History's Heroes

By BBC Radio 4Society & Culture Documentary History

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History's Heroes episodes

November 03 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Fritz Bauer: Nazi Hunter
A German Jewish prosecutor called Fritz Bauer is on a mission to bring a notorious Nazi war criminal to justice. Adolf Eichman, one of the architects of the Holocaust, has fled Germany, his whereabouts unknown. How did Bauer find him?
With historian Jack Fairweather and Fritz Bauer’s great niece, Marit Tiefenthal.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Lorna Reader
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
31 min
October 27 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: The Brothers Who Fought Mussolini
In Fascist Italy, a group of seven brothers join the resistance. The Cervis shelter fugitives on their farm and distribute anti-fascist literature. But in doing so, they make themselves targets.
With filmmaker Liviana Davi and historian Philip Cooke.
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 Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Lorna Reader
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
30 min
October 20 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Sybil Kathigasu and the Price of Compassion
Why did a midwife risk her life to help the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya? The remarkable story of how Sybil Kathigasu, with the help of her husband, secretly treated wounded soldiers and aided the guerillas.
With historian and filmmaker Tim Doughty, Coco Bently, Kathigasu’s granddaughter and Law Siak Hong, cultural activist and heritage conservationist.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Lorna Reader
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
30 min
October 13 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Madeleine Riffaud’s Defiant Resistance
19-year-old Madeleine Riffaud is imprisoned and tortured for assassinating a German officer in broad daylight in Paris. Upon her release, she becomes one of the key players in the French Resistance. How did she do it?
With historians Rick Stroud and Anne Sebba.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Lorna Reader
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
29 min
October 06 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Kiyoshi Tanimoto and the Atomic Bomb
In the aftermath of the Hiroshima bomb, a minister rushes towards the devastation to save his people. Little does he know that he’ll become a global hero.
With historian Kim Brandt and Koko Kondo, Kiyoshi Tanimoto’s daughter.
Archive of This Is Your Life courtesy of Reelin' In The Years Productions and Ralph Edwards Productions.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Suniti Somaiya
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
30 min
September 29 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Pamela Churchill’s Special Relationships
Pamela Churchill, newly married to the Prime Minister’s son, becomes a key diplomatic figure in the war effort. How did she use her charm to help sway U.S. sentiment towards aiding Britain?
With biographer Sonia Purnell and Chris James, Pamela Churchill’s nephew.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Suniti Somaiya
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
29 min
September 22 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: The Ovitz Family
The Ovitz family were a group of theatrical performers from Romania, seven of whom had dwarfism. When their mother was dying she urged them to stick together, guard each other and live for one another. How did they defy the odds and survive Auschwitz?
With actor Warwick Davies, biographer Eilat Negev and historian Warren Rosenblum.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Suniti Somaiya
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
30 min
September 15 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Airey Neave: Escape from Colditz Castle
Captured by the Nazis, Lieutenant Airey Neave is sent to Colditz Castle, a high-security prisoner of war camp in Germany. No British prisoner has ever escaped from here before. After months of preparation, and armed with a careful disguise, can he evade the notorious guard patrols and their dogs?
With biographer Patrick Bishop and Marigold Webb, Airey Neave’s daughter.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Suniti Somaiya
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
29 min
September 08 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: The Cockleshell Heroes
In December 1942, a small team of commandos are set to paddle their canoes through freezing enemy-infested waters to sabotage German ships in the port of Bordeaux. Operation Frankton is described as a “suicide mission”. Will Royal Marines Bill Sparks and Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler destroy the enemy supply lines and make it back to England alive?
With military historian Robert Lyman, and Terry Sparks, son of Bill Sparks.
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 production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Georgina Leslie
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
29 min
September 01 History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Elvira Chaudoir: D-Day’s Double Crossing Agent
Elvira Chaudoir is a Peruvian playgirl with all the right connections… and a gambling debt. She’s also a double agent, locked in a dangerous game of deception. With D-Day on the horizon, can she convince the Germans that the Allied invasion is happening in the southwest of France, and not in Normandy?
With author and historian Ben Macintyre and Sophie Stewart from the National Archives.
Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War II. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Producer: Lorna Reader
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Written by Alex von Tunzelmann
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
29 min

About History's Heroes

From the publisher's feed

Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for tales of deception, resistance and courage in History's Secret Heroes Series 4.

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 Toughest Heroes' with narration from Ray Winstone, '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 Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone reveals wild, true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors. Heroes covered include arctic explorer Peter Freuchen, Hollywood stunt woman Kitty O'Neil and medieval knight William Marshal. Join Ray for tales of fearsome heroes who lived life on the edge.

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, Ray, Nicola and Helena for tales of deception, rebellion, risk and courage.