of WW2 history (R)

  22. Friday 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Firefighter: Surviving the 9/11 North Tower collapse

    On 11 September 2001, firefighter Jay Jonas was inside the North Tower when it collapsed.

  23. Friday 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Firefighter: Surviving the 9/11 North Tower collapse

    On 11 September 2001, firefighter Jay Jonas was inside the North Tower when it collapsed. (R)

  24. Friday 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Firefighter: Surviving the 9/11 North Tower collapse

    On 11 September 2001, firefighter Jay Jonas was inside the North Tower when it collapsed. (R)

  25. Friday 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Firefighter: Surviving the 9/11 North Tower collapse

    On 11 September 2001, firefighter Jay Jonas was inside the North Tower when it collapsed. (R)

  26. Next Saturday 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet & Europe and the Middle East only & Live News

    Firefighter: Surviving the 9/11 North Tower collapse

    On 11 September 2001, firefighter Jay Jonas was inside the North Tower when it collapsed. (R)

  27. Next Sunday 07:48GMT
    BBC Radio 4

    The discovery of Mungo Man

    On 26 February 1974, Dr Jim Bowler discovered a 42,000-year-old skeleton in Australia.

  28. Next Sunday 16:00GMT
    BBC Radio 4

    Jackie Kennedy renovates the White House

    In 1962, first lady Jackie Kennedy took the cameras on a tour of the restored White House.

  29. Next Monday 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Norway’s teacher resistance in World War Two

    During the Nazi occupation of Norway, the country’s teachers resisted teaching propaganda

  30. Next Monday 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Norway’s teacher resistance in World War Two

    During the Nazi occupation of Norway, the country’s teachers resisted teaching propaganda (R)

  31. Next Monday 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Norway’s teacher resistance in World War Two

    During the Nazi occupation of Norway, the country’s teachers resisted teaching propaganda (R)

  32. Next Monday 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Norway’s teacher resistance in World War Two

    During the Nazi occupation of Norway, the country’s teachers resisted teaching propaganda (R)

  33. Tue 15 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Norway’s teacher resistance in World War Two

    During the Nazi occupation of Norway, the country’s teachers resisted teaching propaganda (R)

  34. Tue 15 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Connecting homes to the internet using cable TV

    In 1991, Rouzbeh Yassini created technology enabling millions of homes to access the web

  35. Tue 15 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Connecting homes to the internet using cable TV

    In 1991, Rouzbeh Yassini created technology enabling millions of homes to access the web (R)

  36. Tue 15 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Connecting homes to the internet using cable TV

    In 1991, Rouzbeh Yassini created technology enabling millions of homes to access the web (R)

  37. Tue 15 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Connecting homes to the internet using cable TV

    In 1991, Rouzbeh Yassini created technology enabling millions of homes to access the web (R)

  38. Wed 16 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Connecting homes to the internet using cable TV

    In 1991, Rouzbeh Yassini created technology enabling millions of homes to access the web (R)

  39. Wed 16 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Stardust: Ireland's deadly nightclub fire

    In 1981, a fire in a Dublin nightclub killed 48 people

  40. Wed 16 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Stardust: Ireland's deadly nightclub fire

    In 1981, a fire in a Dublin nightclub killed 48 people (R)

  41. Wed 16 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Stardust: Ireland's deadly nightclub fire

    In 1981, a fire in a Dublin nightclub killed 48 people (R)

  42. Wed 16 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Stardust: Ireland's deadly nightclub fire

    In 1981, a fire in a Dublin nightclub killed 48 people (R)

  43. Thu 17 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Stardust: Ireland's deadly nightclub fire

    In 1981, a fire in a Dublin nightclub killed 48 people (R)

  44. Thu 17 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The birth of India's call centre industry

    Pramod Bhasin set up India’s first call centre in 1997

  45. Thu 17 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The birth of India's call centre industry

    Pramod Bhasin set up India’s first call centre in 1997 (R)

  46. Thu 17 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    The birth of India's call centre industry

    Pramod Bhasin set up India’s first call centre in 1997 (R)

  47. Thu 17 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    The birth of India's call centre industry

    Pramod Bhasin set up India’s first call centre in 1997 (R)

  48. Fri 18 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    The birth of India's call centre industry

    Pramod Bhasin set up India’s first call centre in 1997 (R)

  49. Fri 18 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The discovery of the San José shipwreck

    In 2015, the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks was found off the coast of Colombia

  50. Fri 18 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The discovery of the San José shipwreck

    In 2015, the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks was found off the coast of Colombia (R)

  51. Fri 18 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    The discovery of the San José shipwreck

    In 2015, the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks was found off the coast of Colombia (R)

  52. Fri 18 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    The discovery of the San José shipwreck

    In 2015, the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks was found off the coast of Colombia (R)

  53. Sat 19 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet & Europe and the Middle East only

    The discovery of the San José shipwreck

    In 2015, the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks was found off the coast of Colombia (R)

  54. Sun 20 Sep 2026 07:48GMT
    BBC Radio 4

    Jackie Kennedy renovates the White House

    In 1962, first lady Jackie Kennedy took the cameras on a tour of the restored White House.

  55. Sun 20 Sep 2026 16:00GMT
    BBC Radio 4

    Australia's first Big Thing

    In 1963, a giant sculpture of a Scotsman began one of the country's quirkiest phenomena.

  56. Mon 21 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  57. Mon 21 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  58. Mon 21 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  59. Mon 21 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  60. Tue 22 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  61. Tue 22 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  62. Tue 22 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  63. Tue 22 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  64. Tue 22 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  65. Wed 23 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  66. Wed 23 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  67. Wed 23 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  68. Wed 23 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  69. Wed 23 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  70. Thu 24 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  71. Thu 24 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  72. Thu 24 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  73. Thu 24 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  74. Thu 24 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  75. Fri 25 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  76. Fri 25 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  77. Fri 25 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  78. Fri 25 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  79. Fri 25 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  80. Sat 26 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet & Europe and the Middle East only

    Witness History

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  81. Mon 28 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    28/09/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  82. Mon 28 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    28/09/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  83. Mon 28 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    28/09/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  84. Mon 28 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    28/09/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  85. Tue 29 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    28/09/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  86. Tue 29 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Sulawesi's cave art and the origins of storytelling

    In 2012, rock art found in Indonesia challenged our understanding of human history

  87. Tue 29 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    Sulawesi's cave art and the origins of storytelling

    In 2012, rock art found in Indonesia challenged our understanding of human history (R)

  88. Tue 29 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    Sulawesi's cave art and the origins of storytelling

    In 2012, rock art found in Indonesia challenged our understanding of human history (R)

  89. Tue 29 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    Sulawesi's cave art and the origins of storytelling

    In 2012, rock art found in Indonesia challenged our understanding of human history (R)

  90. Wed 30 Sep 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    Sulawesi's cave art and the origins of storytelling

    In 2012, rock art found in Indonesia challenged our understanding of human history (R)

  91. Wed 30 Sep 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The contraceptive pill gets legalised in Japan

    In 1999, after decades of campaigning, the oral contraceptive was legalised in Japan

  92. Wed 30 Sep 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    The contraceptive pill gets legalised in Japan

    In 1999, after decades of campaigning, the oral contraceptive was legalised in Japan (R)

  93. Wed 30 Sep 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    The contraceptive pill gets legalised in Japan

    In 1999, after decades of campaigning, the oral contraceptive was legalised in Japan (R)

  94. Wed 30 Sep 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    The contraceptive pill gets legalised in Japan

    In 1999, after decades of campaigning, the oral contraceptive was legalised in Japan (R)

  95. Thu 1 Oct 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    The contraceptive pill gets legalised in Japan

    In 1999, after decades of campaigning, the oral contraceptive was legalised in Japan (R)

  96. Thu 1 Oct 2026 07:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    01/10/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there.

  97. Thu 1 Oct 2026 11:50GMT
    BBC World Service

    01/10/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  98. Thu 1 Oct 2026 17:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa

    01/10/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  99. Thu 1 Oct 2026 21:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only

    01/10/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)

  100. Fri 2 Oct 2026 02:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa

    01/10/2026 GMT

    The story of our times told by the people who were there. (R)