The History Podcast

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Broadcast

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The Brighton Bomb - Omnibus 1

20241012

In 1984 an IRA bomb planted under a bath in Brighton's Grand Hotel came close to killing Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. Five people died and 31 others were seriously injured.

writer Glenn Patterson tells the story of the deadly attack, unravelling the threads that brought all involved - often by heart breaking chance - to that place and time, 2.54am on the morning of 12 October, and reveals how the police only just averted a huge follow-up IRA bombing campaign, aimed at England's beaches.

When you get right down to it, everything in life is a matter of timing -

It is the night of 17 September 1984. The guest in room 629 of Brighton's Grand Hotel has ordered a bottle of vodka and three cokes.

A few minutes before, the guest – who signed in two days ago as Roy Walsh – put the panel back on the side of the bath in 629's en suite.

Behind that panel he has left a bomb, timed to go off in three weeks, three days, six hours and thirty-six minutes, at 2.54am on Friday 12 October.

The day of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton.

And the Prime Minister and all her cabinet, as this man who calls himself Roy Walsh knows, will be staying in the Grand Hotel.

It is the biggest direct assault on a British Government since the Gunpowder Plot.

And in the bomber's mind, it's only the start.

A Walk On Air Films production for BBC Radio 4

How an IRA bomb in Brighton's Grand Hotel almost killed Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet.

History in close-up, through the people who were there.

Glenn Patterson on the biggest assault on a British government since the Gunpowder Plot. He unravels the threads of the 1984 IRA attack where 5 people died and 31 were injured.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Brighton Bomb - Omnibus 2

20241019

In 1984 an IRA bomb planted under a bath in Brighton's Grand Hotel came close to killing Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. Five people died and 31 others were seriously injured.

Writer Glenn Patterson tells the story of the deadly attack, unravelling the threads that brought all involved - often by heart breaking chance - to that place and time, 2.54am on the morning of 12 October, and reveals how the police only just averted a huge follow-up IRA bombing campaign, aimed at England's beaches.

When you get right down to it, everything in life is a matter of timing -

It is the night of 17 September 1984. The guest in room 629 of Brighton's Grand Hotel has ordered a bottle of vodka and three cokes.

A few minutes before, the guest – who signed in two days ago as Roy Walsh – put the panel back on the side of the bath in 629's en suite.

Behind that panel he has left a bomb, timed to go off in three weeks, three days, six hours and thirty-six minutes, at 2.54am on Friday 12 October.

The day of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton.

And the Prime Minister and all her cabinet, as this man who calls himself Roy Walsh knows, will be staying in the Grand Hotel.

It is the biggest direct assault on a British Government since the Gunpowder Plot.

And in the bomber's mind, it's only the start.

A Walk On Air Films production for BBC Radio 4

How an IRA bomb in Brighton's Grand Hotel almost killed Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet.

History in close-up, through the people who were there.

Glenn Patterson on the biggest assault on a British Government since the Gunpowder plot. He unravels the threads of the 1984 IRA attack where 5 people died and 31 were injured.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Lucan Obsession - Omnibus 1

20250106

One winter's night, 50 years ago, a crime took place that obsessed the nation.

Lord Lucan is said to have killed the family nanny, attacked his wife and vanished.

Newspapers ran wild with lurid detail and it became a story hardwired into British culture.

Why did this case capture the British imagination, and spark one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th Century?

Historian Alex von Tunzelmann unpacks the story of our obsession, taking us into a dizzying world of high stakes gambling and exclusive London clubs, powerboat racing and pet tigers. It's also a dark realm of bankruptcy, gaslighting and stalking, and at its heart, a story with a violent and very tragic death.

Across the series she investigates the two mysteries at the centre of this story: was Lord Lucan the murder, and where on earth did he go?

Told and retold, the facts of the Lucan story have got lost. Alex finds herself in a hall of mirrors where truth and lies distort themselves into new myths and new mysteries. Was the truth obscured by booze and backhanders, class deference and journalist spin?

As she tries to get to the bottom of this case, she meets eyewitnesses from the '70s, people caught up in the crime, and those who just can't let it go. She unearths long forgotten tapes and letters, piecing together fragments of a legend to discover why the Lucan myth still holds such power.

Series contributors:

Algy Cluff, Pierrette Goletto and Mandy Parks

Journalists: Bob Strange and James Fox

Author: Laura Thompson

Crime writer: Claire McGowan

Police: Geoff Lewry, Richard Swarbrick and Jackie Malton

UK Missing Persons Unit: Louise Newell

Presenter: Alex von Tunzelmann

Series Producer: Sarah Bowen

Content Producer: Becca Bryers

Of all murders in the 20th century, why does this one still captivate us 50 years on?

History in close-up, through the people who were there.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Lucan Obsession - Omnibus 2

20250108

One winter's night, 50 years ago, a crime took place that obsessed the nation.

Lord Lucan is said to have killed the family nanny, attacked his wife and vanished.

Newspapers ran wild with lurid detail and it became a story hardwired into British culture.

Why did this case capture the British imagination, and spark one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th Century?

Across the series she investigates the two mysteries at the centre of this story: was Lord Lucan the murder, and where on earth did he go?

Series contributors:

Algy Cluff, Pierrette Goletto and Mandy Parks

Journalists: Bob Strange and James Fox

Author: Laura Thompson

Crime writer: Claire McGowan

Police: Geoff Lewry, Richard Swarbrick and Jackie Malton

UK Missing Persons Unit: Louise Newell

Presenter: Alex von Tunzelmann

Series Producer: Sarah Bowen

Content Producer: Becca Bryers

Of all murders in the 20th century, why does this one still captivate us 50 years on?

History in close-up, through the people who were there.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
The Brighton Bomb - Omnibus 1	20241012	In 1984 an IRA bomb planted under a bath in Brighton's Grand Hotel came close to killing Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. Five people died and 31 others were seriously injured. writer Glenn Patterson tells the story of the deadly attack, unravelling the threads that brought all involved - often by heart breaking chance - to that place and time, 2.54am on the morning of 12 October, and reveals how the police only just averted a huge follow-up IRA bombing campaign, aimed at England's beaches. When you get right down to it, everything in life is a matter of timing - It is the night of 17 September 1984. The guest in room 629 of Brighton's Grand Hotel has ordered a bottle of vodka and three cokes. A few minutes before, the guest – who signed in two days ago as Roy Walsh – put the panel back on the side of the bath in 629's en suite. Behind that panel he has left a bomb, timed to go off in three weeks, three days, six hours and thirty-six minutes, at 2.54am on Friday 12 October. The day of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton. And the Prime Minister and all her cabinet, as this man who calls himself Roy Walsh knows, will be staying in the Grand Hotel. It is the biggest direct assault on a British Government since the Gunpowder Plot. And in the bomber's mind, it's only the start. A Walk On Air Films production for BBC Radio 4 How an IRA bomb in Brighton's Grand Hotel almost killed Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet. History in close-up, through the people who were there. Glenn Patterson on the biggest assault on a British government since the Gunpowder Plot. He unravels the threads of the 1984 IRA attack where 5 people died and 31 were injured. [LISTEN NOW]
The Brighton Bomb - Omnibus 2	20241019	In 1984 an IRA bomb planted under a bath in Brighton's Grand Hotel came close to killing Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. Five people died and 31 others were seriously injured. Writer Glenn Patterson tells the story of the deadly attack, unravelling the threads that brought all involved - often by heart breaking chance - to that place and time, 2.54am on the morning of 12 October, and reveals how the police only just averted a huge follow-up IRA bombing campaign, aimed at England's beaches. When you get right down to it, everything in life is a matter of timing - It is the night of 17 September 1984. The guest in room 629 of Brighton's Grand Hotel has ordered a bottle of vodka and three cokes. A few minutes before, the guest – who signed in two days ago as Roy Walsh – put the panel back on the side of the bath in 629's en suite. Behind that panel he has left a bomb, timed to go off in three weeks, three days, six hours and thirty-six minutes, at 2.54am on Friday 12 October. The day of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton. And the Prime Minister and all her cabinet, as this man who calls himself Roy Walsh knows, will be staying in the Grand Hotel. It is the biggest direct assault on a British Government since the Gunpowder Plot. And in the bomber's mind, it's only the start. A Walk On Air Films production for BBC Radio 4 How an IRA bomb in Brighton's Grand Hotel almost killed Margaret Thatcher and her Cabinet. History in close-up, through the people who were there. Glenn Patterson on the biggest assault on a British Government since the Gunpowder plot. He unravels the threads of the 1984 IRA attack where 5 people died and 31 were injured. [LISTEN NOW]
The Lucan Obsession - Omnibus 1	20250106	One winter's night, 50 years ago, a crime took place that obsessed the nation. Lord Lucan is said to have killed the family nanny, attacked his wife and vanished. Newspapers ran wild with lurid detail and it became a story hardwired into British culture. Why did this case capture the British imagination, and spark one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th Century? Historian Alex von Tunzelmann unpacks the story of our obsession, taking us into a dizzying world of high stakes gambling and exclusive London clubs, powerboat racing and pet tigers. It's also a dark realm of bankruptcy, gaslighting and stalking, and at its heart, a story with a violent and very tragic death. Across the series she investigates the two mysteries at the centre of this story: was Lord Lucan the murder, and where on earth did he go? Told and retold, the facts of the Lucan story have got lost. Alex finds herself in a hall of mirrors where truth and lies distort themselves into new myths and new mysteries. Was the truth obscured by booze and backhanders, class deference and journalist spin? As she tries to get to the bottom of this case, she meets eyewitnesses from the '70s, people caught up in the crime, and those who just can't let it go. She unearths long forgotten tapes and letters, piecing together fragments of a legend to discover why the Lucan myth still holds such power. Series contributors: Algy Cluff, Pierrette Goletto and Mandy Parks Journalists: Bob Strange and James Fox Author: Laura Thompson Crime writer: Claire McGowan Police: Geoff Lewry, Richard Swarbrick and Jackie Malton UK Missing Persons Unit: Louise Newell Presenter: Alex von Tunzelmann Series Producer: Sarah Bowen Content Producer: Becca Bryers Of all murders in the 20th century, why does this one still captivate us 50 years on? History in close-up, through the people who were there. [LISTEN NOW]
The Lucan Obsession - Omnibus 2	20250108	One winter's night, 50 years ago, a crime took place that obsessed the nation. Lord Lucan is said to have killed the family nanny, attacked his wife and vanished. Newspapers ran wild with lurid detail and it became a story hardwired into British culture. Why did this case capture the British imagination, and spark one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th Century? Historian Alex von Tunzelmann unpacks the story of our obsession, taking us into a dizzying world of high stakes gambling and exclusive London clubs, powerboat racing and pet tigers. It's also a dark realm of bankruptcy, gaslighting and stalking, and at its heart, a story with a violent and very tragic death. Across the series she investigates the two mysteries at the centre of this story: was Lord Lucan the murder, and where on earth did he go? Told and retold, the facts of the Lucan story have got lost. Alex finds herself in a hall of mirrors where truth and lies distort themselves into new myths and new mysteries. Was the truth obscured by booze and backhanders, class deference and journalist spin? As she tries to get to the bottom of this case, she meets eyewitnesses from the '70s, people caught up in the crime, and those who just can't let it go. She unearths long forgotten tapes and letters, piecing together fragments of a legend to discover why the Lucan myth still holds such power. Series contributors: Algy Cluff, Pierrette Goletto and Mandy Parks Journalists: Bob Strange and James Fox Author: Laura Thompson Crime writer: Claire McGowan Police: Geoff Lewry, Richard Swarbrick and Jackie Malton UK Missing Persons Unit: Louise Newell Presenter: Alex von Tunzelmann Series Producer: Sarah Bowen Content Producer: Becca Bryers Of all murders in the 20th century, why does this one still captivate us 50 years on? History in close-up, through the people who were there. [LISTEN NOW]