Jung Chang, whose lifetime’s writing has informed so much opinion about Mao’s cultural revolution outside of China, says “In China now the repression is the worst it’s been since Mao’s death in 1976.” Speaking at
@mcrlitfest.bsky.social

Wow! Archive on 4: Do You Speak English? has been shortlisted for an award from the Association for International Broadcasters. Making the documentary led me to a trove of radio and TV programmes broadcast abroad to teach English that I and most people in the UK had never heard before. #BBCSounds

50 years ago today, July 25, 1975:

The landmark musical A CHORUS LINE opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre. The show, conceived and directed by Michael Bennett, won nine Tony Awards and ran for a then-record 15 years. It became a tourist attraction and helped revitalize Times Square.

“I hope I get it. I hope I get it…” 🎶 It’s 50 years since the premiere of A Chorus Line. Baayork Lee who was in the original cast describes what it was like to make musical history.

The story of the passion and drive behind the creation of Voice of America and its reporting in the 1940s was an important one to tell so I’m thrilled my programme ‘The Start of Voice of America’ was a BBC Radio 4 pick of the week #VOA

After long negotiations in 2015, solving Greece’s debt crisis came down to 17 hours of talks between EU leaders. Greece’s then finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos tells me what happened behind closed doors in the early hours #bbcworldservice #Greece

In 1942 Eugene Kern walked into the #VoiceofAmerica office looking for a job. He was put to work straight away producing a Finnish show unable to speak a word. Hear his account of the start of the dismantled broadcaster set up to counter Nazi propaganda

Back to the Future is 40-years-old today! Did you know the DeLorean started out as a refrigerator? youtube.com/watch?v=dCVG...

Nigeria has pardoned Ken Saro-Wiwa 30 years after his execution. The writer stood up against oil producers in the Niger Delta. In 2014 Witness History spoke to his friend and fellow campaigner Ledum Mitee #BBCWorldService

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Archaeologist Khalil Hariri risked everything - and was even shot at - when he rescued 400 artefacts from the clutches of the Islamic State group 10 years ago in Palmyra. Today’s Witness History on the BBC World Service www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

It’s 10 years since a history-making phone call. President Goodluck Jonathan phoned his election opponent to concede defeat. It was the first time it had happened in Africa’s biggest democracy, Nigeria. President Jonathan’s media aide recalls the moment
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

There are so many bonkers aspects to the story of defector Thae Yong-Ho - NK’s Ealing embassy, trying to close a London barbers that made fun of KJU’s haircut - but there’s also the tragic & brave stories of those who now live in London’s “Little Pyongyang”, New Malden. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

“It’s like falling in love, discovering a new continent and winning a great victory all at one” What a description of a scientific discovery! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... #MaxPerutz #Chemistry #Haemoglobin

Thank you @owainwynevans.bsky.social for choosing Mary Fisher’s interview about her ‘Whisper of AIDS’ speech for Witness History as a Pick of the Week @maryfisher.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

In 1992 Mary Fisher didn’t expect to see her sons aged 4 and 2 grow up. She gave a speech to challenge the stigma of HIV and AIDS. It’s ranked one of the most important of the 20th century in the US. She reflected on it with me for Witness History

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

“One of my standout favourites of the week” from Claudia Hammond on Pick of the Week www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

This is such a lovely and fascinating programme by @josephinemcdermott.bsky.social about how the BBC used to teach English on the World Service. Worth it for the received pronunciation ABBA alone!

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Delighted that Archive on 4: Do You Speak English? is a Radio Times @radiotimes.bsky.social Pick of the Week. So many World Service gems uncovered including China’s Follow Me. Radio 4, Saturday at 20:00