Dominic Sandbrook launched a new deep-dive series on The Rest Is History focusing on the fascist World Cup and Mussolini's dictatorship. Rather than steering the narrative himself, Dominic Sandbrook is stepping back to let guest host Paul Rouse lead the analysis on sports history.
On the episode, Dominic Sandbrook teasingly questioned his guest's transition from Irish history to athletic history, asking, "Paul, you were masquerading as a historian of Ireland in the last few series that we did, but this really is your home turf, isn't it? 'Cause you're a historian of sport." The exchange highlights the show's transition into the highly politicized world of 1930s athletics.
While some listeners might prefer traditional military or political narratives, The Rest Is History is betting that sports history offers a richer understanding of fascism. Dominic Sandbrook and his team are set to trace how Mussolini's regime laid the groundwork for modern sports propaganda, ensuring a lively debate in the coming weeks.