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.
Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.
When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs, from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015, to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.
You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal's worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.
And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.
If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
Miguel Angel Blanco
Wed 18 Jul 2012
How the killing of a young Basque councillor sparked huge anti-ETA protests in Spain.
-
![]()
The Murder of Versace
Tue 17 Jul 2012
In July 1997 the Italian fashion designer, Gianni Versace, was shot dead.
-
![]()
New York Blackout
Mon 16 Jul 2012
It is 35 years since the streets of the Big Apple were plunged into darkness.
-
![]()
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Fri 13 Jul 2012
How working with Paul Simon made South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo global stars.
-
![]()
Bush House in wartime
Thu 12 Jul 2012
The BBC World Service is leaving Bush House in central London after 70 years there.
-
![]()
Irving T Bush - Builder of Bush House
Wed 11 Jul 2012
The story of the American businessman who built the home of the BBC World Service.
-
![]()
Angola Mercenaries
Tue 10 Jul 2012
In July 1976 four foreign mercenaries were executed for their part in Angola's civil war.
-
![]()
-
![]()
London suicide bombings
Fri 6 Jul 2012
On 7 July 2005, London was thrown into chaos by four bomb attacks.
-
![]()
Algerian independence
Thu 5 Jul 2012
It is 50 years since the end of French colonial rule in Algeria.
-
![]()
The Muslim Brotherhood - Hassan al-Banna
Wed 4 Jul 2012
Egypt now has a president from the Muslim Brotherhood - hear how it started 84 years ago.
-
![]()
Mass Wedding in New York City
Tue 3 Jul 2012
In 1982 4,000 people got married in a mass blessing carried out by Reverend Sun Myung Moon
-
![]()
The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart
Mon 2 Jul 2012
In July 1937 the female flyer disappeared in her plane somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.
-
![]()
Hong Kong Handover
Fri 29 Jun 2012
In 1997 Hong Kong was handed back to China after 150 years of British rule.
-
![]()
Bomber Command
Thu 28 Jun 2012
During World War II, Allied bombing raids brought death and destruction to German cities.
-
![]()
Shakespeare's Globe
Wed 27 Jun 2012
It is 15 years since a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theatre was opened in London.
-
![]()
The football war
Tue 26 Jun 2012
It is over 40 years since a brief but bloody war between Honduras and El Salvador.
-
![]()
Anne Frank's Diary
Mon 25 Jun 2012
In June 1947 the diary of Anne Frank was published for the very first time.
-
![]()
Perestroika
Fri 22 Jun 2012
Reform in the Soviet Union, known as perestroika, was launched 25 years ago in 1987.
-
![]()
France under Nazi occupation
Thu 21 Jun 2012
A Frenchwoman remembers life under Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
-
![]()
The Berlin airlift
Wed 20 Jun 2012
In June 1948 Soviet troops cut supply lines around West Berlin in Germany.
-
![]()
Dadaab refugee camp
Tue 19 Jun 2012
The biggest refugee camp in the world was established 21 years ago.
-
![]()
The death of Roberto Calvi
Mon 18 Jun 2012
On June 18, 1982 an Italian banker was found dead in mysterious circumstances in London.
-
![]()
James Joyce and Ulysses
Fri 15 Jun 2012
It is 90 years since one of the most influential novels of the 20th century was published.
-
![]()
The end of the Falklands conflict
Thu 14 Jun 2012
Thirty years ago the war ended between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
-
![]()
President Karzai of Afghanistan
Wed 13 Jun 2012
It is 10 years since Hamid Karzai was first appointed as interim President of Afghanistan.
-
![]()
Rudolf Nureyev defects
Tue 12 Jun 2012
It is over 50 years since the great Russian ballet dancer left the Soviet Union for good.
-
![]()
The Pentagon Papers
Mon 11 Jun 2012
The man behind one of the most important security breaches in US history tells his story.
-
![]()
Robert Kennedy's Funeral Train
Fri 8 Jun 2012
How Americans lined the route of Senator Robert Kennedy's funeral train in 1968.
-
![]()
Pollard Spy Case
Thu 7 Jun 2012
It's 26 years since an American intelligence analyst admitted selling secrets to Israel.
