History's Heroes Podcast
Nicola Coughlan and Helena Bonham Carter shine a light on extraordinary people from history.
History's Heroes: the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's breathtaking, high stakes, story-led history podcast feed that shines a light on extraordinary people from across history.
Series include 'History's Youngest Heroes' with narration from Nicola Coughlan and 'History's Secret Heroes' with narration from Helena Bonham Carter.
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 Nicola and Helena for tales of deception, rebellion, risk and courage.
Episodes to download
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History's Youngest Heroes: 2. The Brief Reign of Lady Jane—History's Youngest Heroes
Monday
Trapped in the Tower of London, Lady Jane Grey must choose between life or death.
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History's Youngest Heroes: 1. Nelson Mandela and the Defiance Campaign—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 9 Dec 2024
A young activist attempts to overthrow apartheid in South Africa.
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Introducing History's Youngest Heroes—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 2 Dec 2024
Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history.
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20. Manfred Gans and X Troop—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
An elite secret unit of Jewish commandos take on the Nazis.
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19. The Enigmatic Emily Anderson—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
How Britain’s top female codebreaker played a crucial role in Allied victory.
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18. Andrée De Jongh and the Comet Line—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
Can a daring young Belgian woman save the lives of hundreds of stranded airmen?
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17. Charles Drew and the Blood Bank—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
How did an African-American doctor come to lead the blood bank effort during the war?
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16. Raymond Gurême: Escape Artist—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
A young circus performer dedicates himself to bringing the Nazis down.
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15. Josefina Guerrero: The Maid of Manila—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
How did Josefina Guerrero’s leprosy lead her to become a brilliant spy?
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14. The Unbreakable Navajo Code—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
A group of Native American soldiers devise a secret code for the Allies.
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13. Christine Granville: The Spy Who Skied In from the Cold—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
Thrill-seeker Christine Granville becomes Britain’s first female spy during the war.
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12. Flying High with Johnny Smythe—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
Johnny Smythe, one of the first West African RAF airmen, navigates a terrifying flight.
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11. The Extraordinary Cook Sisters—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
How did two English opera-loving sisters help dozens of Jews escape Nazi Germany?
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Introducing History's Secret Heroes Series 2—History's Secret Heroes - Series 2
Mon 25 Mar 2024
Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two.
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10. Arslan Rezniqi and the Besa Code—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
How did Arslan Rezniqi, an Albanian merchant, save hundreds of Jewish refugees?
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9. Jack King and the Fifth Column—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
A bank worker from Surrey joins MI5. His job is to infiltrate British Fascists.
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8. Skiing Commandos—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
Can a team of Norwegian men on skis destroy a water plant in time to stop a nuclear war?
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7. Bela Hazan and the Jewish Resistance—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
A young Polish woman named Bela Hazan goes undercover to fight against the Nazis.
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6. The Mystery of Garbo—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
One of World War Two’s most successful double agents is finally revealed.
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5. George Takei and the American Internment Camps—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
Why was George Takei and his family imprisoned without trial in 1942?
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4. Claude, Marcel and the Soldier with No Name—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
Two eccentric French artists perform an extraordinary act of resistance.
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3. Ghost Army—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
A secret army unit with one job: to put on a show, for an audience who wants to kill them.
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2. Charity Adams and the 6888—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
Major Charity Adams arrives in Birmingham, England, to sort out an enormous problem.
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1. Virginia Hall’s Great Escape—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
How did Virginia Hall mastermind one of World War Two’s most astonishing prison breaks?
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Welcome to History’s Secret Heroes—History's Secret Heroes - Series 1
Wed 24 May 2023
Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two.