The History Podcast

As the net closes in on the Eisners, Antony's grandfather, Rudolph, has come up with an ingenious plan to save his family and their business empire. Will it work? And who is this mysterious man who enters the lives of the Eisners? Is he a friend or foe? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is...

Antony Easton begins to investigate his family's history. What he finds astonishes him: his relatives were owners of a huge steel empire worth billions today. But what has happened to this family fortune? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

After the death of his enigmatic and distant father, Antony Easton finally gets to go through his Dad's secret suitcase: "This was his life," Antony says. As he forensically trawls through its contents, Antony discovers a series of clues which are about to change his life forever. And, after decades, a woman from Antony's childhood gets in touch. For her, time is running out. She says she must see...

When Antony Easton’s enigmatic father passes away, he goes through his Dad's suitcase, filled with cryptic clues: neatly stacked German money, a family tree he doesn’t recognise, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father’s birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad’s double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece...

When Antony Easton’s enigmatic and distant father passes away, he begins sorting through suitcase filled with cryptic clues. Neatly stacked German money, a family tree he doesn’t recognise, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father’s birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad’s double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Pie...

Ragnar and the family try to understand what the confession from the basement means. Is it the truth? Or was it just another story that Jimmy spun? Determined to find something to disprove the statement, they head to the National Archive in search of answers. While the family have been grappling with the confession and what it means for them, Louise Shorter has been going through the evidence arou...

In 1995, a mysterious man phones the O’Connors. He wants to get something off his chest. Sensing something potentially huge, Nemone secretly records their meeting. What happened next could have change everything. The secret the mysterious man wants to share? He knows who killed Donk Ambridge. Meanwhile Ragnar is forced to confront everything he thought he knew about this case and his father. Hidde...

The fortunes of the O’Connors flip almost overnight. Nemone is no longer allowed to practice law, even after appealing to the highest authority, the Lord Chancellor. Meanwhile Jimmy’s confrontational style of writing attracts the attention of the BBC, landing him several prime-time TV plays. All the while Jimmy’s conviction is a constant shadow in their marriage. Meanwhile, in the present, the fam...

Jimmy is saved from the hangman’s noose with just hours to spare. With his sentenced commuted to life in penal servitude, he sets out to pass the time by learning how to write dramas. After ten years of moving from prison to prison, he’s finally released. But freedom doesn’t cut it for Jimmy. He wants to clear his name. He still maintains that he didn’t kill Donk Ambridge, and he’s determined to s...

Jimmy O’Connor was a small-time thief, making the most of the opportunities war torn London presented to him. How did he end up in a condemned cell at Pentonville? On the Easter weekend 1941, a man is murdered in a London suburb. The police have little evidence to go on, and the usual suspects are pulled in for questioning. Among them is 23-year-old Jimmy O’Connor. He’s eventually charged and trie...

In order to unspool a family saga that has lasted over 80 years, Ragnar heads back to where it all began. He starts with the story of his mum, Nemone Lethbridge. Her younger years were spent watching The Battle of Britain over the skies of Kent, and visiting the bunker where Hitler took his own life. This extraordinary childhood gave way to an extraordinary career as Nemone is one of the UK’s firs...

For 80 years, the O'Connors have battled what they believe to be a miscarriage of justice. Small time criminal Jimmy O'Connor was arrested for the murder of 'Donk' Ambridge and narrowly escaped the noose. Fast-forward 25 years and Jimmy is living a wonderful life on the Greek island of Mykonos. Now a sought after TV scriptwriter, he rubs shoulders with The Rolling Stones and Jackie Onassis and ent...

A gruelling, emotional mission draws to a close. In the aftermath of the operation and recovery at Jugroom Fort, the risks and rewards are analysed, but some costs are incalculable. The Fort was told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces, many speaking for the first time. Produced by Kev Core Edited by Sue Roberts Sound by Sharon Hughes Commissioning Executive Tracy Williams Com...

Under pressure and under fire, the team are faced with the task of returning Lance Corporal Mathew Ford to base. As exhaustion sets in and the clock ticks, Ed the pilot leaves the Apache to help with the recovery. Back at the Zulu Company lines, Mathew's colleauges await his return. The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces. Produced by Kev Core

The bomber has created an enormous dust storm at The Fort. Disorientated and under enemy fire, the team rush headlong from the grounded Apaches which have now become sitting duck targets for the Taliban. Tom, alone and effectively stuck inside his aircraft spots Taliban activity ahead. But the objective is clear: Find the stricken Lance Corporal Mathew Ford. But the men on the ground are confronte...

Precariously positioned on the side of two Apache attack helicopters Dave, Chris, Colin and Gary are flying straight into danger. Apaches are absolutely not supposed to land in the conflict zone, and as the helicopters take off, more helicopters provide crucial "top cover". We meet Charlotte Madison, a woman with a unique place in UK military history. A heavy bomber is tasked with creating a massi...

For Apache helicopter pilots Tom O'Malley and Ed Macy - the mission has changed. Their new objective is to prevent the stricken Lance Corporal Mathew Ford from becoming a prisoner of The Taliban. So they take the fight to them. But Tom is growing increasingly frustrated. With fuel and ammunition limited - how long can they sustain their airborne protection of the fallen marine? He devises a new pl...

Overwhelmed by enemy fire, Zulu Company have marshalled their casualties from the "killing ground" and staged a hurried withdrawal. Last to leave, Company Sergeant Major Shep Shepherd describes desperate efforts to account for their missing man. Senior Marine, Lance Corporal Mathew Ford cannot be found. Back at base - the decision is instant. A "no-brainer". "We're going back to get him." A small,...

The Royal Marines Commandos have launched their ground assault on Jugroom Fort. A jagged, v-shaped hole has been blasted into its side, and fresh from a nerve-wracking river crossing, the men of Zulu Company surge from their Viking vehicles to take up positions and press home their assault. This will be the location for "the break-in", the moment of any attack on an enemy encampment when the defen...

The story of Jugroom Fort takes a step back in time to the eve of battle. January 2007. The battle-hardened Royal Marines of Zulu Company assemble ahead of a massive air bombardment of the target, a notorious Taliban stronghold. Their orders include the possibility of crossing the Helmand River and attacking on foot. At 5am - that order is given. They're going in. Captain Chris Witts commands the...

The Fort is told solely by current and former members of the Armed Forces. Many are speaking for the first time. A Royal Marines raid on a Taliban stronghold has been met with fierce resistance - leaving Lance Corporal Mathew Ford missing behind enemy lines. Commander of the Information Exploitation Battlegroup Lieutenant Colonel Rob Magowan is presented with a live drone feed revealing the locati...

Afghanistan, January 2007. It's a piece of military daring that went down in history: Three Royal Marines and a Royal Engineer hold on to the side of Apache attack helicopters, heading into battle to recover a fallen comrade. Those involved in a gripping, almost unbelievable day, tell their story, many speaking for the first time. It begins with British forces, tasked with bringing security to Hel...

For the first time, commanders, soldiers and pilots who served in Afghanistan tell their story of the gruelling assault on Jugroom Fort - and an astonishing rescue mission.

As people back home partied in the streets, celebrating victory in Europe in May 1945, war wasn’t over for the many thousands of soldiers and civilians on the Asian front. For those in Japanese prison camps, or fighting in distant jungles, it wasn’t always over on the day Japan announced its unconditional surrender on August 15th. Episode 3 of The Second Map traces the complex remembrance of the w...

In Episode 2 of The Second Map, the war against Japan enters a new phase. Some of the most significant battles of the Second World War were fought on the Asian front - including by the 14th Army, which was known as ‘The Forgotten Army’, even at the time. It was formed after a string of defeats to Japan and was made up of nearly a million men, the majority from India and across the British empire....