Witness History

Hisao Kurosawa, film producer and son of director Akira Kurosawa, shares childhood memories of his father making Seven Samurai. He recalls location shoots, the grueling snowy finale and the production’s massive overruns. He reflects on his father’s patient directing style, technical innovations and the film’s global influence.

Leni Riefenstahl, German filmmaker and photographer known for directing the 1934 Nuremberg rally film, reflects on her work and its fallout. Archival interviews and quoted voices explore technical innovations, tense interactions with Nazi officials, and the fierce debate over whether the film was art or propaganda. Short, intense accounts bring the controversy and legacy to life.

In 1967, American plumber Al Thieme promised his wife with multiple sclerosis that he would find her an alternative to a wheelchair.He came up with a battery-powered seat on wheels.He called it an ‘amigo’ and soon other people wanted one too. In 1968, he founded Amigo Mobility International and started selling his vehicles around the world.He speaks to Rachel Naylor.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there.For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: Al Thieme with an early model. Credit: Amigo Mobility International)

In May 1974 India successfully detonated its first atomic device. It had been developed in secret with the codename Smiling Buddha. India called it a peaceful nuclear explosion, though the experimental device was in effect a plutonium bomb. The test was seen as a triumph of Indian science and technology, but it led to the suspension of international nuclear cooperation with India, and spurred Pakistan to speed up development of its own nuclear bomb. Dr SK Sikka, who was one of India’s leading nuclear scientists, spoke to Alex Last in 2018 about his role in the secret project. Dr Sikka died in 2023 at the age of 82. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines’ life and Omar Sharif’s legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives’ ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: A crater showing the aftermath of the nuclear test. Credit: Reuters)

Américo Borges, a volunteer fire station commander and local family doctor who was among the first responders to the 1985 Mangualde train disaster, gives vivid eyewitness testimony. He describes arriving to collapsing carriages, fighting intense fires and diesel leaks, desperate rescue attempts inside burning coaches, the emotional toll on volunteers, and how the catastrophe spurred changes in disaster medicine and rail safety.

Anne Murphy, a Prestwick local who was 16 in 1960, recalls seeing Elvis Presley up close during his brief stop in Scotland. She describes the thrill of hearing he was coming and rushing to the runway with friends. Vivid moments include standing by the plane steps as Elvis in uniform signed autographs and chatted with fans.

Jan Eliasson, veteran Swedish diplomat and former UN deputy secretary-general, recalls being at the Swedish embassy in Washington in 1972. He describes receiving Palme’s fiery telex, the speech comparing US actions to historic massacres, and the US recall of its ambassador. He also recounts how junior diplomats kept channels open and the gradual thaw led by Kissinger.

Malik El-Rafai (young volunteer and former Darayya resident) helped run a secret underground library during the siege. He recounts rescuing and cataloguing thousands of books. Listens learn how the library offered normalcy, became a learning hub and hosted political debates. Malik also tells of the evacuation, looting and efforts to reclaim lost books.

Brenda Hollis, the international prosecutor who led the case against Charles Taylor, shares her work building the trial. She discusses assembling evidence, witness accounts of rape, mutilation and child soldiers, and the legal challenge of linking Taylor to crimes from afar. She also describes the blood diamond links and the high-profile testimonies that drew global attention.

Dorothy Varayan, who lived through the Japanese invasion and occupation of Malaya as a child in Malacca, tells vivid memories of wartime life. She recalls soldiers entering homes, brutal violence against Chinese neighbours, fleeing to rubber plantations, schooling under occupation and signs that the conflict was ending. Dark discoveries after liberation and later reflections close her powerful account.