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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Inventing Play-Doh
Tue 23 Dec 2025
In 1956, one of the world’s most beloved children’s toys went on sale for the first time
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The first television opera
Fri 19 Dec 2025
In 1951, the first opera ever composed specifically for TV was broadcast
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When Laurel and Hardy spent Christmas at an English pub
Thu 18 Dec 2025
In 1953, the comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy spent a few weeks at the Bull Inn
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When Norway introduced salmon sushi to Japan
Wed 17 Dec 2025
In the late 1980s, Norway was looking for a new market to sell its salmon
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India's disability law
Tue 16 Dec 2025
In 1995, the first disability rights legislation was passed by India's parliament
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How NFL tickets caught fugitives
Mon 15 Dec 2025
When Washington DC's most wanted were captured under the guise of winning NFL tickets
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Dismaland: Banksy's dystopian theme park
Sun 14 Dec 2025
In 2015, the street artist transformed a derelict pool into a dystopian ‘bemusement park’
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The Paris climate agreement
Fri 12 Dec 2025
In 2015, nearly 200 countries adopted the Paris climate agreement
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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa
Thu 11 Dec 2025
When Apartheid was abolished, South Africans had to find a way to confront their past
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The discovery of the coelacanth
Wed 10 Dec 2025
In 1938, a fish was found that was believed to have been extinct for 65 million years
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The Balcombe Street IRA siege
Mon 8 Dec 2025
In December 1975, four IRA gunmen took a couple hostage leading to a six-day siege
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How Lagos Fashion Week began
Fri 5 Dec 2025
In 2011, the event debuted, putting Nigerian style on the map
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Wole Soyinka: Imprisoned during Nigeria’s Biafra war
Thu 4 Dec 2025
In 1967, Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka was jailed following his efforts to avert civil war
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Escaping Nigeria's Biafra war
Wed 3 Dec 2025
In 1967, the south-east region of Nigeria declared itself the independent state of Biafra
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Building the New Afrika Shrine in Nigeria
Tue 2 Dec 2025
The opening of the 'spiritual home of Afrobeat' in 2000
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West Africa fights back against Boko Haram
Mon 1 Dec 2025
In 2015, a coalition of West African countries fought back against a caliphate in Nigeria
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Ravi and George
Fri 28 Nov 2025
In 1967, Ravi Shankar taught the ‘quiet Beatle’ George Harrison how to play the sitar
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India goes to the UN
Thu 27 Nov 2025
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit led India’s first delegation to the United Nations
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The Howard Hughes literary hoax
Wed 26 Nov 2025
In 1971 a conman fooled publishers with a fake autobiography of billionaire Howard Hughes
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Colombia's Salt Cathedral
Tue 25 Nov 2025
In 1995, a cathedral was built 180m underground in the Zipaquirá Salt Mine
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Toy Story: the first digitally-animated feature film
Mon 24 Nov 2025
The box-office hit started a shift away from hand-drawn cartoons
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The Spanish king reclaims his throne
Thu 20 Nov 2025
In 1975 Juan Carlos reclaimed the Spanish throne after 36 years of Franco’s dictatorship
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The death of Franco
Wed 19 Nov 2025
In 1975, General Francisco Franco died, ending 36 years of dictatorship over Spain
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Angela Merkel suspends EU asylum rules in 2015
Tue 18 Nov 2025
In August 2015, Germany suspended asylum rules amid a steep rise in migration to Europe
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Reagan and Gorbachev: The Geneva Summit
Mon 17 Nov 2025
In 1985, US President Ronald Reagan met Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Switzerland
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When Maldives' ministers met underwater
Fri 14 Nov 2025
In 2009, ministers from the Maldives held the first underwater cabinet meeting
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Bataclan attack in Paris
Thu 13 Nov 2025
On 13 November 2015, 90 people were shot dead at the Bataclan theatre in France
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Prosecuting Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials
Wed 12 Nov 2025
Eighty years ago, in the aftermath of World War Two, a major war crimes trial took place