Witness History
BBC World Service
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 11, 2026 • 10min
Gina Lollobrigida interviews Fidel Castro
Gina Lollobrigida, Italian film star turned photographer and sculptor, famous for 1950s–60s cinema and a 1974 Cuba interview and photo shoot with Fidel Castro. She recalls Hollywood attention, rivalries and legal battles. She explains reinventing herself as a photographer and the two-week visit to Castro that produced iconic images and a gifted watch.
Feb 10, 2026 • 10min
When Pink Floyd played in Venice
Fran Tomasi, an Italian music promoter who organised Pink Floyd’s 1989 Venice concert, recounts the planning and fallout. He describes the floating barge stage and the surreal sight of crowds on boats and rooftops. He also discusses the last-minute permit scramble, the massive cleanup problems and the political storm that followed.
Feb 9, 2026 • 11min
The discovery of nerve growth factor
Rita Levi-Montalcini, Italian neurologist and Nobel laureate who secretly did wartime bedroom experiments. She recounts how chicken embryo work revealed nerve cell death. She describes follow-up discoveries in the US that pointed to a protein driving nerve growth. The story traces initial skepticism to eventual recognition and lasting scientific legacy.
9 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 11min
My dad created Mr Men and Little Miss
Adam Hargreaves, son of creator Roger Hargreaves and an author‑illustrator who continued the Mr Men and Little Miss books, recounts how a child's question inspired Mr Tickle. He talks about his father's advertising roots, the simple drawing and mock‑up that launched the series, its rapid rise into TV and merchandise, and how Adam later carried on and added his own characters.
7 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 10min
Austria's wine scandal
Heidi Schroek, an Austrian winemaker and former wine queen who later ran her family winery in Rust, recounts the 1985 antifreeze scandal. She describes discovery of diethylene glycol, why cheap sweet wines were doctored, the political fallout and local anger in Rust. She also covers the legal reforms, prosecutions and how the industry rebuilt its reputation.
8 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 10min
Jimmy Carter visits Cuba
Jennifer McCoy, director of the Carter Center Americas program in 2002 and later a political science professor, recounts accompanying Jimmy Carter to Havana. She describes arranging a live Spanish broadcast, meetings with dissidents and Castro, a surprise Q&A at the university, and a memorable baseball game that followed his speech. The episode focuses on the visit’s planning, interactions and immediate political impact.
6 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 11min
Cuba's Mariel boatlift
Mirta Ojito, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who left Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift, recalls her teenage decision to flee and the tense scenes at the barbed-wire camps. She describes overcrowded boats, a dramatic rescue by a Vietnam vet, and how news of criminals among migrants reshaped US reactions and policy.
Feb 2, 2026 • 10min
The 'Jugroom Fort' rescue mission
Captain Chris Fraser-Perry, a 19-year-old British Royal Marine who volunteered in the 2007 Jugroom Fort rescue attempt. He recounts the failed assault, the daring plan to ride an Apache helicopter onto the fort, the terrifying approach under fire and brownout, and the moment of discovering and recovering a fallen comrade.
11 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 9min
Ötzi: The Iceman of Bolzano
Two hikers uncover a perfectly preserved 5,000-year-old mummy high in the Alps. Archaeologists and forensic experts examine its clothes, tools and a copper axe. Researchers debate why the person was traveling and plan complex preservation and scientific analyses. Later investigations reveal a violent cause of death and promise decades of ongoing study.
6 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 10min
The Kaohsiung Incident
Yao Chia-wen, a Taiwanese pro-democracy lawyer jailed after the 1979 Kaohsiung/Formosa unrest, recounts his role and legal battle. He discusses the rally’s demands for lifting martial law, how clashes escalated into mass arrests and high-profile trials, and the event’s ripple effects on Taiwan’s shift from one-party rule to electoral politics.
