The Story

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.It's a legend many of us have grown up with: a plucky group of British officers, finding themselves trapped in a heavily guarded POW camp during the Second World War, try every trick they can think of to break out. But, in a new book by Ben Macintyre, we hear for the first time the real story of Colditz. A story that's not just more complicated, but far more interesting than the one we were told.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ben Macintyre, Associate Editor, The Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC/Universal Studios, The Imperial War Museum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022.As the Ukraine war progressed, journalists, activists and critics were forced to flee the country. But as Putin’s grip on the media tightened, what was it like for the people who were left? And when does it become too dangerous to stay? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Marc Bennetts, foreign correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, BBC Newsnight, France 24, CBS News, Sky News, The Telegraph, BBC News, NBC News, Times Radio, PBS Newshour, NEXTA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we’re listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2022. We begin with one of the most riveting stories of the year, from The Times’ war correspondent Anthony Loyd. In their podcast series Last Man Standing, Anthony and Manveen investigated the kidnap of the British photojournalist John Cantlie. Cantlie had been taken hostage by Islamic State in 2012. His fate is still unknown. For Anthony, this brought back memories of his own narrow escape…This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Hosts: Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd, War Correspondent, The Times.Clips: BBC and CNN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Christmas Eve bonus episode comes courtesy of our sister podcast: Wine Times.Discussing and decanting with Suzi Ruffell and Will Lyons on a live special of Wine Times are Times Radio broadcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. As well as four great wines to taste, Fi explains why she refuses to feel stressed about Christmas this year, Jane discusses her love for Cava, Will shares why Brits are big wine drinkers and Suzi delights in the idea of hosting her first Christmas lunch.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Wines:Villa Broglia Gavi di Gavi 2021Purple Owl Pinot Noir 2021Saracosa Governo Rosso IGT 2021L’Epiphanie de Sauternes 2018All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every day, hundreds of readers write into The Times and The Sunday Times. In a year when the news didn’t seem to stop, the letters editors of the two papers pick out their highlights.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guests:- Andrew Riley, Letters Editor, The Times.- Stephen Bleach, Letters Editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Afghanistan. Foreign financial government support has run dry, and aid agencies are left to plug the gaps amid drought and famine. Our correspondent has been to visit projects run by Afghanaid, one of the organisations being supported by this year’s Christmas Appeal. For more information and to donate to the Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal visit: https://times.ctdonate.orgThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: CNN, France 24, BBC News, CBS News, United Nations, ABC News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strike action on a scale not seen since the 1980s is set to continue into January as workers demand pay rises to match spiralling inflation. Today, as ambulance crews in England and Wales begin a strike, why are so many joining the picket line and how is the government responding to the industrial action?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.   Guest: Patrick Maguire, Red Box Editor, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News, BBC, 5News, Thames Television, ITN, NBC News, GMB. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times has an august history of recording the lives of significant people, and has been doing so in the obituaries pages since the 19th century. Today, we remember some of the people who may not be household names but are no less fascinating.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Hosts:- Anna Temkin, Deputy Obituaries Editor, The Times. - Mariella Frostrup, Times Radio. Guests: - Tom Dart, obituaries writer, The Times. - Shirley Malcom, director of the SEA Change initiative at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. - Emily Maitlis, broadcaster and journalist. - Professor Mary Beard, classicist. Remembering the lives of:- Colonel Gail Halvorsen, pilot.  - Dr Shirley McBay, mathematician. - Professor Peter Maitlis, chemist. - Joyce Reynolds, classicist. Clips: BBC, Times Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British volunteer Dave Young has rescued over 800 Ukrainians from the war's frontline, as well as losing his right eye to shrapnel. Anthony Loyd and filmmaker Federica De Caria join Dave in the city of Bakhmut, the epicentre of the bloodiest attritional battle of winter, as he embarks on dangerous rescue work – and considers what drives him to keep going.Watch Anthony Loyd and Federica De Caria's film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X32e2YF9phEThis podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As one of the most controversial World Cups in living memory heads towards its final climax this weekend -- what was it actually like being there? And for the host nation -- after scandals, condemnation and $200 billion -- was it worth it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.  Guest: Josh Glancy, Special Correspondent, The Sunday Times.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: talkSPORT, US Department of State. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.