Podcasts & Specials

Marking the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, through the voices of the people who made it happen, telling the story of the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

In August 2021, Kabul was in chaos as coalition troops were withdrawing from Afghanistan.

The city's airport was under attack from terrorists. Meanwhile, in the air, a Royal Air Force pilot received a call from the German Ops centre.

His mission... to rescue two German soldiers who had been left behind.

Warning - contains strong language

Listen again as BFBS chats with Polar Preet about her adventure to the South Pole - we find out about the highs and lows, her future plans PLUS find out if she broke the world record!

Photo: Credit Preet Chandi

The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), is one of the most ‘exotic’ postings available in the British Army.

BATUK’s main training hub is at Niyati Barracks in the town of Nanyuki, 2,000m above sea level and on the equator.

Mario Chrisostomou’s been finding out what life (and work) is like for the service personnel and their families there.

Double gold Olympic medallist Dame Kelly Holmes has opened up about hiding her sexuality for more than 30 years in her new book.

‘Unique – A Memoir’. In this BFBS interview with presenter Amy Casey, Dame Kelly also shares her thoughts following the UK Government's apology to LGBT veterans and of bringing change.

As we look ahead to Remembrance this weekend we are reflecting on different monuments and memorials across the forces world to reflect on the sacrifices and stories of service men, women and communities.

From Aldershot to Bahrain, Benson, Cyprus and a statue you'd see on your daily commute in London, they all hold a special meaning to remember those before us.

Series produced and presented by: Jess Bracey, Hayley Hammond, Natasha Reneaux, Tamsin Robson and Joe Carden.

Jess Bracey goes behind the scenes with Thames Valley Police as we hear from military veterans about what life has been like since leaving service and putting on a different uniform.

From front-line action dealing with crime and mental health, this is an operation with a difference and no two days are the same.

James Wharton speaks with Luke Turner, the author of Men at War. The book looks beyond the increasingly retrogressive and jingoistic ideal of a Britain that never was to recognise men of war as creatures of love, fear, hope and desire. From writers, filmmakers, artists and ordinary men – including those in his own family – Turner assembles a broad cast of characters to bring the war to life.

As BFBS reflects on 75 years of the NHS, we wanted to explore the close relationship between medical units in the Armed Forces and the NHS.

Amy Casey caught up with some members of a highly skilled minority: healthcare professionals who give up their spare time as RAF Medical Services Reservists. Somehow, she managed to fit into the hectic schedules of the following selfless individuals:

Sgt Diane Allebone, Intensive Care Unit Nurse / HRR CCAST

Sgt Jayne Lum Kin, Emergency Medicine Nurse

Cpl Mash Banks, Primary Healthcare Nurse

Flt Lt Suki Sira, Pharmacist

FS 'Wilf’ Williams, MERT Paramedic

They let us know where these adjacent worlds of work overlap and shared lessons they've taken from the front line to the NHS.

Forced Out tells the important story of the men and women who were dishonourably discharged from the UK Armed Forces, simply for being gay, who dared to take on the military establishment and to fight for the ‘gay ban’ to be overturned. 

Natasha Reneaux chats with Elaine Chambers, a former army nurse who had to resign from the military in the 80s.

To mark world tattoo day, Anthony Ballard from BFBS has been speaking to people about the stories behind their military ink.

Have you been tracking Exercise Joint Viking? It's the huge exercise in arctic operations base in Norway which has seen the UK join with 20,000 Norwegian and allied troops.

Amy Casey from BFBS has been finding out more about it with Sgt Mat Sidders - Media Ops with 30 Commando - Royal Marines who talks what they've been up to in Norway!

Wing Commander (Reverend) Weir & Squadron Leader (Imam) Omar, deployed on operations, spoke to Amy Casey on BFBS Radio about their role in supporting personnel in the UK & deployed.

Mario and Jess from BFBS were out in Estonia to spread festive cheer amongst the Enhanced Forward Presence - the main Battlegroup in the Baltic's at the moment being King's Royal Hussars.

Listen as they meet with the chefs, PTI, Commander of the EFP, Tank Commanders, Ambassador to Estonia, and take a wonder round the Christmas markets with the troops.

Misty McCready presents this unique documentary recalling the memories of young inmates at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Second World War. The programme includes interviews with survivors of the camp, poignant archive audio, and first-hand accounts written in 1945. You’ll hear interviews with survivors Rudi Oppenheimer and Miryam Sommerfeld. Bernard Levy, a British soldier who arrived approximately one week after the liberation, also shares his story. BBC archive audio featuring Richard Dimbleby, the first reporter into Belsen post-liberation, and Harold-Osmond le Druillenec, the only British National found in the camp, set the documentary in raw historical context. This programme was made to mark the 70th anniversary of the camp’s liberation in 1945. Produced by Dave Roberts and Misty McCready, ‘Children of Belsen’ won two trophies at the 2016 New York Festivals Radio Awards and was a winner at the 2015 AIBs (Association for International Broadcasting).

Men and women who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-gender talk about their experiences while serving in the UK armed forces. Some decided to keep their sexuality hidden, while others have come out. Some talk about how they were forced to give up the job they loved because they were found out. This programme was originally broadcast in February 2019, for LGBTQ History Month.