Witness History
BBC World ServiceWitness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories. Wh... more
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 2025 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Personal JournalsHistorySociety & Culture | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
In 1952, Princess Elizabeth became queen while staying at the Treetops Hotel in Kenya. But she wouldn't make the discovery until hours later.
The 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth and her husband were on five-month royal tour of the Commonwealth, and t... more
In 1997, scientists travelled to Tsavo, Kenya, in search of a cave believed to have been the den of the man-eating lions that terrorised railway workers in 1898.
The two lions stalked Indian and African men building the Uganda Railway, dragging vict... more
Holidaymakers arrived at the first Club Med resort on the Spanish island of Majorca in the summer of 1950.
Founded by the Belgian water polo player Gérard Blitz, Club Méditerranée offered a new kind of post-war holiday built around the idea that le... more
In 1987, Taiwan finally lifted martial law after nearly four decades of authoritarian rule.
The moment marked a profound shift for a society long shaped by censorship, surveillance and political fear.
For many who had lived through the ‘White Terro... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- Need to check their facts
The Rosa Parks story is completely incorrect. Rosa and her husband were politically active for years and the stunt on the bus was orchestrated. She had a journalist sitting behind her who had agreed to be there to write a favourable report for them.
Apple Podcasts2hannakuso
United Kingdoma month ago - Great Show
Nice, short digestible bits of history that I always enjoy listening to.
Apple Podcasts5Gobks
United States7 months ago - Why Bother?
Minute long historical news isn’t worth the time.
Apple Podcasts1Ned TallywhackerUnited Kingdom7 months ago - Love the history
My mother used to listen to your show on BBC short wave here in Canada, I found you on the podcast and I’ve been listening for years and years. 🥰
Apple Podcasts5CinderDaxWolf
Canada10 months ago - Highly Recommended
Short, informative accounts of events often now generally forgotten. Keeping these stories alive.
Apple Podcasts5TWRunnerUnited Kingdoma year ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #48 | United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #24 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #29 | Canada/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #186 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #9 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #26 |  Australia/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | |
|---|---|
| Gender Skew | |
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About Witness History
What is Witness History about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The series offers bite-sized, eyewitness-driven history across a wide range of topics, from political protests and cultural milestones to scientific breakthroughs and journalism. Episodes favor personal perspectives, archival context, and concise storytelling, frequently pairing researchers, journalists, and practitioners with family histories or firsthand memories. This approach gives listeners a quick, immersive understanding of how past events shaped present realities, often highlighting less-covered angles and human impact. The show's strengths include its diverse subject matter, strong archival sourcing, and a knack for turning complex histories into accessible narratives, making it appealing to curious listeners and professionals alik... more
Where can I find podcast stats for Witness History?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Witness History. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Witness History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Witness History get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Witness History, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for Witness History?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Witness History, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does Witness History have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Witness History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Witness History?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Witness History:
1. The Documentary Podcast
2. The History Hour
3. Lives Less Ordinary
4. The Inquiry
5. From Our Own Correspondent
How many episodes of Witness History are there?
Witness History launched 17 years ago and published 2025 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Witness History?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for Witness History?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Witness History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Witness History?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Witness History. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on Witness History?
Recent guests on Witness History include:
1. Adiel Gorie November
2. Roberto Antonio Alvarado
3. Katia Lund
4. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch
5. Bernie Bubnis
6. Inga Persson
7. Carme Puig Antich
8. Alimata Salembéré
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.