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PODCAST

History"s Heroes

Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for tales of deception, resistance and courage in History"s Secret Heroes Series 4.History"s Heroes: the BBC"s breathtaking, high stakes, story-led history podcast feed that shines a light on extraordinary people from across history. Series include "History"s Heroes" with narration from Historian Alex von Tunzelmann, "History"s Toughest Heroes" with narration from Ray Winstone, "History"s Youngest Heroes"

history documentary

All Episodes

29:13

The Sisters Who Took On A Dictator

History"s Heroes ·

2026/01/13

At the height of a vicious regime in the Dominican Republic, Minerva Mirabal and her sisters risk everything to liberate their nation. How would their actions help topple the dictator Rafael Trujillo?Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Michael LaPointeWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning

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28:32

Charles Dickens and the Train Crash

History"s Heroes ·

2026/01/06

In June 1865, the writer Charles Dickens was sitting in the first-class carriage of a train when it crashed outside of Kent. The horrific accident would require all his courage and threaten to reveal his most closely guarded secret.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Michael LaPointeWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive

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2:25

History's Heroes Trailer

History"s Heroes ·

2025/12/23

Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.

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29:41

History's Toughest Heroes: William Marshal: The...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/12/16

At the age of 70, does England’s greatest knight still have what it takes to save the realm from invasion?In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.The young Sir William Marshal was handsome, charming, captain of the England Tourney team a sporting hero and right-hand man to many a king of England including Henry the Young King, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart and Bad King John. He was a brilliant rider and very

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28:09

History's Toughest Heroes: Ida B. Wells and the Red...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/12/09

With lynchings of Black Americans on the rise, a reporter begins documenting the crimes, sending her on a dangerous journey through the violence of the Jim Crow South.In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.After a humiliating standoff with a train conductor in the American South, the young Ida B Wells decided to make a stand. Racism was rife, and Lynchings of Black people were increasingly common. A talented

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28:46

History's Toughest Heroes: The Ballad of Crazy Horse

History"s Heroes ·

2025/12/02

When European American settlers begin displacing the indigenous Lakota from their ancestral lands, one enigmatic warrior refuses to surrender. He gathers his people for an epic standoff with the military.In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.In the depths of the Wild West Crazy, when tensions between Native American tribes and the US military were running high and native people were losing their lives, their

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28:22

History's Toughest Heroes: Margery Kempe: Ministry of...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/11/25

Margery Kempe always tells it like it is. But in Medieval England, such straight-talking can get a woman killed...In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.Born in Kings Lynne in around 1373, Margery Kempe was destined for a typical medieval life. But after the birth of her first child, and a terrifying nine months of diabolical visons of the devil and hell which meant she was tied to the bed for her own safety,

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28:35

History's Toughest Heroes: Henry Johnson: Hellfighter

History"s Heroes ·

2025/11/18

A Black soldier from the American South makes headlines when he fights off an entire German party in World War One. But his fame comes at a price.In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.Growing up in as a Black man in North Carolina, where racism was enshrined in law and lynchings were horrifyingly common, Henry Johnson didn't have much hope for a bright future. He moved to Albany New York and when America

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28:29

History's Toughest Heroes: Hugh Glass: The Real Story...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/11/11

The real-life Revenant who survived a savage bear mauling and crawled hundreds of miles across the American plains to confront the scoundrels who abandoned him.In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.Immortalised by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2015 blockbuster movie, the real-life Hugh Glass is still a bit of a mystery. This fur trapper and great mountain man of the Wild West became famous in his own lifetime

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28:56

History's Toughest Heroes: Constance Bulwer-Lytton:...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/11/04

Constance Lytton was raised an aristocrat. But when she wakes up to women's suffrage, she goes undercover in solidarity, joining her working-class comrades in prison and staging a series of dangerous hunger strikes.In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.As a lady, and part of the English upper-crust, when Constance Lytton was arrested for her involvement in the women's suffrage movement, she was given special

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29:11

History's Toughest Heroes: Robert Smalls: Last Chance...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/10/28

For an enslaved man like Robert Smalls during the American Civil War, there was only way out of Charleston: through the harbour and past hostile Confederate forts. He just needed a ship...In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.Robert Smalls was born a slave in the American South. His one chance at escape and freedom hung on a key act of bravery on a single night. He’d have to sail right under the noses and

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28:58

History's Toughest Heroes: Kitty O’Neil: Hollywood's...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/10/21

In the macho stunt world, a deaf woman is determined to push the limits. But as her stunts break records, can she keep cheating death?In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.Kitty O’Neil was the stunt-woman behind wonder-woman - in tiny hotpants and a bustier. But she was also a speed demon, a land speed world record breaker and all-round adrenaline junkie who beat all the boys. She used being deaf to her

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28:49

History's Toughest Heroes: Peter Freuchen: Surviving...

History"s Heroes ·

2025/10/14

An arctic explorer is trapped in a snow drift the size of a coffin. How will he survive frostbite and make it out alive?In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge.Danish born Peter Freuchen looked like a Viking, 6ft 7, huge beard, massive furs. His life was one non-stop adventure. He started out as well-to-do young man in Copenhagen – destined for a life as a doctor. But there was a race for the North Pole going

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2:25

History's Toughest Heroes: Trailer

History"s Heroes ·

2025/10/07

Ray Winstone tells stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. Ten tales of fearsome heroes from across history including arctic explorers, medieval knights and Hollywood stuntwomen.

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27:39

Miss La La and Kaira Fly Through the Air

History"s Heroes ·

2025/09/30

A nineteenth century circus performer and her acrobatic partner defy convention to become icons of the ring, as well as artistic muses.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Lorna ReaderWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

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30:15

BONUS: The Marvels of Madam C.J. Walker Part 2

History"s Heroes ·

2025/09/23

How did Madam C.J. Walker transform the beauty industry with her haircare empire? And how have the politics of beauty changed since her time? Alex talks to Alka Menon, assistant professor of sociology at Yale University.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Elaina BoatengPresenter: Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning

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28:37

Nellie Bly Goes Undercover

History"s Heroes ·

2025/09/16

A young reporter sets out to be admitted to a notorious New York asylum. He aim is to expose its horrors.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Elaina BoatengWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

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28:09

The Marvels of Madam C.J. Walker

History"s Heroes ·

2025/09/09

When Sarah Breedlove begins to lose her hair, she starts a business that will make her one of the wealthiest African American Women of her time.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Elaina BoatengWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

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28:49

William Dodd Fights the Factories

History"s Heroes ·

2025/09/02

In the industrial revolution, a worker takes on the factory system and demands an end to brutal conditions.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios Audio production.Producer: Lorna Reader Written and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

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28:22

Jessica Mitford Finds Her Voice

History"s Heroes ·

2025/08/26

An aristocrat rebels against her family to become a civil rights activist.Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.A BBC Studios production.Producer: Lorna ReaderWritten and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

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