
61. A Christmas Carol: From Alastair Sim To The Muppets (Ep 3)
01/1/2026 | 43 min
In what significant ways did the bestselling book ‘A Christmas Carol’ change Victorian behaviour around Christmas? From Christmas movies to the office Christmas party, what traditions do we have Charles Dickens to thank for? Why does this story still resonate in modern debates around poverty, responsibility, and compassion? Join David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell exploring the enduring legacy of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

60. A Christmas Carol: The Radical Message Hidden In A Holiday Classic (Ep 2)
29/12/2025 | 31 min
How did the three Ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future manage to save Scrooge, Tiny Time, and the Christmas spirit? What deadly social problem was Dickens looking to solve with A Christmas Carol? Who is actually on trial in the story: Scrooge or the society that made him possible? Join Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga as they look at the Ghost story that terrified Victorian Britain into helping the poor. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59. A Christmas Carol: The Book That Brought Back Christmas (Ep 1)
25/12/2025 | 57 min
Why had the Victorians stopped celebrating Christmas? How did the wretchedness of a London school for poor children inspire Charles Dickens’ famous Christmas tale? What does the story’s main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, tell us about the state of the UK? Join David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell as they tell the story of how Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ changed Victorian Britain. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58. Black GIs: Brown Babies and Broken Hearts (Ep 5)
22/12/2025 | 38 min
What does the hysteria around white women sleeping with Black GIs tell us about race and class in wartime Britain? Why were Black GIs banned from marrying their British sweethearts? What was the sad fate of many of the mixed raced babies left behind as a result of this encounter? Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga tell the final chapter in the story of Black GIs in the UK. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

57. Black GIs: American Mutiny On British Streets (Ep 4)
18/12/2025 | 28 min
What happened when Black GIs went on strike over their violent treatment at the hands of the white Military Police? Why did the American Army start fighting itself in the heart of a British city? How did the Ministry of Information stop the British public from hearing about this violence? Join David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell as they tell the story of the Park Street Riots, the forgotten American mutiny on the streets of Bristol. Social Producers: Emma Jackson, Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris Producer: Alice Horrell Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Journey Through Time