History's Secret Heroes

BBC Radio 4

Helena Bonham Carter shines light on extraordinary stories from World War Two.

  • 28 minutes 35 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 8. Rani Lakshmi Bai: The Warrior Queen

    When her kingdom is threatened, a 22-year-old Indian woman takes on the British Empire on horseback, with a sword in each hand.

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    27 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 46 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 7. The Visionary Julian of Norwich

    In Norwich, a woman locks herself in a tiny cell for years. Despite limited contact with the outside world, she becomes one of the first women to write in the English language.

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    20 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 22 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 6. Louis Braille: Code Maker

    After losing his sight in a childhood accident, a young Frenchman invents a tool that will change the lives of blind people around the world.

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    This programme has been edited since first publication to remove the inaccurate suggestion that Charles Barbier’s raised dot code system was first developed for military use.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Elaina Boateng Series Producer: Suniti Somaiya Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    13 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 26 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 5. St Francis of Assisi: Teen Rebel

    A charismatic young man attracts a band of followers after denouncing his family fortune and devoting his life to the poor.

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Series Producer: Suniti Somaiya Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    6 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 42 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 4. Audrey Hepburn’s Teenage Resistance

    Before she became a Hollywood star, how did the young Audrey Hepburn take on the Nazis in the Netherlands?

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    30 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 41 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 3. Grace Darling: Maiden of the Sea

    When a reclusive young woman spots a shipwreck off the coast of Northumberland, she embarks on a perilous rescue mission. Little does she know, it will make her world-famous.

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    23 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 28 minutes 39 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 2. The Brief Reign of Lady Jane

    Stripped of her crown and trapped In the Tower of London will Lady Jane Grey give up her faith or face the executioner’s axe?

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    16 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 29 minutes 8 seconds
    History's Youngest Heroes: 1. Nelson Mandela and the Defiance Campaign

    Before he became a world leader, how did Mandela as a young activist first attempt to overthrow the South African government to end apartheid?

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Edit Producer: Melvin Rickarby Assistant Producer: Elaina Boateng Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    9 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 3 minutes 10 seconds
    Introducing History's Youngest Heroes

    Nicola Coughlan shines a light on extraordinary young people from across history. Join her for 12 stories of rebellion, risk and the radical power of youth.

    2 December 2024, 5:00 am
  • 30 minutes 6 seconds
    20. Manfred Gans and X Troop

    Manfred Gans joins an elite, secret unit of Jewish commandos to take on the Nazis with advanced fighting and counterintelligence skills. But can he save his own family?

    Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    3 June 2024, 4:00 am
  • 28 minutes 34 seconds
    19. The Enigmatic Emily Anderson

    Emily Anderson led a double life. This shy musicologist from Galway was also a top codebreaker for the British, whose work would play a crucial role in Allied victory.

    Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage.

    A BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

    Producer: Suniti Somaiya Assistant Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts

    27 May 2024, 4:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App
© MoonFM 2025. All rights reserved.