History's Heroes
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 Youngest Heroes' with narration from Nicola Coughlan and 'History's Secret Heroes' with narration from Helena Bonham Carter.
In History's Heroes, Historian Alex von Tunzelmann (Radio 4's The History Podcast: The Lucan Obsession/writer of all the History's Heroes series) shines a light on the inspiring and unusual stories of courage, pioneering and people who used their voice to spark change. Heroes covered include groundbreaking surgeon Harold Gillies, composers Rodgers and Hammerstein and swimming champion Gertrude Ederle. Join Alex for stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone.
In History's Youngest Heroes, actress Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, Derry Girls) tells twelve true stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth. Before she became a Hollywood star, how did the young Audrey Hepburn take on the Nazis during World War Two? As a young activist, how did Nelson Mandela attempt to overthrow the South African government to end apartheid? Did Queen of England, Lady Jane Grey give up her faith or face the executioner's axe? Why did Terry Fox, a young man with a prosthetic leg, set out to run the length of Canada? Join Nicola to hear inspiring tales of young heroes both famous and forgotten, whose bravery demonstrates how young people can change history.
In History's Secret Heroes, Helena Bonham Carter recounts untold stories of heroes from World War Two whose acts of resistance, deception and courage helped defeat fascism. In each episode, Helena shines a light on the spies, Royal Air Force pilots, army officers, prisoners of war and double agents who risked their lives to save others. Learn all about forgotten stories of survival, bravery and espionage - from the opera singers who helped dozens of Jewish people escape Nazi Germany, to the woman that Winston Churchill would go on to call his favourite spy.
Previous episodes have looked at the story of the American actor George Takei (Star Trek), who was imprisoned without trial along with 12,000 other Japanese Americans, and Bela Hazan, a young Jewish woman who went undercover at the Gestapo headquarters to fight against the Nazis. From secret missions behind enemy lines in occupied Europe, to underground resistance movements across Germany, France, Poland, Great Britain and beyond, History's Secret Heroes reveals how ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact.
Join Alex, Nicola and Helena for tales of deception, rebellion, risk and courage.
Latest episodes
12 snips
Aug 2, 2023 • 31min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Arslan Rezniqi and the Besa Code
Albania was one of the few European countries to have a larger Jewish population at the end of the war than it had at the beginning. What role did Arslan Rezniqi, a Kosovan Albanian merchant, play in this?Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Amie Liebowitz
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
13 snips
Jul 26, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Jack King and the Fifth Column
Eric Roberts, a bank worker from Surrey, joins MI5. He is given the alias Jack King and his job is to hunt for British Nazi-sympathisers. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Amie Liebowitz
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
8 snips
Jul 19, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Skiing Commandos
Can a team of Norwegian men stop Hitler from obtaining the materials to create an atomic bomb large enough to destroy London? Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Clem Hitchcock
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
10 snips
Jul 12, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Bela Hazan and the Jewish Resistance
Poland, 1941. Bela Hazan, a young Jewish woman, secures an undercover job at the Gestapo headquarters. She is about to go undercover to fight against the Nazis. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Amie Liebowitz
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
11 snips
Jul 5, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: The Mystery of Garbo
His codename was Garbo. The identity of one of World War Two’s most successful double agents, a man who diverted the German Army away from the D-Day landings, is finally revealed. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Clem Hitchcock
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
11 snips
Jun 28, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: George Takei and the American Internment Camps
In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbour attack, then five-year-old George Takei and his family join the 120,000 Japanese Americans who are removed from their homes and imprisoned without trial. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Amie Liebowitz
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
11 snips
Jun 21, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Claude, Marcel and the Soldier with No Name
Two eccentric French artists, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, risk their lives to perform an extraordinary act of resistance on the island of Jersey. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Clem Hitchcock
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
17 snips
Jun 14, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Ghost Army
Bernie Bluestein, Seymour Nussenbaum and George Dramis are part of a secret army unit with one job: to put on a show for an audience who wants to kill them. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Clem Hitchcock
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
19 snips
Jun 7, 2023 • 29min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Charity Adams and the 6888
Major Charity Adams, the first African American woman to be commissioned in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, arrives in Birmingham, England, to sort out an enormous problem. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producers: Clem Hitchcock and Elaina Boateng
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
26 snips
May 31, 2023 • 31min
History's Secret Heroes: Series 1: Virginia Hall’s Great Escape
How did the American spy Virginia Hall mastermind an astonishing prison break, leading her to become the Gestapo’s most wanted target? Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.A BBC Studios Podcast production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Amie Liebowitz
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
