Witness History Podcast
History told by the people who were there. For nine minutes every weekday, Witness History takes you back to moments which have shaped our world.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.
For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.
We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.
You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
El Salvador killings
Thu 2 Dec 2010
On December 2nd 1980 the military in El Salvador killed 3 US nuns, and a layworker.
-
![]()
Channel Tunnel
Wed 1 Dec 2010
The moment of breakthrough for the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France
-
![]()
Tomb of Tutankhamun
Tue 30 Nov 2010
In late November 1922 the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun, was uncovered
-
![]()
Inca defeat
Mon 29 Nov 2010
How the great Inca empire was brought to its knees - almost 500 years ago.
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
Afghan Prison Massacre
Wed 24 Nov 2010
The story of the bloody suppression of an uprising by Taliban prisoners in an Afghan jail
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
Greek Student Protest 1973
Wed 17 Nov 2010
The story of the Greek military junta's brutal suppression of a student protest in 1973
-
![]()
-
![]()
Coventry blitz
Mon 15 Nov 2010
It is 70 years since the German bombing of Coventry destroyed much of the UK city.
-
![]()
-
![]()
Barack Obama's Indonesian childhood
Wed 10 Nov 2010
As President Obama visits Indonesia, Witness takes you back to his childhood there
-
![]()
-
![]()
Suez canal invasion 1956
Mon 8 Nov 2010
In November 1956 Britain and France invaded Egypt - to regain control of the Suez canal
-
![]()
-
![]()
Rabin Assassination
Thu 4 Nov 2010
It is exactly 15 years since the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.
-
![]()
The Mississippi Burning Case
Wed 4 Aug 2010
Three civil rights workers are killed in Mississippi while taking part in Freedom Summer
-
![]()
Soweto Uprising
Wed 16 Jun 2010
Schoolchildren protest against Afrikaans as the language of instruction in South Africa
-
![]()
Petula Clark touches Harry Belafonte's arm
Fri 9 Apr 2010
In 1968, when Petula Clark touched Harry Belafonte's arm, it made US TV history
-
![]()
Surviving Robben Island
Thu 11 Feb 2010
Ahmed Kathrada's time in prison alongside Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, South Africa
-
![]()
The Rivonia Trial
Wed 10 Feb 2010
In 1964, Nelson Mandela was put on trial for treason with seven other ANC activists
