This Week in History

By BBC Radio 4

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

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· History

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FAQs about This Week in History:

How many episodes does This Week in History have?

The podcast currently has 53 episodes available.

This Week in History episodes:

March 16, 2026 March 16th to March 22nd
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
March 21st In 1556 - the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, was burnt at the stake in Oxford during the reign of Queen Mary.
March 17th 1921 - the first family planning clinic opened in Holloway, North London, by Marie Stopes.
March 20th 1966 - the World Cup trophy was stolen from its display in Central Hall, Westminster - only to be discovered by a dog, Pickles, a week after.
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6min
March 09, 2026 March 9th to March 15th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
March 11th - In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev was named the Soviet Union's new leader.
March 11th - In 1702, Britain's first daily newspaper - The Daily Courant - began publication.
March 15th - In 44BC - the Ides of March - the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by a group of senators.
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6min
March 02, 2026 March 2nd to March 8th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 2nd to 8th March
March 7th - 1876 Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for the telephone in the US
March 2nd - 1965 One of the most popular musical films of all time, "The Sound of Music," premieres
March 4th 1522 - Anne Boleyn makes her debut at the English court at the Green Castle pageant.
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6min
February 23, 2026 February 23rd to March 1st
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 23rd February to 1st March
24th February 1999 - The Metropolitan police force was branded "institutionally racist" by the Macpherson Report which examined the murder of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence.
1st March 1565 - The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese.
26th February 1839 - The first Grand National was run at Aintree. Then called the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, it was won by a horse called Lottery
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6min
February 16, 2026 16th - 22nd February
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 16th - 22nd February
16th February 1959 - Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro is sworn in as prime minister.
21st February 1804 - The world's first railway journey takes place.
22nd of February 1797 - The last Invasion of Britain; French soldiers land at Fishguard… but are soon captured.
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6min
February 09, 2026 9th to 15th February
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 9th to 15th February
13th February 1258 - Five centuries of Abbasid rule ends when Baghdad falls to the Mongols.
11th February 1990 - Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years.
15th February 1971 - Britain converts to decimal currency.
Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown.
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6min
February 02, 2026 2nd to 8th February
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 2nd to 8th February
7th February 1974 - British Prime Minster Edward Heath calls a snap general election as the country grapples with a miners’ strike and an energy crisis.
5th February 1919 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith challenge the Hollywood power structure by forming their own film studio - United Artists.
2nd February 1709 - A decade before the publication of Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe', Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued after spending four years marooned on an island in the South Pacific.
Presented by Viji Alles and Jane Steel.
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6min
January 26, 2026 26th January - 1st February
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 26th January to 1st February
27th Jan 1945 - The liberation of Auschwitz.
1st Feb 1884 - The first fascicle of The Oxford English Dictionary 'A-Ant' is published
30th Jan 1972 - Bloody Sunday
Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown
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6min
January 19, 2026 19th to 25th of January
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 19th to 25th of January.
20th Jan 1265 - The first English Parliament met at Westminster Hall.
24th Jan 1961 - A US Air force plane carrying two Hydrogen bombs broke up mid-air over North Carolina.
19th Jan 1903 - A new bicycle race was announced "Tour de France".
Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown.
...more
6min
January 12, 2026 12th to 18th January
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
This week: 12th to 18th January
16th January 1547 - Ivan The Terrible becomes the first Tsar of Russia.
16th January 1950 - The first edition of "Listen With Mother" is broadcast on the BBC Light Programme.
17th January 1921 - The first public performance of the illusion of sawing a person in half is given at Finsbury Park Empire.
Presented by Ron Brown and Viji Alles.
...more
6min

FAQs about This Week in History:

How many episodes does This Week in History have?

The podcast currently has 53 episodes available.