In the first episode, they tackle Dunkirk and two key days during the evacuation of British soldiers that prevented a German triumph. The heroic actions of one ship, HMS Worcester, act as a window into the wider story of the safe retreat of thousands of men.

Dermot O'Leary, Arthur Williams and Lucy Betteridge-Dyson examine Waterloo, one of the most famous battles in British history, as it unfolded over 48 hours in 1815. It was a battle that would pave the way for a new Europe, cement Britain's position as a world power, and pitch two famous generals, Napoleon and Wellington, up against one another. To capture the stunning story of Waterloo's twists and turns, the team focuses on Marshall Michel Ney - one of Napoleon's top commanders - and Major General Sir William Ponsonby, who led the British cavalry brigade in battle.