Podcast · History

History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories

by History Extra · English · History

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New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 32 min
Latest: 6 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Sep 2026 · 41 min

Was the Great Sphinx built by a lost civilisation?

The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the ancient world’s most enigmatic creations. So it’s no surprise that it has long been a magnet for pseudohistory and conspiracy theories. Could it be many thousands of years older than we think? Was it created by a lost civilisation? And do wondrous treasures lie beneath it waiting to be found? In the final episode of season 3 of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Egyptologist Campbell Price joins Rob Attar to separate fact to fiction in the story of the Sphinx. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For…

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Earlier episodes 23 most recent

S3 · E5 · 30 Aug 2026 · 33 min

Did an alien spacecraft crash-land in Russia?

In 1908, in the remote forests of Siberia, there was a giant explosion and bright lights were seen in the sky. Was this an asteroid or a comet crashing to earth? Or could it have been an alien spacecraft – or even a human experiment gone horribly wrong? In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, environmental historian Andy Bruno joins Rob Attar to explore the debates that still surround the mysterious Tunguska event. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home…
S3 · E4 · 23 Aug 2026 · 38 min

Did 300 years of history never happen at all?

The period after the fall of the western Roman empire is often known as the ‘Dark Ages’, due to an apparent shortage of historical evidence. Why might this be? Well, according to proponents of the Phantom Time Hypothesis, the explanation is simple: these centuries never happened at all. In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Dr Philipp Nothaft from the University of Oxford joins Rob Attar to discuss the idea that these centuries were invented by powerful people for their own purposes – and that, ever since, we've all been inadvertently colluding in their fictional…
S3 · E3 · 16 Aug 2026 · 30 min

Was Paul McCartney replaced by an imposter?

With 24 number one albums in the UK charts, Paul McCartney is the most successful British artist of all time. But what if the man that we know as Paul McCartney is in fact somebody else altogether? Could it be that the former Beatle was replaced by an imposter in the 1960s who's been living a lie ever since? In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Steven Cockcroft – co-host of the Beatles podcast Nothing Is Real – joins Rob Attar to examine one of the most bizarre conspiracy theories to emerge from the world of pop music. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced…
S3 · E2 · 9 Aug 2026 · 31 min

Do Jesus’s descendants live among us?

In the early 2000s, The Da Vinci Code was everywhere. Dan Brown’s novel – and its subsequent film adaptation – popularised the idea that Jesus Christ fathered children whose descendants have lived among us for millennia. The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, but could the theory underpinning it be true? In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Professor Helen Bond, an expert on early Christianity, joins Rob Attar to investigate the concept of the secret bloodline of Jesus. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For more…
S3 · E1 · 2 Aug 2026 · 34 min

Was Jack the Ripper Queen Victoria’s grandson?

As recent years attest, royal scandals have a habit of coming to light. But what if the mother of all royal scandals is still waiting to be revealed? Could it be that an heir to the British throne, Prince Albert Victor, lived a double life as a serial killer? In this first episode of a new season of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, crime historian Dr Drew Gray joins Rob Attar to explore the explosive suggestion that a British prince got away with multiple murders in the 19th century. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For more…
S3 · 26 Jul 2026 · 4 min

Season 3 | Trailer

Was Jack the Ripper a member of the royal family? Did Jesus have secret children? And did a lost civilisation build the Great Sphinx of Giza? In Season 3 of History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by expert historians to explore how these theories came about - and whether any of them might actually be true. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including History’s Greatest Cities and…
S2 · E5 · 28 Jul 2025 · 27 min

Did NASA fake the moon landing?

On 20 July 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong famously took one giant leap for mankind. The moon landing may well be the most iconic moment of the 20th century, but did it even happen at all? Might NASA and the US government have been so desperate to overtake the Soviets in the space race that they faked the entire thing? In the final episode of season 2 of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by spaceflight expert Francis French to consider why millions of people think the moon landing took place in a studio, rather than in space. History’s Greatest Conspiracy…
S2 · E4 · 21 Jul 2025 · 39 min

Legends of the Knights Templar

In the early 14th century, the Knights Templar were suppressed, and the 200-year history of this military religious order came to an abrupt end. Or did it? What if some of the Templars escaped persecution, and continued to operate secretly until the present, holding on to precious religious relics and maybe even discovering America? In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by medieval historian Steve Tibble to explore why myths have surrounded the Templars since the Middle Ages – and explain how Rosslyn Chapel and the Holy Grail fit into the story.…
S2 · E3 · 14 Jul 2025 · 30 min

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

First published in Russia in 1903, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion purported to demonstrate evidence of a global Jewish conspiracy. Though it has repeatedly been proven to be a forgery, the text has helped fuel antisemitism across the world, from Henry Ford in America, to Nazi Germany and anti-Jewish hatred today. In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar speaks to Professor Pamela S Nadell about why the infamous tract has proven so popular and how it connects to other antisemitic ideas. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC…
S2 · E2 · 7 Jul 2025 · 26 min

Was Elizabeth I a man?

In her most famous speech, delivered on 9 August 1588, Queen Elizabeth I declared that she had the "heart and stomach of a king". Was that just rhetoric? Or could England’s iconic Tudor queen actually have been a man masquerading as a woman? In this episode of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Tudor historian Tracy Borman speaks to Rob Attar about the bizarre 'Bisley Boy' conspiracy theory that was popularised by none other than Dracula author Bram Stoker. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the…
S2 · E1 · 30 Jun 2025 · 36 min

Was Pearl Harbor an inside job?

On 7 December 1941, Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor. It’s one of the most notorious surprise attacks in history, but how much of a surprise actually was it? Did President Franklin Roosevelt know that the attack was coming and even encourage it as a means of propelling the US into World War Two? In the first episode of season 2 of History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Twomey joins Rob Attar to tackle the "back door to war" conspiracy theory, explaining why many Americans have been willing to believe in a president's treachery.…
S2 · 23 Jun 2025 · 2 min

Season 2 | Trailer

Did NASA fake the moon landing? Did the Knights Templar discover America? And was Elizabeth I really a man in disguise? In Season 2 of History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories, Rob Attar is joined by expert historians to explore how these theories came about and whether any of them might actually be true. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including History’s Greatest Cities and HistoryExtra…
S1 · E9 · 11 Feb 2025 · 32 min

The JFK assassination: Oswald’s second murder

In light of the recent announcement that President Trump has ordered the release of classified files surrounding JFK’s assassination, we’re bringing you three episodes delving into the case. In this third episode, recorded in April 2024, Rob Attar puts more listeners’ questions about the assassination to author and journalist Gerald Posner. Who did Lyndon Johnson think was behind the murder? Why do so many people believe in a conspiracy theory? And why is Lee Harvey Oswald’s other killing rarely discussed? History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History…
S1 · E8 · 4 Feb 2025 · 43 min

The JFK assassination: 95% certain?

In light of the recent announcement that President Trump has ordered the release of classified files surrounding JFK’s assassination, we’re bringing you three episodes delving into the case. In this second episode, recorded in April 2024, Rob Attar rejoins the investigative journalist Gerald Posner to tackle your questions about the assassination and the web of intrigue that surrounds it. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There…
S1 · E7 · 28 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

Who killed JFK?

On 22 November 1963, President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the murder, but, over the past 60 years, millions of people have come to believe that Oswald was just a small cog in a wider plot to murder the president. In light of the recent announcement that President Trump has ordered the release of classified files surrounding JFK’s assassination, we’re re-releasing three episodes delving into the case. In this first episode, recorded in January 2024, Rob Attar speaks to the journalist Gerald Posner, whose landmark 1993 book Case…
7 Jan 2025 · 1 min

Introducing History's Greatest Scandals | New Podcast

Poisoned sweets. Criminal misdeeds. And a sex scandal involving… the prime-minister. Listen to HistoryExtra's new podcast History’s Greatest Scandals, delving into the murky underworld of The Victorians. Ellie Cawthorne and historian Professor Rosalind Crone take a journey through the backstreets of 19th-century Britain to explore the darker side of Victorian life. Sneaking into private parlours, descending into candlelit mines, frequenting grim workhouses and paying a visit to an unscrupulous confectioner, uncovering some of the biggest scandals of the day – and explore what they can reveal…
S1 · E6 · 3 Dec 2024 · 48 min

Did aliens land at Roswell?

In July 1947, some unusual debris was discovered at Roswell Army Air Field in New Mexico. Was this the remains of a crashed military balloon, or something from much, much further away? Has the US government spent the past 75 years hiding proof of alien life from us all? In our series on history’s most well-known conspiracy theories, Dr David Clarke gives Rob Attar the lowdown about the Roswell Incident and considers how it relates to the long history of UFO sightings. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from…
S1 · E5 · 26 Nov 2024 · 35 min

The lost civilisation of Atlantis

In the fifth episode of our series on history’s most well-known conspiracy theories, we investigate the idea that a highly advanced civilisation existed many thousands of years ago, before being wiped out by a calamitous event. Rob Attar speaks to archaeologist Flint Dibble about the ancient Greek origins of the Atlantis legend and how it has been reimagined in more recent times, including in the Netflix series ‘Ancient Apocalypse’. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the…
S1 · E4 · 19 Nov 2024 · 33 min

Who wrote Shakespeare’s plays?

Many people don’t believe that William Shakespeare was the real author of the plays attributed to him. But why? And could there be any truth behind the idea? In episode four of our new series on history’s most well-known conspiracy theories, Shakespeare expert Dr Paul Edmondson speaks to Rob Attar about the alternative candidates that have been put forward and considers whether this is a legitimate debate to be having. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of…
S1 · E3 · 12 Nov 2024 · 29 min

Did Anastasia escape her family’s murder?

In the third episode of our series on some of history’s most well-known conspiracy theories, we examine the suggestion that one of Tsar Nicholas II’s daughters – Anastasia – survived the family’s murder by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Speaking with Rob Attar, historian Helen Rappaport explains why people believe that Anastasia escaped and what recent scientific and archaeological research has revealed about this tragic episode. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of…
S1 · E2 · 5 Nov 2024 · 22 min

Did aliens build the pyramids?

Could Ancient Egypt’s most iconic monuments have been built with extraterrestrial assistance? In the second episode of our series on some of history’s most well-known conspiracy theories, we delve into the idea that aliens helped built the pyramids. In conversation with Rob Attar, Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley explores the origins of the theory and explains what we know about how the pyramids really were constructed. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of…
S1 · E1 · 29 Oct 2024 · 26 min

Hitler’s escape to South America

Did Adolf Hitler really make it out of the bunker alive at the end of the Second World War? In the first episode of our series on some of history’s most well-known conspiracy theories, we explore the idea that Hitler outlasted the downfall of the Third Reich in 1945 and began a new life overseas in South America. In conversation with Rob Attar, historian Professor Richard J Evans explains the origins of this theory and reveals why it continues to have adherents today. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from…
16 Oct 2024 · 1 min

Introducing History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories

Was the moon landing faked? Did Shakespeare actually pen his works? And were the pyramids really built by aliens? In History's Greatest Conspiracies, Rob Attar takes a deep dive into the theories in the company of expert historians to uncover if there's any truth behind the murky myths. Series 1 begins Tuesday 29th October 2024 with new episodes weekly. Subscribe to History Extra Plus on Apple Podcasts to listen ad-free and access the next episode early. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. For more fascinating stories from the past,…

About History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories

Was the moon landing faked? Did Shakespeare actually pen his works? And were the pyramids really built by aliens? In History's Greatest Conspiracies, Rob Attar takes a deep dive into the theories in the company of expert historians to uncover if there's any truth behind the murky myths. History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories is produced by the team behind History Extra. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including History’s Greatest Cities and HistoryExtra LongReads. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. You can listen ad-free to this podcast and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/.

History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories is a English history podcast from History Extra. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: History Extra
Language: English
Category: History
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 32 min
Latest episode: 6 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1774440108
Rights: Immediate Media

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