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 16 episodes available.

This Week in History episodes:

July 14, 2025 July 14th - July 20th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week: July 14th - July 20th
- 16th of July 1969 - The Apollo 11 spacecraft launches in to space, and sets down on the moon four days later.
- 14th of July 1789 - the royal fortress prison Bastille was stormed by a crowd of angry Parisians, igniting the French Revolution.
- 19th of July 1545 - Henry VIII's leading warship the Mary Rose capsizes and sinks in the Solent.
Presented by Jane Steel and Caroline Nicholls.
Produced by Amanda Litherland and Chris Pearson
...more
6min
July 07, 2025 July 7th - July 13th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week: July 7th - July 13th
- 8th of July 1099 - In the first Crusade, Christians take part in the Siege of Jerusalem
- 8th of July 1777 - the independent state of Vermont prohibits slavery, becoming first former British colony to do so.
- 7th of July 1965 - Science programme Tomorrow's World debuts on BBC One

Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown
Produced by Clara Nissen and Chris Pearson
...more
6min
June 30, 2025 June 30th - July 6th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week: June 30th - July 6th
1. 1st of July 1858 - The theory of evolution is first heard in public at The Linnean Society
2. 30th of June 1971 - The death of 3 cosmonauts shocks the USSR
3. 4th of July 1925 - The Shipping Forecast is broadcast for the first time on the BBC

Presented by Viji Alles and Caroline Nicholls
Produced by Luke Doran and Chris Pearson
...more
6min
June 23, 2025 June 23rd - June 29th
Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short vignettes of the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week: June 23rd - June 29th
1. 25th of June 1950 - North Korea invades South Korea, beginning the Korean War
2. 28th of June 1914 - Gavrilo Princip assassinates Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife Sophie.
3. 27th of June 1967 - World's first ATM is installed by Barclays Bank in Enfield, London

Presented by Ron Brown and Caroline Nicholls
Produced by Sofie Vilcins and Chris Pearson
...more
6min
June 16, 2025 June 16th - June 22nd
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week. June 16th - June 22nd
- 16th of June 1961. At Le Bourget Airport in Paris, the ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev dramatically defects, claiming asylum in the French capital city.
- 17th of June 1631. Arjumand Banu, the wife of the Emperor Shah Jahān, died after giving birth to her 14th child. The Taj Mahal was then built in her honour.
- 18th of June 1822. To commemorate the Duke of Wellington's victory at Waterloo, a statue of Achilles was unveiled in his likeness. However, it caused a bit of a scandal amid polite London society.
Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown
Produced by Amanda Litherland and Luke Doran
...more
6min
June 09, 2025 June 9 - June 15
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week. June 9th - 15th
- 12th June 1215. King John signs the Magna Carta at Runnymede, enshrining the right to a fair trial in British law.
- 14th June 1972. IFALPA call an airline strike in response to increasing threats of plane hijackings.
- 13th June 1920. The US postmaster general bans children being posted through the US mail system.
Presented by Jane Steel and Caroline Nicholls.
Produced by Sofie Vilcins
...more
6min
June 02, 2025 June 2nd - June 8th
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week. June 2nd - June 8th
- 5th of June 1989. On Chang’an Avenue in Beijing one man stands alone, blocking of a column of tanks leaving Tiananmen Square. Captured on film, the image of the 'Tank Man' protestor goes around the world.
- 4th of June 1913. At the 133rd Epsom Derby, the suffragette Emily Davison walks in to the path of the onrushing King's Horse.
- 6th of June 1962. Performing at Abbey Road studios for the first time, The Beatles meet George Martin for the first time.
Presented by Ron Brown and Caroline Nicholls
Produced by Luke Doran and Stuart Ross
...more
6min
May 26, 2025 May 26 - June 1st
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week. May 26th – June 1st
- 29th May 1953. At 1130 in the morning, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stood at the peak of mount Everest, becoming the very first people to do so.
- 28th May 1588. After two years of development, the Spanish Armada leaves the port of Lisbon, on an ill-fated attempt to invade England.
- 1st June 1935. By the 1930 there were around a million cars on the road, and thousands being killed by road accidents. Something had to be done. In 1935 Compulsory Driving Tests began.
Presented by Viji Alles and Ron Brown
Produced by Luke Doran
...more
6min
May 19, 2025 May 19 - May 25
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week. May 19th – May 25th
- 20th of May 1948. It used to be a German owned boat, used throughout the Second World War. But in May 1948 the HMT Empire Windrush first set sail from the Caribbean, bringing new settlers to the United Kingdom.
- 20th of May 1570. The Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius changes how we viewed the world with the publication of his atlas, the 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum'.
- 21st of May 1916. William Willett spent his years campaigning against the 'Waste of Daylight’ but was not around to see British Summer Time introduced in 1916.
Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Jane Steel
Produced by Stuart Ross and Kerry McCarthy
...more
6min
May 12, 2025 May 12 - May 18
Fascinating, surprising, and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.
BBC Radio 4 explores the history books and archives to see what else has happened on this same week throughout history.
With short looks at the events that have shaped the world and made us who we are today.
This week. May 12th – May 18th
- 13th of May 1981. While conducting blessings to a crowd in St Peter's Square, Pope John Paul the Second is shot four times in front of twenty thousand witnesses.
- 15th of May 1536. After only three years as Queen, Anne Boleyn goes on trial at the Tower of London, accused of treason, adultery, and incest.
- 14th of May 1796. Edward Jenner conducts a groundbreaking experiment on his gardener's son, creating the world's first 'vaccination', and beginning the fight against smallpox.
Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown
Produced by Luke Doran
...more
6min

FAQs about This Week in History:

How many episodes does This Week in History have?

The podcast currently has 16 episodes available.