Things We Forgot to Remember

Michael Portillo presents a series revisiting the great moments of history to discover that they often conceal other events of equal but forgotten importance

Radio 4,25 episodes

Episodes

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Series 8
Magna Carta Barons' French Invasion
How the barons responsible for Magna Carta also aided a second French invasion of England.
28 May 2012,28 mins
Series 8
Morgenthau Plan and post-war Germany
Michael Portillo remembers the Morgenthau Plan, drawn up to punish post-war Germany.
04 Jun 2012,28 mins
Series 8
The Georgian Facade
Michael Portillo discovers the Georgian period was not as elegant as we tend to believe.
11 Jun 2012,28 mins
Series 8
The Junkers of Woodbridge Airfield
Michael Portillo remembers a crucial 1944 incident that impacted on the war.
18 Jun 2012,28 mins
Series 7
The Real Boston Tea Party, 1773
Michael Portillo uncovers a tale of smuggling and corruption.
13 Nov 2011,30 mins
Series 7
Police Strike
Michael Portillo discovers riots on the streets in forgotten police strikes of 1918-19.
20 Nov 2011,30 mins
Series 7
French Resistance
Michael Portillo explores how the legend of the French Resistance blurred its real legacy.
27 Nov 2011,30 mins
Series 7
The English Armada
Michael Portillo discovers the story of Sir Francis Drake and the English Armada.
04 Dec 2011,30 mins
Series 6
King Harold
Michael Portillo looks again at Harold, the last of the Saxon Kings.
15 Nov 2010,30 mins
Series 6
Jesse Owens and the Nazi Olympics
Michael Portillo revisits the Berlin Olympics of 1936.
22 Nov 2010,30 mins
Series 6
3. The Violent Side of Indian Independence
Michael Portillo revisits the Indian struggle for independence.
29 Nov 2010,30 mins
Series 6
The Great Depression in the USA
Michael Portillo compares the myths and reality of America's Great Depression.
06 Dec 2010,30 mins
Series 5
Joan of Arc
The myth and reality of Joan of Arc, and the other Frenchwoman who did more to save France
07 Dec 2009,28 mins
Series 5
Chamberlain and 'Peace for our Time' 1938
Michael examines Neville Chamberlain's 1938 declaration of 'peace for our time'.
14 Dec 2009,30 mins
Series 5
The Hanseatic League
Michael explores the Hanseatic League, a precursor to modern ideas of European free trade.
21 Dec 2009,30 mins
Series 5
The Glorious Revolution
Michael Portillo reconsiders the uncomfortable facts behind The Glorious Revolution.
28 Dec 2009,28 mins
Series 4
The Jarrow March
Michael Portillo uncovers a violent precursor to the dignified 1936 Jarrow March.
01 Dec 2008,28 mins
Series 4
The League of Nations
The successful, but forgotten, interventions made by the much-maligned League of Nations.
15 Dec 2008,28 mins
Series 4
Alfred the Great
Michael Portillo investigates Alfred the Great - English hero or Saxon spin-doctor?
22 Dec 2008,28 mins
Series 3
On Suffragettes
Parts of the Suffragette movement's history have been conveniently forgotten.
24 Dec 2007,30 mins
Series 3
The Darien Scheme
The real reason behind the 1707 Act of Union which saw England and Scotland merged.
31 Dec 2007,30 mins
Series 2
Jack the Ripper
Michael Portillo investigates the fear Londoners felt in the late 1880s.
15 Apr 2007,30 mins
Series 2
First World War
Michael tells the story of battles fought in the last 100 days of the war.
22 Apr 2007,30 mins
Series 2
The 1945 Labour Government
4/4. Michael Portillo scrutinises the reputation of the 1945 Labour Government.
06 May 2007,30 mins
Series 2
Magna Carta
Michael Portillo examines overlooked but noteworthy historical events. 3/4: Magna Carta.
29 Apr 2007,30 mins