History's Secret Heroes
By BBC Radio 4
History's Heroes: the BBC'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.
Latest episode
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History's Secret Heroes: Series 3: Operation Anthropoid
Two men set out to assassinate one of Hitler’s most high-ranking officers. -
History's Secret Heroes: Series 3: The Salon Albahari
A fashion boutique in Sarajevo houses an enormous secret. -
History's Secret Heroes: Series 3: Witold Pilecki: The Infiltrator
Why did Witold Pilecki volunteer to be sent to Auschwitz? -
History's Secret Heroes: Series 3: Curt Bloch and the Underwater Cabaret
A German refugee risks his life to ridicule Hitler. -
History's Secret Heroes: Series 3: Noor Khan: The Operator
In occupied France, can Agent Madeleine escape from the Nazis? -
Introducing History's Secret Heroes Series 3
Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. -
History's Youngest Heroes: 12. Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope
Terry Fox sets out to run the length of Canada on a prosthetic leg. -
History's Youngest Heroes: 11. Hans and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose
A brother and sister mount a daring campaign against the Nazis. -
History's Youngest Heroes: 10. Vasily Arkhipov and the End of Days
A young naval officer must choose whether to save the world or trigger its destruction. -
History's Youngest Heroes: 9. The Grisly World of Andreas Vesalius
A young man becomes a sensation when he starts dissecting corpses in front of crowds.