Here for the History

BBC Sounds

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the surprising moments in history behind the traditions, customs and objects all around us.

Watch on iPlayer: https://bbc.in/4yZXE7U

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23 episodes
weekly
Avg 31 min
English

Episodes 23

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Thursday · 34 min
Why Do Brits Love Curry?
Imperial origins and the postwar curry house boom.
October 29 · 30 min
Where Did Cash Come From?
From coins to contactless, the story behind the money in your wallet.
October 22 · 27 min
Do Brits Have Bad Teeth?
There’s a stereotype that Brits have bad teeth - is it true?
October 15 · 31 min
Where Did The Modern Toilet Come From?
The modern toilet is a technological marvel - where did it come from?
October 8 · 37 min
Why Are We Obsessed With Work?
The history behind our modern obsession with hard work.
October 1 · 31 min
Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?
Alice and Ben put on their thinking caps to unravel the demise of the hat.
September 24 · 33 min
Why Are We Dog Obsessed?
Dogs are man’s best friend - but has it always been that way.
September 17 · 37 min
Who Invented the “Whodunit”?
Uncover the perpetrators behind our love for a murder mystery.
September 10 · 34 min
Where Do Manners Come From?
Books on courtly conduct, the age of politeness and Victorian etiquette.
September 3 · 35 min
Why Do Scots Wear Tartan?
How this checked material became the symbol of a nation.
August 27 · 29 min
Why Do We Love Pubs?
How did the pub become so central to British culture?
August 20 · 33 min
Why Does the Union Jack Look Like That?
The story of why the UK’s national flag looks the way it does.
August 13 · 27 min
Why Do We Have ‘Ugly’ Buildings?
How modern architecture swept Britain in the 20th century.
August 6 · 31 min
Who Invented the Weekend?
The story of why we get Saturday and Sundays off work each week.
July 30 · 32 min
Why Do We Wear Suits?
From royal coronations to criminal trials, the suit is men’s go-to uniform. Why?
July 23 · 36 min
Package Holiday: Why do Brits go to Benidorm?
How did a teetotaller and a military dictator help to create the summer getaway?
July 16 · 34 min
Stiff Upper Lip: Do Brits Have Emotions?
Exploring the stereotype that Brits don’t show their emotions.
July 9 · 36 min
Why Don’t Women’s Clothes Have Pockets?
The surprising history of how women’s pockets fell in and out of fashion over time.
July 2 · 38 min
Why Are Brits So Obsessed With Football?
How football became Britain’s national sport.
June 25 · 29 min
English Language: Why Do We Speak Like That?
Why do our spellings not match our pronunciations? Why are so many words really weird?

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes