Peter The Greats Journey To The West

Today we trace the fascinating and often tragic relationship between Russia and vodka - from its medieval origins to its role as a tool of social control. Discover how vodka became both Russia's liquid currency and its social poison, with consumption patterns that have historical ...  Show more

Today we examine the brutal reign of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who earned the infamous nickname "The Butcher of Africa" through his systematic torture and murder of an estimated 300,000 people. From his rise to power in 1971 to his eventual overthrow in 1979, Amin's regime was m ...  Show more

One of the most well-told episodes of the First World War, the 1915 Gallipoli expedition, also has its own long-ignored aspects - specifically, the story of how the Allied force successfully evacuated in the middle of winter under the guns of the Turkish defenders. Our guest for ...  Show more

Located roughly in the territory of the modern-day nation of Iran is the ancient region known as Persia.  Persia sat at a strategic crossroad between South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia Minor. It was influenced not only by all of the great c ...  Show more

As the Nazis waged war on Europe, Britain had to take extreme measures to protect its shores. German and Italian nationals were imprisoned across the UK, including a small community of women on the Isle Of Man. Al Murray and James Holland return to the National Archives, to disco ...  Show more

How much do you know about the relationship between the Royal Navy and pirates during the Second World War? Vichy France, Hawker Typhoons, and a Jamaican epic are the topics on today's podcast - plus there's also a sneak preview of James' latest book on Italy during the War... A ...  Show more