Winston Churchill's Cigar

David Cannadine examines the careers of British Prime Ministers through their props of power.

It was during the Second World War that Winston Churchill adopted the cigar as his most indispensable Prime Ministerial prop and he rarely appeared in public without it. Clenched tightly between his jaws, his cigar signified defiance and determination, resolve and resolution.

Glowing brightly and accompanied by expansive gestures, it radiated confidence and hope. But the fact that Churchill liked cigars was a sign for Hitler that he was a weak man and a poor leader, and Nazi propaganda depicted Churchill and his cigar as decadent and self-indulgent.

David visits Chartwell, Churchill's Kent country home, to view his famous cigar cabinet which now houses paints in his studio.

He discusses the way in which Churchill's cigar became synonymous with his political image - so much so that, towards the end of his life, he gave out cigars as a calling card and his global fame meant they went for thousands at auction.

Readers: Ewan Bailey and Will Huggins

Producer: Melissa FitzGerald
Researcher: Martin Spychal

A Blakeway production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2018.