In an amusing ten-part series, Rewriting History takes a refreshing look at major moments in history, exploring how life would be today if they had taken a very different turn.
Narrated by Tom Baker
What If Section 28 Had Never Been Made Law?
The infamous Section 28 – forbidding the promotion of homosexuality – was made part of the Local Government Act of 1988. This episode of Rewriting History featuring Radio One's Zane Lowe, explores how Section 28 affected the gay community at the time and asks what may have happened had it never become law – would we all be gay by now?
What If Britain Had Lost the Falklands War?
In 1982 Britain won the Falklands War and soon after re-elected Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government to lead the country by a huge majority. What would have happened if we had lost the war? Would the most left-wing Labour Government in history, led by Prime Minister Michael Foot, have won the subsequent election?
What If There Was Another Ice Age?
In the 1970s scientists predicted the imminent arrival of another Ice Age. Today those same scientists are predicting the opposite. What would have happened to Britain if another Ice Age had hit the country? Would the Government have encouraged us to burn more fossil fuels and drive gas-guzzling 4x4s in order to help warm up the earth?
What If Women Had Never Got The Vote?
In 1918, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Suffragettes won their epic fight for women to have the right to vote. What would Britain be like if this battle had been lost and women were not able to vote? How would women protest now? How would they cope with such Edwardian condescension and extreme sexist attitudes?
What If Fossil Fuels Ran Out?
In the 1970s it was widely predicted that the world's essential fossil fuels were soon to run out. What would have happened to Britain if they had? Would our North Sea oil and reserves of coal have helped us all become rich beyond our wildest dreams for a fleeting moment?
What If BSE Had Started A Human Epidemic?
When Mad Cow Disease was first discovered, some scientists were scared that vCJD – the human form of the disease – would turn into a massive human epidemic. What would Britain be like if it had? Would vegetarians and vegans have taken over the country turning the UK into one big happy hippy commune?
What If Guy Fawkes Had Blown Up Parliament?
Every 5 November we celebrate the capture of Guy Fawkes and his failure to blow up the Houses of Parliament. What would have happened if he and his co-conspirators had succeeded in destroying Parliament? Would we all be Spanish-speaking Catholics?
What If The Millennium Bug Had Struck?
In 1999 the Labour Government spent millions preparing us for the Millennium Bug. But when the century turned, nothing in fact did happen and life carried on as normal. What would have happened if all the computers had crashed – would Hugh Fernly-Whittingstall have become Prime Minister?
What If Footballers Never Became Millionaires?
Today's Premiership footballers earn millions of pounds a year from wages and sponsorship deals. But back in the early sixties life was very different as our top footballers were forbidden to earn more than £20 a week, earning less in their whole career than David Beckham earns in a week. How would today's footballers cope if football was more like it was in the sixties?
What If Windrush Had Never Docked?
In 1948 the Empire Windrush docked at Tilsbury, bringing hundreds of Caribbean immigrants. This moment in history is today symbolised as marking the beginning of a more multicultural Britain. What would have happened to Britain if the Empire Windrush had never docked? Would we just be a nation of Morris Dancers and train-spotters?
