History Behind the Headlines Trailer
Our new monthly series explores the historical stories hitting the headlines – and the way in which the past informs today’s world. To access this [Read more]
History Extra podcast
Is black history still being overlooked?
As the UK marks Black History Month, three expert historians discuss whether the focus on black history sparked by 2020’s global protests has been maintained
Cat history: everything you wanted to know
From cats that were sent to the frontline to the creatures’ connections with witchcraft, Dr Andrew Flack answers listener questions about the history of our feline friends
The Huxleys: how one family shaped our view of nature
Alison Bashford discusses the Huxley family – a dynasty of pioneering natural scientists and thinkers
Great Reputations: Gandhi
In the latest in our series charting the contested reputations of key historical figures, Vikram Visana and Jad Adams discuss the life and legacy of Indian politician and activist Mahatma Gandhi
The Cultural Revolution: a Chinese catastrophe
Tania Branigan discusses the devastating impact of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, and its resonances in China today
The brutal WW2 battle for Italy
James Holland discusses the bloody 1943 Italian campaign that saw the Allies take on Nazi Germany in one of the most ferocious fights of the war
David Mitchell on a new history of England’s monarchy
Comedian, actor and writer David Mitchell discusses his new book on England’s monarchy, offering a fresh take on centuries of kings and queens
Archaeology’s golden age: everything you wanted to know
Hélène Maloigne answers listener questions about one of most exciting periods in the history of archaeology, from glittering discoveries to colonialism and the ethics of excavation
One day in the British empire
Matthew Parker charts what was happening across the British empire at its territorial height on 29 September 1923