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The History Podcast

BBC

When Antony Easton's enigmatic father passes away, he begins sorting through a suitcase filled with cryptic family clues. Neatly stacked German money, a family tree stretching back generations, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father's birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad's double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family's dark history. Large numbers of his relatives were murdered by the Nazis and a vast fortune was stolen from his grandparents - factories, property and art - which now lie scattered across Germany. Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family's assets and continue to live off their wealth today. He sets out to meet them face to face.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    The House at Number 48: Trailer

    When Antony Easton’s enigmatic and distant father passes away, he begins sorting through suitcase filled with cryptic clues. Neatly stacked German money, a family tree he doesn’t recognise, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father’s birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad’s double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family’s dark history. Large numbers of his relatives were murdered by the Nazis and a vast fortune was stolen from his grandparents - factories, property and art – which now lie scattered across Germany. Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family’s assets and continue to live off their wealth today. He sets out to meet them face to face.

    4 min

  2. EPISODE 1

    The House at Number 48: 1. Made in Britain

    When Antony Easton’s enigmatic father passes away, he goes through his Dad's suitcase, filled with cryptic clues: neatly stacked German money, a family tree he doesn’t recognise, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father’s birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad’s double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family’s dark history as he attempts to reclaim his grandfather’s property and art empire, and expose the historic robbery and murder of his relatives. Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family’s assets, and continue to live off their wealth today. He wants to meet them face to face. The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. Music by Anna Papadimitriou. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    15 min

  3. EPISODE 2

    The House at Number 48: 2. The Secret Suitcase

    After the death of his enigmatic and distant father, Antony Easton finally gets to go through his Dad's secret suitcase: "This was his life," Antony says. As he forensically trawls through its contents, Antony discovers a series of clues which are about to change his life forever. And, after decades, a woman from Antony's childhood gets in touch. For her, time is running out. She says she must see him one last time... The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    15 min

  4. EPISODE 3

    The House at Number 48: 3. The Eisners

    Antony Easton begins to investigate his family's history. What he finds astonishes him: his relatives were owners of a huge steel empire worth billions today. But what has happened to this family fortune? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    15 min

  5. EPISODE 4

    The House at Number 48: 4. The Silver Arrow

    As the net closes in on the Eisners, Antony's grandfather, Rudolph, has come up with an ingenious plan to save his family and their business empire. Will it work? And who is this mysterious man who enters the lives of the Eisners? Is he a friend or foe? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    14 min

  6. EPISODE 5

    The House at Number 48: 5. The Final Ticket

    Antony Easton's relatives, the Eisners were one of the richest Jewish families in Berlin. The patriarch, Rudolph Eisner, has done everything he possibly could to steer them safely through the rise of the Nazis. But now, as the net finally closes in, what will they do? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    15 min

  7. EPISODE 6

    The House at Number 48: 6. Spa Town

    In July 1939, industrialist Rudolph Eisner, his wife Hildegard and their two young children arrive in the small port city of Harwich in England. Life as Germans in the Uk was tough. But what of Antony's relatives who stayed on in Germany, what became of them? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    14 min

  8. EPISODE 7

    The House at Number 48: 7. Finding The Money

    Antony tries to find out what became of his family's business empire and properties. To help him he hires a brilliant young researcher, Yana Slovona. Within weeks, she has made some startling discoveries. The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    15 min

  9. EPISODE 8

    The House at Number 48: 8. The Gift

    After 80 years since losing a huge and grand property in Germany which used to belonged to his family, Antony sets off to confront the people who now own The House at Number 48. The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    14 min

  10. EPISODE 9

    The House at Number 48: 9. The Inheritance

    We meet the descendants of Martin Hartig who are still living in the House at Number 48 today. How much of their family's past did they know about? And what has its legacy meant for them and the younger generation? The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    17 min

  11. EPISODE 10

    The House at Number 48: 10. The Last Eisner

    The Eisners prized art work, Eisenwalzwerk, depicting a huge steel factory, was stolen under the Nazis. "Eisenwalzwerk," Antony says, "is the ultimate representation of the Eisners. And its story was the story of my family." Can Antony get it back and bring it home? And in this final episode, he gathers his family to tell them what he's discovered about their past. The House at Number 48 is presented by Charlie Northcott. The series producer is Jim Frank. Sound design and mixing by Tom Brignell. The Editor is Matt Willis.

    18 min
See All Season 11 (11)

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When Antony Easton's enigmatic father passes away, he begins sorting through a suitcase filled with cryptic family clues. Neatly stacked German money, a family tree stretching back generations, and books filled with sprawling notes. He also finds his father's birth certificate, but bearing a different name. Confronting his dad's double identity, Antony begins a ten-year quest to uncover the truth. Piece-by-piece he comes to understand his family's dark history. Large numbers of his relatives were murdered by the Nazis and a vast fortune was stolen from his grandparents - factories, property and art - which now lie scattered across Germany. Antony is determined to find the descendants of those who looted his family's assets and continue to live off their wealth today. He sets out to meet them face to face.

Information

  • Channel
    BBC
  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Episodes
    104
  • Seasons
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    The History Podcast
  • Provider
    BBC Studios Distribution Limited

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