Origin Story

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Origin Story

The Suffragettes – Part Two – By any means necessary

This week we finish the story of the suffragettes. We pick up the narrative in 1912, when...

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The Suffragettes – Part one – Deeds not words

This week we begin the tumultuous story of the suffragettes. In 1903, Emmeline and Christabel...

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Russell Brand – Confidence man

What the hell happened to Russell Brand? Ten years ago, the comedian and actor was the loudest...

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The British Board of Film Classification – Who watches the watchers?

Sex! Violence! Censorship! These days the British Board of Film Classification rarely makes...

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Emmanuel Macron – The centrist cannot hold

Emmanuel Macron is one of the most fascinating and infuriating figures in 21st century politics....

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Gaslighting – No, you’re not imagining it

Over the past eight years, the word “gaslighting” has transformed from an obscure term in...

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The Battle of Cable Street

The Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 1936 has been described as “the greatest anti-fascist...

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Bonus edition: Far-Right Riots

Racist violence has inflamed several British cities this past week. Should we call the events...

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Origin Story Post-Election Special – Live in Islington

Couldn’t make it to the Origin Story live show in London on Monday 15 July? Don’t worry, we’ve...

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The Rushdie Affair – Blasphemous Rumours

The final episode of season five covers the Rushdie Affair. On 14 February 1989, the Ayatollah...

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Keir Starmer – PM Dawn

The season five finale coincides with the general election, so we’ve decided to get very topical...

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Anti-vaxxers – Herd impunity

This episode tells the tale of the anti-vaxxers. The word has only been around since 2001 but...

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Genocide – Part Two – The search for justice

The war in Gaza has led to accusations of genocide but that word operates on two levels. It’s...

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Genocide – Part One – The ultimate crime

The war in Gaza has led to accusations of genocide but that word operates on two levels. It’s...

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John Stuart Mill & Harriet Taylor Mill – Part Two – Love, bravery and feminism

Back for season five, Origin Story continues to explore the misunderstood ideas and people that...

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John Stuart Mill & Harriet Taylor Mill – Part One – Liberalism's original power couple

Back for season five, Origin Story continues to explore the misunderstood ideas and people that...

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George Orwell Part 2 – From Broadcasting House to Airstrip One

Back for season five, Origin Story continues to explore the misunderstood ideas and people that...

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George Orwell Part 1 – From Eton to Barcelona

Back for season five, Origin Story continues to explore the misunderstood ideas and people that...

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10 Downing Street – The makeshift mansion

We’ve covered ideas, phrases, people and historical events. Now Origin Story profiles its first...

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The Illuminati – Top of the Plots

• Join Ian and Dorian for Origin Story Live in London on Tue 7 May. They’ll be looking at how the...

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