Forbidden History - Season 4

Johann Reichhart was a German state executioner before WW2 and then headed a merciless Nazi killing machine that murdered around 3,000 people during WWII. In a bizarre twist of fate, Reichhart later worked for the Allies. Jamie Theakston uncovers more about this ruthless Nazi.

The Vatican Secret Archives is a treasure trove of history that is shrouded in secrecy. It holds the personal documents of past Popes, important pieces such as Galileo's trial transcript and King Henry VIII's annulment request. But what else is hidden in the Vatican Library a place that is out of bounds even to Cardinals? Jamie Theakston heads to Rome in a bid to gain access.

Jamie Theakston exposes a secret unit that murdered Bulgarian dissidents. One victim, Georgi Markov, was famously killed with a ricin-tipped umbrella. The Bulgarian secret department called Service 7 is a force that operated in 9 countries.

Templar fact and fiction have become blurred by their depictions in books and on film. Hear about the Templars in a very different light. Jamie Theakston disputes the orthodox beliefs about the Catholic order that angered much of Europe - particularly France.

Mary Magdalene is a key figure in Christianity, having traveled with Jesus and witnessed his death and resurrection. Within the four Gospels, she is named at least 12 times. But who REALLY was this vital part of the Christian story? Was she really a prostitute? Jamie Theakston reveals all. 

The once-powerful fascist dictator Benito Mussolini ended his days hanging upside down like a grotesque animal carcass in Milan's Piazzale Loreto. Due to conflicting stories, false claims, and dodgy eye-witness reports, mystery still surrounds his death. Jamie Theakston seeks out answers.