BBC stars explore Great War themes

Broadcasters such as Gareth Malone, Dan Snow and Kate Adie are among the stars who will voice a series of BBC guides to aspects of the First World War.

The corporation has created a collection of interactive online guides using archive video and audio material - which launched today - to allow viewers to learn more about the conflict.

They are part of a new educational brand from the BBC called iWonder, designed to work on laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Among the first subjects tackled in the series are how the war affected the status of women, the role of poetry and Malone will examine the popular song of the day, Pack up Your Troubles.

Eight iWonder guides have been launched and a further 17 will be added by the end of the month from the likes of Radio 1's Greg James, Today programme presenter Mishal Husain and One Show host Matt Baker.

Historian Snow, who will narrate a guide looking at how soldiers lived through the terrible conditions of the trenches, said: "We hear a lot about how soldiers died, so I wanted my iWonder guide to take an in-depth look at how soldiers survived the trenches. The new format gives me the opportunity to present a view on this subject in an engaging and innovative way."

Tim Plyming, executive producer for BBC knowledge and learning, said: "The guides span life in the trenches to poetry and propaganda and we hope each one will educate and inform the curious novice as well as the history buff."

Further guides will be launched through the year covering more BBC output including science, natural history, arts and religion. The first guides can be found at b bc.co.uk/ww1.

The BBC has commissioned more than 2,500 hours of programmes over the next four years to mark the anniversary of the war, including the Jeremy Paxman series Britain's Great War for BBC1.