This Week in History

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. 2nd May 1982 - The Argentine navy cruiser General Belgrano is controversially sunk by a British nuclear submarine during the Falklands War. 1st May 1707 - The Act of Union unites England and Scotland to form Great Britain. 3rd May 1978 - Marketing manager Gary Thuerk sends the first spam email.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. 23rd April 1984 - The virus which causes HIV/AIDS is discovered. 21st April 1509 - Henry VIII accedes to the English throne. 25th April 1859 - The construction of the Suez canal begins.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. 13th April 1970 - An explosion on board Apollo 13 threatens the lives of three astronauts. 16th April 1616 - William Harvey begins publicising the pioneering medical theory that blood circulates around the body. 18th April 1930 - Listeners who tuned in to the BBC for the 845pm bulletin were told 'there is no news'.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. 10th April 1815 - Mount Tambora erupts, the largest in recorded history. For two years particles stay in the air across the globe, inspiring various artworks. 6th April 1994 - A plane carrying President Habyarimana of Rwanda and the Burundian President Ntaryamira is shot down, sparking the start of the Rwandan Genocide...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. 1st April 2001 - Slobodan Milošević, the former president of The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, surrenders to police special forces. 4th April 1968 - The civil rights activist Martin Luther King is assassinated. 1st April 1748 - The ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii are discovered.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. 23 March 1900 - Excavations begin at Knossos, Crete, revealing the Bronze Age Minoan civilisation 27 March 1963 - The Beeching report is published, leading to mass railway closures in the UK 26 March 1778 - Beethoven gives his first concert at the age of 7, he dies on the same day in 1827

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. March 21st In 1556 - the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, was burnt at the stake in Oxford during the reign of Queen Mary. March 17th 1921 - the first family planning clinic opened in Holloway, North London, by Marie Stopes. March 20th 1966 - the World Cup trophy was stolen from its display in...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. March 11th - In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev was named the Soviet Union's new leader. March 11th - In 1702, Britain's first daily newspaper - The Daily Courant - began publication. March 15th - In 44BC - the Ides of March - the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar, was assassinated by a group of senators.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 2nd to 8th March March 7th - 1876 Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for the telephone in the US March 2nd - 1965 One of the most popular musical films of all time, "The Sound of Music," premieres March 4th 1522 - Anne Boleyn makes her debut at the English court at the Green Castle pageant.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 23rd February to 1st March 24th February 1999 - The Metropolitan police force was branded "institutionally racist" by the Macpherson Report which examined the murder of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence. 1st March 1565 - The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese. 26th February 1839 - The fi...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 16th - 22nd February 16th February 1959 - Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro is sworn in as prime minister. 21st February 1804 - The world's first railway journey takes place. 22nd of February 1797 - The last Invasion of Britain; French soldiers land at Fishguard… but are soon captured.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 9th to 15th February 13th February 1258 - Five centuries of Abbasid rule ends when Baghdad falls to the Mongols. 11th February 1990 - Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years. 15th February 1971 - Britain converts to decimal currency. Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 2nd to 8th February 7th February 1974 - British Prime Minster Edward Heath calls a snap general election as the country grapples with a miners’ strike and an energy crisis. 5th February 1919 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith challenge the Hollywood power structure by formi...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 26th January to 1st February 27th Jan 1945 - The liberation of Auschwitz. 1st Feb 1884 - The first fascicle of The Oxford English Dictionary 'A-Ant' is published 30th Jan 1972 - Bloody Sunday Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 19th to 25th of January. 20th Jan 1265 - The first English Parliament met at Westminster Hall. 24th Jan 1961 - A US Air force plane carrying two Hydrogen bombs broke up mid-air over North Carolina. 19th Jan 1903 - A new bicycle race was announced "Tour de France". Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 12th to 18th January 16th January 1547 - Ivan The Terrible becomes the first Tsar of Russia. 16th January 1950 - The first edition of "Listen With Mother" is broadcast on the BBC Light Programme. 17th January 1921 - The first public performance of the illusion of sawing a person in half is given at Finsbury...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 5th to 11th January 5th January 1066 - Death of Edward the Confessor leading to a succession crisis. 11th January 1922- Leonard Thompson is the first patient to receive an insulin injection for diabetes. 5th January 1971 - The first One Day International cricket match is played at the Melbourne Cricket Groun...

As The Archers celebrates its 75th anniversary, This Week In History takes a look at the development of the drama, and we hear what life was like in Britain in January 1951. How did rationing affect everyday life? What else were people listening to on the wireless? And how did Barwick Green, a song from 1924, come to be chosen as The Archers theme tune? Produced by Amanda Litherland With thanks to...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 29th December to 4th January 31st December 1600 - Queen Elizabeth I grants The East India Company a Royal Charter. 29th December 1170 - The death of Thomas Becket. 4th January 1912 - The Boy Scouts Association is granted its Royal Charter by King George V. Presented by Ron Brown and Jane Steel.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 22nd to 28th December 22nd December 1972 - The Chilean Air Force finds fourteen survivors of a plane crash in the Andes, ten weeks after it happened. 25th December 800 - Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III. 26th December 1860 - Hallam FC and Sheffield FC contest the first ever match bet...

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 15th to 21st December 16th December 1707 - The last recorded eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan. 18th December 1917 - The Soviet government recognises Finland's independence. 19th December 1843 - "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is published. Presented by Jane Steel and Viji Alles.

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 8th to 14th December 12th December 1963 - Jomo Kenyatta leads Kenya to independence 13th December 2003 - Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured by US forces near his hometown of Tikrit 9th December 1952 - The Great Smog of London finally clears Presented by Jane Steel and Ron Brown

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 1st to 7th December 4th December 1961 - Announcement of birth control pill approval and use on NHS 5th December 1933 - End of prohibition in the US 4th of December 1154 Pope Adrian IV elected – the only Englishman to ascend to papacy Presented by Jane Steel and Viji Alles

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: 24th to 30th November 28th November 1893 - Women vote for the first time in New Zealand 24th November 1974 - Lucy, the most complete early human skeleton, is discovered 24th November 1852 - Matthew C Perry sets out on a 'diplomatic' mission to Japan. Presented by Caroline Nicholls and Ron Brown

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life. This week: the 17th to the 23rd of November 17th November 1558 - The Death of Queen Mary the First 22nd November 1963 - John F. Kennedy is assassinated 23rd November 1963 - Doctor Who debuts on BBC Television Presented by Ron Brown and Viji Alles Produced by Amanda Litherland and Sofie Vilcins