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Witness History

Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.

When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs, from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015, to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.

You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal’s worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.

And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.

If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2024

Latest Episodes:

DDLJ: India’s longest running movie Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

In 1995, Bollywood film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was released to critical acclaim.

It premiered at the Maratha Mandir cinema in Mumbai. It's been screened there every day since then for the past 27 years, stopping only briefly because of the Covid pandemic, and has become the longest-running film in Indian cinema history.

Actress Kajol starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan; following its release, they became superstars overnight. Kajol, who played Simran in the film, spoke to Reena Stanton-Sharma about her memories of shooting the iconic movie.

(Photo: Kajol (r) in Hindi film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Credit: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images)

Alcatraz: The strangest escape Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

In June 1962 three prisoners escaped from the maximum security US jail on the island of Alcatraz.

They achieved this using a homemade raft, papier-mâché and... spoons.

In 2013, Ashley Byrne spoke to Jolene Babyak who was living on the island at the time.

A Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Picture: Alcatraz. Credit: Getty Images)

Kieu Chinh: A real Hollywood story Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

In 1974, legendary Vietnamese actress Kieu Chinh found herself on a farm in Canada cleaning up after chicken.

She had narrowly escaped the fall of Saigon and a jail sentence in Singapore but Kieu was determined to get back to doing what she loved... making movies.

How would she do it?

Well, it involved Hollywood stars Burt Reynolds, William Holden and Tippi Hedren!

Kieu tells Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty of her cinematic survival.

(Picture: Kieu Chinh and Tippi Hedren. Credit: Getty Images)

Iraq War: US security guards killed my son Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

It has been 20 years since the start of the Iraq War.

On 16 September 2007, private security guards employed by the American firm Blackwater opened fire on civilians in Baghdad's Nisour Square. Seventeen Iraqis were killed, and another 20 injured.

The Blackwater guards, who were escorting a convoy from the American embassy, claimed that they had come under attack from insurgents, but eye-witnesses and Iraqi officials quickly dismissed that version of events.

Mohammed Kinani's nine year old son, Ali, was one of the victims.

In this programme, first broadcast in 2020, Mohammed shares his story with Mike Lanchin.

(Photo: An Iraqi looks at a burnt car on the site where Blackwater guards opened fire on civilians in Baghdad. Credit: Ali Yussef/AFP via Getty Images)

Iraq War: The capture of Saddam Hussein Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

It has been 20 years since the start of the Iraq War.

On 13 December 2003 the deposed president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was captured by US forces.

Muwafaq al Rubaie was asked to help to identify the former dictator, face-to-face.

In this programme, first broadcast in 2012, he shares his memories of that time with Louise Hidalgo.

(Picture: Saddam Hussein shortly after being captured. Credit: Getty Images)

Iraq War: 'Most wanted' playing cards Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

It has been 20 years since the start of the Iraq War.

In April 2003, the US military unveiled a set of playing cards to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government.

The cards were first revealed to the world by Brigadier General Vincent K Brooks at a press conference on 11 April 2003.

He has been sharing his memories of that time with Matt Pintus.

(Picture: Vincent K Brooks holds up the 'most wanted' playing cards. Credit: Getty Images)

Iraq War: Refugees escaping Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

It has been 20 years since the start of the Iraq War.

Millions of citizens attempted to flee the country after America and its allies invaded in March 2003.

One of those people was Baghdad resident, Yasir Dhannoon.

He has been sharing his story with Matt Pintus.

(Photo: Refugees fleeing from the fighting zone around Baghdad in 2003. Credit: Getty Images)

Iraq War: The beginning Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

It has been 20 years since the start of the Iraq War.

In March 2003, the United States launched its invasion, dropping bombs on Iraq's capital Baghdad.

For Iraqis it marked the beginning of three weeks of helplessness as the US and its allies overwhelmed Saddam Hussein's forces.

In this programme, first broadcast in 2012, Robin Lustig speaks to Lubna Naji who was a schoolgirl in Baghdad when the war broke out.

(Photo: Bombs fall on Baghdad. Credit: Getty Images)

From a goddess to a graduate Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

In 2000, when Chanira Bajrycharya was just five years old, she was chosen to be a Kumari - a child goddess in Nepal. For the next 10 years, she remained inside her Kumari house, receiving worshippers and giving blessings. She tells Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty about being a living deity, and how her life changed after losing her status as a goddess aged 15. Chanira now works for a mortgage broker in Kathmandu.

Monica McWilliams’ role in the Northern Ireland peace process Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Monica McWilliams played one of the most pivotal roles in the Northern Ireland peace process.

She spent two years at the negotiating table which finally resulted in the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998.

That made her a joint signatory to an international peace accord – something that very few women in the world manage to be.

She speaks to Alys Harte about the representation of women in the historic retelling of Northern Ireland’s peace process and why women are so often written out of the history they make.

(Picture: Monica McWilliams. Credit: Getty Images)

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