Witness History Episodes Available now
The start of the Open University
A new university in Britain offers a radically different approach to higher education.
Vietnamese Boat People Arrive in Britain
Some of the first Vietnamese refugees arrive in Britain after a dramatic rescue at sea.
The Millennium Bug
How the world waited for a potential global computer meltdown on New Year's Eve 1999
The Poster Boy for the Communist System
In 1935, Alexei Stakhanov, a coal miner, became a Soviet celebrity.
Rasputin
In 1916, the infamous holy man Grigori Rasputin, was murdered by Russian aristocrats
The Donner Party
In 1846, a group of US pioneers were trapped in the mountains over the winter.
The Beagle 2 Mission to Mars
On Christmas Day 2003, a British space craft was due to land on Mars to look for life
It's a Wonderful Life
A former Hollywood child star remembers filming the classic Christmas movie in 1946.
Michael Jackson's Thriller
In 1982 the world's best selling album was released
Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita
One of the 20th Century's most scandalous books was published in 1955
