{"podcast":{"title":"History's Heroes","slug":"history-s-heroes-6396729","podcast_index_feed_id":6396729,"rss_url":"https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/m001mcbp.rss","website_url":"http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mcbp","image_url":"http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/3000x3000/p0mq65jd.jpg","author":"BBC","episode_count":90,"summary":"History's Heroes: the BBC's breathtaking, high stakes, story-led history podcast feed that shines a light on extraordinary people from across history. Series include 'History's Heroes' with narration from Historian Alex von Tunzelmann, 'History's Toughest Heroes' with narration from Ray Winstone, 'History's Youngest Heroes' with narration from Nicola Coughlan and 'History's Secret Heroes' with narration from Helena Bonham Carter. In History's Heroes, Historian Alex von Tunzelmann (Radio 4's The History Podcast: The Lucan Obsession/writer of all the History's Heroes series) shines a light on the inspiring and unusual stories of courage, pioneering and people who used their voice to spark change. Heroes covered include groundbreaking surgeon Harold Gillies, composers Rodgers and Hammerstein and swimming champion Gertrude Ederle. Join Alex for stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone reveals wild, true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors. Heroes covered include arctic explorer Peter Freuchen, Hollywood stunt woman Kitty O'Neil and medieval knight William Marshal. Join Ray for tales of fearsome heroes…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-22T00:17:38.974873+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729"},"episode":{"title":"History's Toughest Heroes: William Marshal: The Greatest Medieval Knight","slug":"history-s-toughest-heroes-william-marshal-the-greatest-medieval-knight","published_at":"2025-12-16T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729/history-s-toughest-heroes-william-marshal-the-greatest-medieval-knight","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729","url":"http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002n7tv","audio_url":"http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0mhszqn.mp3","summary":"At the age of 70, does England’s greatest knight still have what it takes to save the realm from invasion? In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. The young Sir William Marshal was handsome, charming, captain of the England Tourney team a sporting hero and right-hand man to many a king of England including Henry the Young King, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart and Bad King John. He was a brilliant rider and very good at jousting. He was even famed for having a ‘large crotch’. But towards the end of his life, in his 70s, when he might have wanted to wind down, the realm was in trouble facing the threat of a French invasion. William Marshal was called upon to fight the ultimate battle and save the day in the Battle of Lincoln. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Suniti Somaiya Development Producer: Georgina Leslie Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Imogen Robertson Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts","meta_description":"At the age of 70, does England’s greatest knight still have what it takes to save the realm from invasion? In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tell…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1781,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/history-s-heroes-6396729/episodes/history-s-toughest-heroes-william-marshal-the-greatest-medieval-knight/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-s-heroes-6396729/history-s-toughest-heroes-william-marshal-the-greatest-medieval-knight.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}