History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories

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Was the Great Sphinx built by a lost civilisation? Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the ancient world’s most enigmatic creations. So it’s no surprise that it has long been a magnet for pseudohistory and conspiracy theories. Could it be many thousands of years older than we think? Was it created by a lost civilisation? And do wondrous treasures lie beneath it waiting to be found? In the final episode of season 3 of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Egyptologist Campbell Price joins Rob Attar to separate fact to fiction in the story of the Sphinx.

History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including History’s Greatest Cities and HistoryExtra LongReads. Find out more at ⁠⁠historyextra.com/podcast⁠⁠.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ to keep in touch.

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Did an alien spacecraft crash-land in Russia? Aug 30, 2026

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In 1908, in the remote forests of Siberia, there was a giant explosion and bright lights were seen in the sky. Was this an asteroid or a comet crashing to earth? Or could it have been an alien spacecraft – or even a human experiment gone horribly wrong? In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, environmental historian Andy Bruno joins Rob Attar to explore the debates that still surround the mysterious Tunguska event.

You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠.

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Did 300 years of history never happen at all? Aug 23, 2026

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The period after the fall of the western Roman empire is often known as the ‘Dark Ages’, due to an apparent shortage of historical evidence. Why might this be? Well, according to proponents of the Phantom Time Hypothesis, the explanation is simple: these centuries never happened at all.

In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Dr Philipp Nothaft from the University of Oxford joins Rob Attar to discuss the idea that these centuries were invented by powerful people for their own purposes – and that, ever since, we've all been inadvertently colluding in their fictional calendar.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Was Paul McCartney replaced by an imposter? Aug 16, 2026

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With 24 number one albums in the UK charts, Paul McCartney is the most successful British artist of all time. But what if the man that we know as Paul McCartney is in fact somebody else altogether? Could it be that the former Beatle was replaced by an imposter in the 1960s who's been living a lie ever since?

In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Steven Cockcroft – co-host of the Beatles podcast Nothing Is Real – joins Rob Attar to examine one of the most bizarre conspiracy theories to emerge from the world of pop music.

You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠.

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Do Jesus’s descendants live among us? Aug 09, 2026

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In the early 2000s, The Da Vinci Code was everywhere. Dan Brown’s novel – and its subsequent film adaptation – popularised the idea that Jesus Christ fathered children whose descendants have lived among us for millennia. The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, but could the theory underpinning it be true?

In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Professor Helen Bond, an expert on early Christianity, joins Rob Attar to investigate the concept of the secret bloodline of Jesus.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠ to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/⁠.

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Was Jack the Ripper Queen Victoria’s grandson? Aug 02, 2026

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As recent years attest, royal scandals have a habit of coming to light. But what if the mother of all royal scandals is still waiting to be revealed? Could it be that an heir to the British throne, Prince Albert Victor, lived a double life as a serial killer?

In this first episode of a new season of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, crime historian Dr Drew Gray joins Rob Attar to explore the explosive suggestion that a British prince got away with multiple murders in the 19th century.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/.

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Season 3 | Trailer Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

Was Jack the Ripper a member of the royal family? Did Jesus have secret children? And did a lost civilisation build the Great Sphinx of Giza?

In Season 3 of History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by expert historians to explore how these theories came about - and whether any of them might actually be true.

You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/.

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Did NASA fake the moon landing? Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

On 20 July 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong famously took one giant leap for mankind. The moon landing may well be the most iconic moment of the 20th century, but did it even happen at all? Might NASA and the US government have been so desperate to overtake the Soviets in the space race that they faked the entire thing?

In the final episode of season 2 of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by spaceflight expert Francis French to consider why millions of people think the moon landing took place in a studio, rather than in space.

History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including History’s Greatest Cities and HistoryExtra LongReads. Find out more at ⁠historyextra.com/podcast⁠.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/

This episode was hosted by Rob Attar and produced by Jack Bateman.

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Legends of the Knights Templar Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

In the early 14th century, the Knights Templar were suppressed, and the 200-year history of this military religious order came to an abrupt end. Or did it? What if some of the Templars escaped persecution, and continued to operate secretly until the present, holding on to precious religious relics and maybe even discovering America?

In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by medieval historian Steve Tibble to explore why myths have surrounded the Templars since the Middle Ages – and explain how Rosslyn Chapel and the Holy Grail fit into the story.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/

This episode was hosted by Rob Attar and produced by Jack Bateman.

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The Protocols of the Elders of Zion Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

First published in Russia in 1903, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion purported to demonstrate evidence of a global Jewish conspiracy. Though it has repeatedly been proven to be a forgery, the text has helped fuel antisemitism across the world, from Henry Ford in America, to Nazi Germany and anti-Jewish hatred today.

In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar speaks to Professor Pamela S Nadell about why the infamous tract has proven so popular and how it connects to other antisemitic ideas.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/

This episode was hosted by Rob Attar and produced by Jack Bateman.

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