This Week in History

BBC Radio 4
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Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.

  1. 10H AGO

    September 22nd - September 28th

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 22nd September to 28th September - 22nd September 1692. The last eight victims are hanged in the Salem Witch trials - 22nd September 1968. A ceremony takes place to mark the relocation of the ancient Egyptian Abu Simbel temples - 25th September 1066. King Harold II wins the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Read by Ron Brown and Caroline Nicholls Produced by Chris Pearson

    5 min

  2. SEP 15

    September 15th - September 21st

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 15th September to 21st September - 16th September 1620. The Mayflower sets sail from Plymouth to America - 19th September 1960. Britain deploys it's first Traffic Wardens - 21st September 1915. Cecil Chubb purchases Stonehenge

    6 min

  3. SEP 8

    September 8th - September 14th

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 8th - 14th September - 9th September 1976. Death of Mao Zedong - 12th September 1846. HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, the British expedition searching for a Northwest Passage, become trapped in ice. - 12th September 1940. Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings Presented by Viji Alles and Jane Steel. Producers: Sofie Vilcins and Luke Doran.

    6 min

  4. SEP 1

    September 1st - September 7th

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 1st September to 7th September - 1st September 1939. Operation Pied Piper begins, evacuating British children to the countryside - 7th September 1936. The last captive Thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger, dies in a zoo in Australia - 3rd September 1967. Sweden begins driving on the right-hand side of the road Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown. Producers: Chris Pearson and Luke Doran.

    6 min

  5. AUG 25

    August 25th - August 31st

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history. With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today. This week: August 25th - August 31st - 27th August 1896. The British Empire defeat the sultanate of Zanzibar in the shortest recorded war in History. - 26th August 1994. Arthur Cornhill receives the world's first 'Bionic Heart'. - 29th August 1930. The evacuation of the archipelago of St Kilda. Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown. Produced by Chris Pearson and Luke Doran.

    6 min

  6. AUG 18

    August 18th - August 24th

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history. With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today. This week: August 18th - August 24th - 20th of August 1968. Soviet-led forces invade Czechoslovakia and crush the reform movement known as the “Prague Spring”. - 22nd of August 1485. The Battle of Bosworth Field ends The Wars of the Roses. - 23rd of August 1973. A bank siege leads to the identification of a contested psychiatric condition; Stockholm syndrome. Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown. Produced by Stuart Ross.

    5 min

  7. AUG 11

    August 11th - August 17th

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history. With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today. This week: August 4th - August 10th - 15th of August 1947. Indian Independence began and the country woke to 'life and freedom'. But what was the impact of this new freedom? - 12th of August 1990. One of the world's largest T-Rex skeletons is discovered in South Dakota, prompting a long custody battle over who owns it. - 16th of August 1819. A peaceful protest for Parliamentary Reform was brutally suppressed in Manchester, an event that became known as the 'Peterloo Massacre'. Presented by Jane Steel and Viji Alles. Produced by Carys John and Luke Doran.

    6 min

  8. AUG 4

    August 4th - August 10th

    Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history. With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today. This week: August 4th - August 10th - 6th of August 1945. An atomic bomb is dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima; it is the first time a nuclear weapon is used during a war. - 6th of August 1991. The computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee launches the first web page. - 4th of August 1976. The first women's international cricket match is played at Lord's. Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown. Produced by Stuart Ross.

    5 min
See All (26)

About

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    This Week in History

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