The People’s War

John Willis reveals unheard stories of life on the battlefront and at home during the Second World War, drawing on the BBC’s rich oral history archive.

About the event

In the early 2000s, the BBC launched its biggest oral history project, recording the lives and experiences of people who had lived through the Second World War. It amounted to 47,000 testimonies and over 400 diaries and letters, all of which have remained unexplored in the archives for 20 years – until now.

Having delved into these resources, John Willis reveals previously untold accounts of everyday bravery, moments of terror, and tales of life-affirming community spirit that guide us through years of conflict.

Follow the remarkable stories of ordinary individuals who lived, fought, grieved and survived the war, from soldiers in North Africa and prisoners of war in East Asia to evacuees in the British countryside and women working in the factories.

Additional information

This event is eligible for our 20% ticket bundle discount.

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About the speaker

John Willis is the author of ‘Churchill’s Few’, ‘Secret Letters’ and ‘Nagasaki: Forgotten Prisoners’. One of Britain’s best-known television executives, he held posts as Director of Programmes at Channel 4 and Director of Factual and Learning at the BBC. In 2012, he was elected Chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). He is currently Chair of Governors at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.