Peter Hennessy invites Alan Johnson to reflect on his life and times.
Anne McElvoy goes to Tyneside to rediscover the 'conserving crowds' of the Edwardian era.
A special edition of the programme to mark the bicentenary of Gladstone's birth.
Peter Snow takes Alan Johnson MP on a journey back to a Victorian mill.
An insight into the Chancellor, Alistair Darling.
Anne McElvoy traces the influence of Beatrice and Sidney Webb on British socialism.
Jonathan Freedland and guests discuss the careers of Lord Mandelson and Cardinal Richelieu
Helen Mark explores Sir Winston Churchill's family home of Chartwell in Kent.
William Crawley travels to Winston Churchill's grave in the Oxfordshire village of Bladon.
A humble wooden cabinet reveals secrets about how Churchill developed his oratorical style
David Lloyd George, who led Britain in the First World War with a presidential approach.
Athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson chooses her Welsh compatriot, politician David Lloyd George.
A report from California on water in LA, and domestic partnerships in San Francisco.
Nick Robinson looks at how Edward Heath handled the top job in politics.
Peter Hennessy invites Michael Heseltine to reflect on his life and times.
The battle for socialism's soul between a trade union boss and a revolutionary barrister.
Gary Oldman on his career and award winning performance as Churchill
The Oscar-tipped actor on how he captured the war-time PM's distinctive delivery
Gisela Stuart nominates Joseph Chamberlain as her great life.
Nick Robinson looks at how Harold Wilson handled the top job in politics.
Jeremy Paxman nominates the Victorian social reformer Lord Shaftesbury.
A Jamaican rebellion rouses Victorian liberals against state violence. With Anne McElvoy.
Becky Milligan profiles the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss.
Peter Hennessy tells how Lloyd George galvanized Britain as war leader a century ago.
Peter Hennessy talks to former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Tebbit (Norman Tebbit).
Peter Hennessy asks Dame Margaret Beckett MP to reflect on her life and times.
Michael Heseltine relives his life in sound through the BBC archives with John Wilson.
The Guardian's Michael White shines a spotlight on the health secretary Patricia Hewitt.
Labour's Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson looks back at his life via the sound archives.
