CATEGORIES

DANGER IN THE DEPTHS

After WWII, thousands of high-explosives remained hidden beneath the waves, leading to a huge clean up operation that's still ongoing nearly 80 years later

SWEEPING TO VICTORY

Amphibious invasions were tricky operations, and danger lurked for the Allied forces before they could even reach the shore

SAMUEL I PARKER

At the Battle of Soissons, in July 1918, though badly wounded this lieutenant colonel led his command in silencing German machine guns, becoming the most highly decorated US infantryman of WWI

ANCIENT ROME'S DARKEST HOUR

How a Roman citizen lured three of the empire's legions into a deadly trap

"WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PAST MORE TO FIND ANSWERS"

The historian and broadcaster discusses his new illustrated book, 2023's Chalke Valley History Festival and why studying WWII is more relevant than ever before

CLEARING THE COASTS

As an island nation, Britain's access to maritime trade routes was vital to its survival and they became a prime target for German mining efforts

NAPOLEON'S POLISH LEGIONS & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

When the emperor sent his elite Polish fighters to put down an uprising, the Poles instead joined the rebels

CAPORETTO

In 1917 Italy suffered its worst military defeat, causing shockwaves that be would felt for decades to come

An Elizabethan Evening

Kevin Geddes looks back on the BBC's “experiment in time”, which imagined how television would have looked during the time of Queen Elizabeth I

Halfway to Paradise

Pete Nelson remembers singer-songwriter Billy Fury

BEATING THE BLITZ

Steven Taylor delves into the archives and unearths some of Winston Churchill’s bizarre schemes to defeat the Luftwaffe’s night-time bombing offensive of Britain

BACK IN TIME WITH COLIN BAKER

BoB’s very own Time Lord shares fond memories of the stars of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), and reminds us that the leaf doesn’t fall far from the tree

Dreaming of Jeannie

Simon Stabler talks to actress Annette Andre, a star of the detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)

WOODEN WONDERS

More than a century ago, the Lanchester brothers began producing motorcars that were years ahead of their time

"Time's Up!"

Chris Hallam pays tribute to Betty Boothroyd, the first female speaker of the House of Commons

The Queen of Beers

As beers commemorating the King’s coronation hit the pubs and off licences, Simon Stabler raises a glass to a beer brewed to mark the last such event

Chapter and Verse

The National Trust’s latest publication highlights the range and variety of 100 intriguing books from its vast collection

Travelling Well

Chris Hallam looks back on the political career of Michael Portillo, now better known as a presenter of travel documentaries for television

POSTCARD FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Bob Barton goes in search of the cherry to top off his visit, revives fond childhood memories of carpentry with Grandad, and is transfixed by the variety of houses

INCREDIBLE TELEVISION CONTENT

Will Barber-Taylor tells the story of the hit-making production and distribution company ITC

Royal Relics

As souvenirs fill the shops ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, Susan Brewer looks back at previous commemorative memorabilia

Decoding the Coronation

Historic rites, rituals and conventions explained

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CONFUCIUS

How the ancient teacher, philosopher and politician laid down the foundations for Chinese culture

THE FIRST INCA

Who was Manco Cápac, the founder of the Kingdom of Cusco?

WELCOME TO GANGSTERS PARADISE

The American mob’s reign in pre-Castro Cuba is legendary, but have elements of mythos been spun into historical gospel?

What If...GRANADA HAD NOT SURRENDERED?

A sophisticated centre for culture and learning that could challenge and change the face of Europe forever

CHARLES II's CURSED REIGN

How the Great Fire and killer plague tormented the return of the Stuarts

ANNIE OAKLEY American Heroine

How the female sharpshooter rose from poverty to become an icon of the Wild West

BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF

PACIFIC OCEAN OFF THE PHILIPPINES, 23-26 OCT 1944

Deadly riots break out in London

The radical MP John Wilkes attracted loyal support for his outspoken criticism of the government. However, as Danny Bird explains, outrage at his 1768 arrest for libel paved the way for bloodshed and anarchy