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
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Iraq War: US security guards killed my son
Fri 17 Mar 2023
In 2007, private US Blackwater security guards opened fire on Iraqi civilians
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Iraq War: The capture of Saddam Hussein
Thu 16 Mar 2023
On 13 December 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by United States forces
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Iraq War: 'Most wanted' playing cards
Wed 15 Mar 2023
In April 2003, playing cards were given to US troops to help them identify Iraqi targets
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Iraq War: Refugees escaping
Tue 14 Mar 2023
In March 2003, millions of citizens tried to flee Iraq after the US invasion began
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Iraq War: The beginning
Mon 13 Mar 2023
In March 2003, the Iraq War began as the United States bombed the capital, Baghdad
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Monica McWilliams’ role in the Northern Ireland peace process
Thu 9 Mar 2023
Monica McWilliams played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process
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First all-women peacekeeping unit
Wed 8 Mar 2023
In 2007, the UN deployed its first all-female contingent of peacekeepers in Liberia
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Mexico's first female presidential hopeful
Tue 7 Mar 2023
In 1982, Rosario Ibarra became the first woman to stand for president in Mexico
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Octavia E. Butler: Visionary black sci-fi writer
Mon 6 Mar 2023
She received numerous Hugos and Nebulas - top writing prizes for sci-fi writing
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Zoran Djindjic: The murder of Serbia's prime minister
Fri 3 Mar 2023
In 2003, Serbia's prime minister was assassinated in Belgrade
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The museum at the end of the world
Thu 2 Mar 2023
In 1992, a zoologist opened one of the world's most remote museums, on an Atlantic island
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Grenada's underwater sculpture park
Wed 1 Mar 2023
In 2004, Jason deCaires Taylor built the worlds first underwater gallery in Grenada
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Pink Triangles: Gay men in Nazi concentration camps
Tue 28 Feb 2023
In 2009, Rudolf Brazda returned to the former concentration camp he was in for being gay
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Wounded Knee siege
Mon 27 Feb 2023
Fifty years ago, indigenous American activists staged a protest against the US authorities
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When the Queen 'jumped out of a helicopter'
Fri 24 Feb 2023
For the 2012 London Olympic Games the Queen appeared to jump out of a helicopter
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Families interned in WW2 China
Thu 23 Feb 2023
A first-hand account of being sent to a Japanese internment camp in Shanghai as a child
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The invention of Semtex
Wed 22 Feb 2023
In 1958, Stanislav Brebera invented Semtex, a malleable and odourless plastic explosive
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Seggae riots in Mauritius
Tue 21 Feb 2023
Mauritian musician Kaya, died in police custody on 21 February 1999, sparking rioting
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Battle for the capital: Bonn v Berlin
Mon 20 Feb 2023
In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and Germany decided which city would be the new capital
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First winter ascent of Everest
Fri 17 Feb 2023
On 17 February 1980, the first people climbed Everest in winter
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Discovering Tutankhamun’s tomb
Thu 16 Feb 2023
In 1923 the sealed burial chamber of Tutankhamun was opened for the first time
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'I developed Pokémon'
Wed 15 Feb 2023
In February 1996, gamers in Japan were first introduced to Pokémon
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First Danish queen for 600 years
Tue 14 Feb 2023
In 1972, Denmark crowned its first queen in 600 years
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'Hot Autumn': When Italy’s workers revolted
Mon 13 Feb 2023
In 1969, Italy erupted as thousands of workers went on strike
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'I told the world Pope Benedict XVI was resigning'
Fri 10 Feb 2023
The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
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The Pope and Jews
Thu 9 Feb 2023
In April 1986, Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to a Rome synagogue
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Pope John Paul I’s sudden death
Wed 8 Feb 2023
Cardinal Albino Luciani became Pope John Paul I in 1978. He died 33 days later
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Reforming the Catholic Church with Vatican II
Tue 7 Feb 2023
In 1959, Pope John XXIII announced a council of all the world's bishops and cardinals
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How a Pope is chosen
Mon 6 Feb 2023
After the death of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI
