A history podcast discussing various cultural genres which reference the First World War, including detective fiction, Star Wars and death metal music, and ask why the First World War has particular popular cultural relevance.
Can a computer game really recreate the experience of the First World War?
In this episode, we look at Gallipoli, the latest First World War game from BlackMill Games, taking players to the Gallipoli peninsula and Mesopotamia. As it happens Chris, is the game's historical advisor. We discuss how history is translated into a computer game, what can be simulated, and where historical accuracy meets the demands of gameplay.
References:
BlackMill Games (2026) Gallipoli: The Ottoman Front.
Weir, P. (dir.) (1981) Gallipoli.
Infinity Ward (2003) Call of Duty. Computer game. Activision.
DICE (2016) Battlefield 1. Electronic Arts.
Mendes, S. (2019) 1917.
Kempshall, C. (2026) Star Wars Star Pilots: A History of Space Combat. DK.
1 Sept 2026
72 - Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley
What happens when a futuristic soldier finds himself in the trenches of the First World War?
Rogue Trooper first appeared in 2000 AD in 1981, a genetically engineered soldier fighting an apparently endless war on the poisoned planet of Nu Earth. In Blighty Valley, written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Patrick Goddard, Rogue is transported back to March 1918, where he finds himself alongside a British platoon caught up in the German Spring Offensive. Drawing on the traditions of British war comics, including Charley's War, the story explores comradeship, class, conscientious objection and the experience of ordinary soldiers.
References:
Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time (2017) Directed by Rachel Talalay. Written by Steven Moffat. [Television program].
Sherriff, R.C. (1928) Journey's End.
Joyeux Noël (2005) Directed by Christian Carion. [Film].
Ennis, G. (2024) Rogue Trooper: Blighty Valley. Illustrated by P. Goddard. Oxford: 2000 AD.
1 Aug 2026
71 - Dad's Army
Can a conscientious objector be a hero?
Branded is widely regarded as one of the finest episodes of Dad's Army, combining comedy with a thoughtful exploration of courage, duty, and prejudice.
When Captain Mainwaring discovers that the gentle Private Godfrey was a conscientious objector during the First World War, the platoon quickly brands him a coward. But the truth is far more complicated.
In this episode, Angus, Jessica and Chris discuss how accurately Branded portrays conscientious objection, what it reveals about attitudes to the First World War, and why this remarkable episode remains one of Dad's Army's most powerful, while never losing the humour that makes it such a classic.
References
Perry, J. and Croft, D. (1969) Branded. Dad's Army. Series 3, Episode 11. Directed by Harold Snoad. BBC1, 20 November.
Curtis, R. and Elton, B. (1983–1989) Blackadder. Television series. BBC.
McKibbin, R. (1998) Classes and Cultures: England 1918–1951. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Philpott, W. (2009) Bloody Victory: The Sacrifice on the Somme and the Making of the Twentieth Century. London: Little, Brown.
Hammett, J. (2022) Creating the People's War: Civil Defence Communities in Second World War Britain. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,258
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.3 / 5
14 ratings
Spotify
4.4 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
43
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
84
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Guest appearances
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