History Extra podcast

The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.


Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. 

 

We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. 

 

Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. 

 

Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. 

 

Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.  

 

Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.  

 

Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. 

Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/

History
2326
How to escape the tower
David Cannadine examines the history of teaching history and Nigel Jones reveals the best methods for escaping from the Tower of London.
36 min
2327
The mourning of Queen Victoria
Helen Rappaport discusses the impact of Prince Albert’s death on Queen Victoria and the monarchy and Scot McKendrick considers what led Edward IV to create his royal library.
43 min
2328
Voices of veterans and the debate on sugar
Second World War veterans describe their experiences of a three month forced march and Richard Huzzey explains how sugar caused fierce debate in Victorian Britain.
45 min
2329
Second World War arctic convoys
Quintin Colville explores the World War Two Arctic convoys, and Steven Rippon considers medieval wetlands.
35 min
2330
Dambusters
James Holland explores the iconic Dambusters raid.
28 min
2331
Edward III and a naval battle
Mark Ormrod examines the reign of Edward III and Sam Willis takes us back to a major naval battle in the French Revolutionary Wars.
65 min
2332
Misconceptions of WWII
Max Hastings explores Second World War misconceptions and Justin Meggitt discusses pirates.
65 min
2333
A new history of England and the Oxford Diction...
Peter Ackroyd talks to us about his new history of England and Philip Carter explains how a group of architects have made it into the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
34 min
2334
Queen Matilda
Tracy Borman considers the life and times of Queen Matilda, while Jon Henderson takes us underwater to the lost prehistoric city of Pavlopetri.
46 min
2335
Bernard Cornwell on his novels
Gary Sheffield describes Douglas Haig’s post-war career and Bernard Cornwell chats about his work as a historical novelist.
40 min
2336
The East India Company and Nelson
Professor Andrew Lambert considers the career of Horatio Nelson.
38 min
2337
The spies of Queen Elizabeth I
Dr John Cooper of York University explores the murky world of secret agents in the reign of Elizabeth I.
26 min
2338
Being a British Missionary and troubles in Ireland
Emily Manktelow considers how British missionaries interacted with native peoples and Claire Fitzpatrick explores a site of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
37 min
2339
The end of slavery and headaches in history
James Walvin explores the abolition of the slave trade, Katherine Foxhall examines the history of migraines and Dan Snow heads to Erddig.
45 min
2340
Greek slavery, Victorian heroism and Dan Snow o...
Paul Cartledge comments on slavery in Ancient Greece, John Price describes Victorian heroism and Dan Snow is enthused by classic cars.
39 min
2341
Germany's defeat
Ian Kershaw explains why Nazi Germany fought to the end and Dan Snow previews the next episode of National Treasures Live.
44 min
2342
The Victorian telegraph and Dan Snow on his new...
Susan Doran describes the reign of Elizabeth I, Dan Snow talks about his new TV series and Richard Noakes highlights the Victorian telegraph.
32 min
2343
The conquest of Wales and Mary I
Marc Morris describes England’s conquest of Wales, Dan Snow previews his new TV series and Anna Whitelock continues our Tudor series with a discussion of Mary I.
55 min
2344
Summer holidays and Edward VI
John K Walton explores the British seaside holiday while Ralph Houlbrooke delves into the reign of Edward VI.
29 min
2345
The career of one of England's most well-known ...
George Bernard describes the reign of Henry VIII and Justin Champion talks Thomas Hobbes.
38 min
2346
The origins of the Tudors
Steven Gunn explains the importance of the first Tudor king and David Carpenter delves into some fascinating medieval documents.
32 min
2347
Back to school and Hitler's schemes for war
Jane Hamlett talks about Victorian boarding schools and Joe Maiolo explains how Hitler hoped to win the Second World War with rockets and flying bombs.
45 min
2348
Britain under Roman rule and the truth about th...
Tom Asbridge considers the real nature of the Crusades and Manda Scott opines on the Roman occupation of Britain.
40 min
2349
The Duke of Wellington and Alfred the Great
On the first of our weekly podcasts we have Peter Snow discussing the merits of the Duke of Wellington and Sarah Foot explaining why Alfred the Great’s legacy towers over Æthelstan’s.
36 min
2350
News for the BBC's Doomsday Project and the fut...
Michael Wood discusses the BBC’s Domesday Project, David Reynolds reflects on Operation Barbarossa, Angus Konstam considers the fate of Captain Kidd and the new CEO of the Nation Archives comments on the organisation’s future plans.
56 min