Today we’re travelling back in time to explore some of the most breath-takingly incompetent historic leaders, from the Crusades to Vietnam. In this episode we discover how lack of communication and misplaced sense of superiority caused tragedies and deaths of thousands of ordinary soldiers that could have otherwise be avoided. Narrated by Stephen Rashbrook, we discuss the British retreat from Kabul, the Boer (Boar) War, Dunkirk and the Falklands Campaign. The original documentary was...

This is a story of conspiracy and betrayal, of a lust for power and a lost allegiance; the story of the man who killed King Richard III. In this documentary we set out to prove that the Welshman Sir Rhys ap Thomas, master of Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, killed King Richard III, changing the course of British history. Sir Rhys ap Thomas had sworn allegiance to King Richard III. He had accumulated lands and status in Wales that were dependent, in part, on his loyalty to Richard. But at the...

This is part two of a two part episode, make sure you catch up on last week's by checking back in our feed. The mysterious island of Crete has always loomed large in imagination, as the home of the Minotaur -- that monstrous creature, half-man half-bull -- imprisoned in Daedalus' labyrinth. Before Crete collapsed in fire and violence, it gave birth to Europe's first civilisation nearly 5,000 years ago, and boasted an advanced, prosperous Mediterranean civilisation. The original documentary...

The mysterious island of Crete has always loomed large in imagination, as the home of the Minotaur -- that monstrous creature, half-man half-bull -- imprisoned in Daedalus' labyrinth. Before Crete collapsed in fire and violence, it gave birth to Europe's first civilisation nearly 5,000 years ago, and boasted an advanced, prosperous Mediterranean civilisation. The original documentary was licensed by Nent to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by McKenna Fernandez You can find...

This is the second part of a two part episode. Check back in our feed to listen to part one 'The RAF Pilots Tortured During The Gulf War '. Operation Desert Storm was only a day old when Tornado pilots John Peters and John Nichol were shot down in Iraqi territory and subsequently tortured and paraded on TV. Bruised and battered, the two men mumbled incoherently into the camera, and instantly became symbols around the world of Saddam’s savagery and aggression. In Tornado Down the two pilots...

Operation Desert Storm was only a day old when Tornado pilots John Peters and John Nichol were shot down in Iraqi territory and subsequently tortured and paraded on TV. Bruised and battered, the two men mumbled incoherently into the camera, and instantly became symbols around the world of Saddam’s savagery and aggression. In Tornado Down the two pilots break their silence, and in a series of moving and candid interviews, reveal the physical and psychological torment they suffered at the hands...

The Plague: How Did One Village Survive? This is The Riddle of the Plague Survivors. The original documentary was licensed by Nent to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Richard Tanner You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get in touch with the show, email us at [email protected]   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out...

This is part two of the inside story of Alexander Litvinenko's murder in London and the subsequent international manhunt that led to the Kremlin, told in full for the first time, with exclusive access to key individuals. The original documentary was licensed by Nent to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Harry Kalfayan You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you...

The inside story of Alexander Litvinenko's murder in London and the subsequent international manhunt that led to the Kremlin, told in full for the first time, with exclusive access to key individuals. The original documentary was licensed by Nent to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Harry Kalfayan You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get in...

Alan Davies explores the extraordinary life of Harry Houdini, who against the odds was among the richest, most successful entertainers in the world, he was the ultimate showman and one of the first American celebrities. In order to understand why Houdini felt compelled to perform such terrifying death-defying stunts, Alan tries to hold his breath under ice cold water, lies on a bed of nails and is strung up upside down in a straitjacket, among other things. The original documentary was...

This is the second part of a two part episode that explores the recently-unearthed archaeological evidence of a technologically-advanced civilization that once lay submerged beneath the Black Sea. The original documentary was licensed by New Domnion to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Ance Priedniece You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get...

This story journeys to the said region and explores recently-unearthed archaeological evidence of a technologically-advanced civilization that once lay there, now submerged beneath the Black Sea. The original documentary was licensed by New Domnion to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Ance Priedniece You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get...

At 9:00 a.m. on February 19, 1945, the soldiers of the United States Marine Corps 5th Division, H Company lowered themselves down rope cargo nets into landing crafts rocking in five-foot seas. They were less than a mile from the shore of the remote South Pacific island of Iwo Jima and one of the most notorious battles of World War Two. The original documentary was licensed by New Domnion to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Kyle Cairns You can find more from us...

At 9:00 a.m. on February 19, 1945, the soldiers of the United States Marine Corps 5th Division, H Company lowered themselves down rope cargo nets into landing crafts rocking in five-foot seas. They were less than a mile from the shore of the remote South Pacific island of Iwo Jima and one of the most notorious battles of World War Two. The original documentary was licensed by New Domnion to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by McKenna Fernandez You can find more from us...

The personalities and spectres of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin loom large in the events of the twentieth Century. They were similar in some respects and yet very different in others. The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Ance Priedniece. You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get in touch with the...

Churchill v Stalin examines the duel between the British and Russian leaders over what kind of Europe would emerge at the end of the war; a duel during which Roosevelt secretly intervened behind Churchill's back to decide the outcome The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edit production by Ance Priedniece. You can find more from us...

An examination of the mental battles waged between 20th-century leaders Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt during the first two years of their relationship. A duel of false promises, evasion and delusion ensued, which was far removed from the more familiar image of friendship and loyalty. World War II was not only a military conflict. It was also a series of private psychological battles waged by the four great leaders: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston...

King Herod is regarded as the most fascinating and appalling figure of the biblical world. Shrouded in legend, the evil King is portrayed in every Christmas Nativity play as a monster who killed hundreds of babies and tried to slaughter the baby Jesus in order to retain his title – King of the Jews. But who was the real Herod? Was he real at all, or just a figure of myth? The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. Podcast edited by Ance Priedniece. You can find...

During the Second World War SS Intelligence developed a secret weapon to undermine and ruin the British war effort – it was a weapon made of paper. Operation Bernhard – the Nazi codename for this covert project – became the biggest currency forgery in history, counterfeiting, at today’s value, over three billion pounds. The 104-strong workforce who produced the money were all Jewish prisoners isolated in a special workshop at Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin. With the threat of...

If you missed part one of this story, listen back to our previous episode to catch up. Located in the middle of Suleiman The Magnificent’s Palace, the Harem it was a place where sex could equal power. As you can imagine, some listener discretion is advised. The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would...

Located in the middle of Suleiman The Magnificent’s Palace, the Harem it was a place where sex could equal power. As you can imagine, some listener discretion is advised. The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get in touch with the show, email us at [email protected]   See...

In part two of this two part story we continue our exploration rise into the annihilation of Carthage and the Roman General Scipio who ordered it. The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get in touch with the show, email us at [email protected]   See acast.com/privacy for privacy...

 In part one of this two part story we explore the rise of Carthage and introduce you to one of the greatest military strategists in history... Hannibal. The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. You can find more from us on: https://www.youtube.com/timelinechannel https://www.facebook.com/timelineWH https://www.instagram.com/timelineWH If you would like to get in touch with the show, email us at [email protected]   See acast.com/privacy for...

Presented by Professor David Reynolds. Historian Professor David Reynolds reassesses Stalin’s role in the life and death struggle between Germany and Russia in World War Two, which he argues was ultimately more critical for British survival than ‘Our Finest Hour’ in the Battle of Britain itself. The original documentary was licensed by DRG to Little Dot Studios. You can find more from us...