History's Heroes Podcast
Helena Bonham Carter and Nicola Coughlan shine a light on extraordinary people in history.
History's Heroes: the 大象传媒'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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Noor Khan: The Operator—History's Secret Heroes: Series 3
Today
2/10 In occupied France, can Agent Madeleine escape from the Nazis?
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Trailer—History's Secret Heroes: Series 3
Last Tuesday
Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two.
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Terry Fox鈥檚 Marathon of Hope—History's Youngest Heroes
Last Monday
12/12 Terry Fox sets out to run the length of Canada on a prosthetic leg.
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Hans and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 17 Feb 2025
11/12 A brother and sister mount a daring campaign against the Nazis.
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Vasily Arkhipov and the End of Days—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 10 Feb 2025
10/12 A young naval officer must choose whether to save the world or trigger its destruction.
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The Grisly World of Andreas Vesalius—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 3 Feb 2025
9/12 A young man becomes a sensation when he starts dissecting corpses in front of crowds.
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Rani Lakshmi Bai: The Warrior Queen—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 27 Jan 2025
8/12 A 22-year-old Indian woman takes on the British Empire.
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The Visionary Julian of Norwich—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 20 Jan 2025
7/12 A young woman locks herself in a cell for years and becomes a literary trailblazer.
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Louis Braille: Code Maker—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 13 Jan 2025
6/12 A young Frenchman invents a tool that will change the lives of blind people.
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St Francis of Assisi: Teen Rebel—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 6 Jan 2025
5/12 A wealthy young man severs ties with his family and embarks on a drastic new life.
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Audrey Hepburn鈥檚 Teenage Resistance—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 30 Dec 2024
4/12 How did the young Audrey Hepburn take on the Nazis?
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Grace Darling: Maiden of the Sea—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 23 Dec 2024
3/12 A reclusive young woman embarks on a perilous rescue mission
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The Brief Reign of Lady Jane—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 16 Dec 2024
2/12 Trapped in the Tower of London, Lady Jane Grey must choose between life or death.
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Nelson Mandela and the Defiance Campaign—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 9 Dec 2024
1/12 A young activist attempts to overthrow apartheid in South Africa.
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Trailer—History's Youngest Heroes
Mon 2 Dec 2024
Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history.
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Manfred Gans and X Troop—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
10/10 An elite secret unit of Jewish commandos take on the Nazis.
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The Enigmatic Emily Anderson—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
9/10 How Britain鈥檚 top female codebreaker played a crucial role in Allied victory.
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Andr茅e De Jongh and the Comet Line—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
8/10 Can a daring young Belgian woman save the lives of hundreds of stranded airmen?
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Charles Drew and the Blood Bank—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
7/10 How did an African-American doctor come to lead the blood bank effort during the war?
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Raymond Gur锚me: Escape Artist—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
6/10 A young circus performer dedicates himself to bringing the Nazis down.
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Josefina Guerrero: The Maid of Manila—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
5/10 How did Josefina Guerrero鈥檚 leprosy lead her to become a brilliant spy?
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The Unbreakable Navajo Code—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
4/10 A group of Native American soldiers devise a secret code for the Allies.
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Christine Granville: The Spy Who Skied In from the Cold—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
3/10 Thrill-seeker Christine Granville becomes Britain鈥檚 first female spy during the war.
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Flying High with Johnny Smythe—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
2/10 Johnny Smythe, one of the first West African RAF airmen, navigates a terrifying flight.
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The Extraordinary Cook Sisters—History's Secret Heroes: Series 2
Mon 1 Apr 2024
1/10 How did two English opera-loving sisters help dozens of Jews escape Nazi Germany?
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Trailer—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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Arslan Rezniqi and the Besa Code—History's Secret Heroes: Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
10/10 How did Arslan Rezniqi, an Albanian merchant, save hundreds of Jewish refugees?
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Jack King and the Fifth Column—History's Secret Heroes: Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
9/10 A bank worker from Surrey joins MI5. His job is to infiltrate British Fascists.
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Skiing Commandos—History's Secret Heroes: Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
8/10 Can a team of Norwegian men on skis destroy a water plant in time to stop a nuclear war?
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Bela Hazan and the Jewish Resistance—History's Secret Heroes: Series 1
Wed 31 May 2023
7/10 A young Polish woman named Bela Hazan goes undercover to fight against the Nazis.