Cold War spy Greville Wynne and his Russian source try to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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Cold War spy Greville Wynne and his Russian source try to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
South Africa, 1978. Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, two white political activists from the African National Congress imprisoned by the apartheid regime, put a plan in motion to escape from the infamous Pretoria Prison.
The story of mime Marcel Marceau as he works with a group of Jewish boy scouts and the French Resistance to save the lives of ten thousand orphans during World War II.
A group of women involved in the Women's Liberation Movement hatched a plan to invade the stage and disrupt the live broadcast at the 1970 Miss World competition in London, resulting in overnight fame for the newly-formed organization. When the show resumed, the results caused an uproar and turned the Western ideal of beauty on its head.
War photographer W. Eugene Smith travels back to Japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.
The story of Nobel Prize winner Maria Skłodowska-Curie and her extraordinary scientific discoveries—through the prism of her marriage to husband Pierre—and the seismic and transformative effects their discovery of radium had on the 20th century.
An unprecedented and intimate look at the life, work and enduring legacy of British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993).
Summer 1939. Influential families in Nazi Germany have sent their daughters to a finishing school in an English seaside town to learn the language and be ambassadors for a future looking National Socialist. A teacher there sees what is coming and is trying to raise the alarm. But the authorities believe he is the problem.
King Arthur returns home after fighting the Roman Empire. His illegitimate son has corrupted the throne of Camelot and King Arthur must reunite with the wizard Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table to fight to get back his crown.
The story of the pioneering project to rehabilitate child survivors of the Holocaust on the shores of Lake Windermere.
A celebration of the Irish punk/poet Shane MacGowan, lead singer and songwriter of The Pogues, that combines unseen archive footage from the band and MacGowan’s family with original animations.
Four rebellious teenagers in 1st century Roman-occupied Wales must flee their village and live in the wild after they accidentally kill a Roman soldier and cause an uprising. They must learn to live together or risk facing the wrath of Rome.
Boudica is an innocent sixteen-year-old girl who is forced into an arranged marriage by her father, the leader of a Celtic Tribe. However, her mother is unsure, doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter; so much so that she takes Boudica and persuades her to flee the village and live in her childhood home, away from an arranged marriage and a miserable life.
British writer Agatha Christie (1890-1976) published her first novel in 1920, in which the eccentric Belgian private sleuth Hercule Poirot made his debut. Later, in 1927, the first short story starring the gentle spinster Miss Jane Marple appeared. A fascinating journey through popular culture in search of the footprints of two of the most charismatic characters in crime and mystery literature.
Planned by Britain’s MI6 and then executed by America’s C.I.A., the coup d’état which follows will destroy Iran’s last democracy, and relations between Iran and the West until the present day. Most shocking of all, the truth about Her Majesty’s role will be hidden from the Queen herself, and even the all-powerful Shah who will be used by Britain and American to replace Iran’s last democratic Prime Minister. The coup will lead to political upheaval all over the Middle East for decades to come, eventually resulting in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 which will end the reign of the Shah, and British and American influence in Iran, inspiring countless other Islamist revolutions around the world.
Lucy Worsley tells the story of the royal photograph, showing how the royal family worked with generations of photographers to create images that reinvented the British monarchy.
Learn how the longest reigning monarch in British history was shaped by World War II. Princess Elizabeth’s experiences during the war mirrored those of the public and helped shape her into the Queen she is today.
The epic story of Thomas Edward Lawrence the First World War military officer who united the tribes of Arabia against the Ottoman Turkish army. The film reveals that while being one of the most enigmatic figures of the 20th century, he was also a deeply troubled man, delving into his personal torment, the secret his family were hiding, and the punishment he endured.
The Rosie Kay Dance Company present a piece about the strange history and pop-cultural aftermath of CIA mind control experiments during the Cold War, with documentary segments by Adam Curtis.
This documentary brings to life the stories of four people believed by their family and friends to be “DB Cooper,” a man who hijacked a 727 flying out of Seattle and jumped from the plane over the wilds of Washington State with a parachute and $200,000, never to be heard from again.
Broadcasters Lenny Henry and Suzy Klein celebrate black classical composers and musicians across the centuries whose stories and music have been forgotten in a 90-minute special.
Archaeologist Raksha Dave and historian Dan Snow return to Pompeii to gain special access to a variety of new excavations, including two never-before-seen discoveries.
In 1923, four months after the opening of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, Lord Carnavon, who had financed the excavation, died suddenly. Other people connected with the important discovery also died mysteriously. Were they all victims of an ancient Egyptian curse?
The BBC version of "King Tut In Color" documentary. A century after the world’s most exciting archaeological find - the tomb of Tutankhamun - we can witness the dramatic scenes of its discovery and marvel at its extraordinary treasures exactly as they were then, in colour.
In the shadow of the pyramids, an elite team of archaeologists embark on an extraordinary excavation. Could this secret site reveal startling new evidence about the great pharaohs who built these majestic monuments?
Elton John's career has spanned decades, but his legacy is more than just his music. Reginald Dwight's early debut was in the band Bluesology - there he would meet lyricist Bernie Taupin whom he would go on to write over 30 albums with. After parting ways with the band and his birth name, the Rocketman was born.
Surpassed only by the Bible and Shakespeare, Agatha Christie is the most successful writer of all time. We all know her characters and incredible plot twists, but what do we know about Agatha herself? Combining rare access to Agatha's family, her personal archive and speaking to those who know her work best, discover what made the world's most successful crime writer tick.
A fresh look at the remarkable rise of Horatio Nelson, uncovering the scandals, military failures and secrets behind the Battle of Trafalgar's most famous Admiral. The film explores how the establishment of the day sought to make this complex character a symbol of maritime superiority, but also asks what sort of country Nelson was fighting for, at a time when the Royal Navy was Britain's front line of defence and protecting interests around the globe, including the barbaric Atlantic slave trade.
Chief curator of historic royal palaces Lucy Worsley provides an exclusive tour of London’s most extraordinary palaces: the Tower of London, Hampton Court, and Kensington Palace.
Documentary offering a fresh perspective on the question of how history will judge Donald Trump, by setting his life next to that of a controversial leader from our own past.
In 1483, the twelve-year-old King Edward V and his younger brother were put into the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard. Weeks later, Richard pronounced himself King. The boys were never seen again. For centuries it has been assumed that Richard killed his nephews in a craven attempt at glory. But according to some, Richard was no child-killing monster. Rather, he was the finest King England ever had. Others say nobody killed the princes at all, and they lived anonymously into old age, far away from the cut-throat world of the English court. This film seeks the truth behind the mystery of their fate.
UK's Hidden Shadows is a new documentary examining the recent history of allegations of child abuse and cover-ups within the British establishment. Filmed over the course of a year, the 90-minute documentary features interviews with victims of child abuse, journalists and police whistle-blowers. Each interview offers a unique insight into the alleged Westminster VIP paedophile ring that has darkened politics for the last five decades.
A look back at the troubled life of genius British writer Virginia Woolf (1882-1941).
The cameras return to Kashmir to follow the fortunes of Davie Robertson, former Aberdeen, Rangers and Leeds United stalwart, who has carved out a remarkable career as a manager, bringing success against the odds to a football team in a war-torn corner of the planet.
A documentary that examines the repercussions of the child abuse scandal that erupted on Jersey in 2007 and the role played by two bloggers in forcing the island to confront its past.
Bettany returns with another Top Ten Treasures Countdown, this time peeling away the bandages and unearthing the tales of the lives of 10 embalmed bodies, each with a very different and unique story to tell. From Pharaohs, to criminals, to children to priests, Bettany opens up portal into the incredible stories of people from of all different classes and parts of Ancient Egyptian society, their stories and secrets spanning the width of the planes of the Nile Delta to the depths of the Valley of the Kings. Having remained in bandages untouched for thousands of years, we are fed with never before told stories of gruesome revenge, and journeys beyond life on earth.
A family experiences what it was like to celebrate the first three Christmases of the 1940s, and the challenges and deprivations families faced during these times. The Dekkers learn how to black-out a home and build a shelter in the event of an air raid, and prepare a Woolton pie for Christmas dinner. Historians Joshua Levine, Carol Harris and Mike Brown offer an insight into the impact of rationing and evacuation on family life.
On the 19th of July 1903 60 cyclists left Paris for the maiden stage of the very first Tour de France, racing 467km through the night to the line in Lyon. 116 years later, two modern-day riders attempted to recreate the feat of endurance using bikes and equipment from the early 20th century to fully experience the highs and lows of the early Tour pioneers. Endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont and GCN presenter James Lowsley-Williams are pushed to the limits of their physical and mental ability, struggling with the midsummer heat, bikes borrowed from museums and a lack of sleep. How did they compare to the Tour’s first heroes?
COVID-19 is far from the first pandemic to wreak havoc in the world. A long line of infectious diseases have devastated and in some cases destroyed entire societies. This documentary examines the causes of epidemics. It also sheds a light on the impact infectious diseases have had on politics and societal change. Today, the world is facing COVID-19. Measures such as quarantine and lockdowns are being rolled out in an effort to control the spread of the virus; and some are questioning how effective they are. Over the centuries, scientists managed to develop treatments and medicines to help control or even eradicate infectious diseases. Virologists are facing that task again with the coronavirus, as the world frantically searches for ways to overcome a pandemic which threatens our modern way of life.
Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute By Minute will take a unique look at a pivotal day in the history of the modern world, delving into the key events that made VE Day such a momentous twenty-four hours. This is the story of what happened on that most celebrated and important day, including original interviews with historians and veterans who tell their stories and share their first-hand experiences. Using unseen archive footage and stills, plus never told accounts from veterans who were there, this one-off special will chart the moment the clock struck midnight, to 24 hours later, when fighting officially stopped across Europe. Up and down the country it was dawning on people that they were waking up not with fear or anxiety, but with relief and excitement. This was a Great Britain no one had experienced for six years. A Britain at peace. At almost no notice street celebrations were being prepared and tens of thousands were flocking to London and other city centres.
Germany is falling. Once the all-powerful country, now being crushed in the Second World War. Adolf Hitler is in hiding. The feared dictator no longer publicly supports his people. The man that fulled this chaos, leaving the country to crumble. These are Adolf Hitler's final days. Inside the Fuhrerbunker.
The deterioration of a warm, innocent young heart through traumatic events in the Second World War. James Bailey fights for his country and his life behind enemy lines.
Recounting the dramatic story of the Nuremberg Trials, using over a thousand archive clips, including recently digitised film footage from the courtroom. 21 Nazi leaders were charged with crimes that caused the deaths of millions of innocents.
Demand full automation, demand a reduced work week, demand universal basic income, destroy the work ethic.
Documentary about Elizabeth II's grandmother, who as Queen Consort was George V's most trusted adviser and became a symbol of national stability, particularly during the crisis that ensued when her eldest son Edward VIII abdicated.
A British Intelligence Officer known as Thomas Edward Lawrence conducted daring raids during World War I which made him a legend. But how did this man become the renowned ‘Lawrence of Arabia?’ This fascinating history documentary explores the character behind the man and tries to explain how he came to lead a small band of Arab fighters against the fourth largest army in the world.
Engineers face a mammoth challenge building a railway on one of the longest floating bridges in the world, located in Seattle. The growing population of King County, Washington State, necessitates connecting the booming suburb of Bellevue with downtown Seattle. This ambitious project aims to run high-speed trains over the icy depths of Lake Washington.
A unique look at Titian's greatest masterpieces, which are currently under quarantine in the National Gallery.
A look at the development of space travel and the potential for humans to one day walk on the surface of Mars. From the desperation of War machines to the curiosity of space exploration. Detailed accounts of previous missions for the exploration of Mars, including the landing of the rovers on the surface of the planet. After the Soviets gained possession of the V2 manufacturing facilities, production of these rockets began in the Soviet Union, and on the 4th of October 1957, SPUTNIK 1 became the first artificial satellite to be launched into space. This was the next step in the evolution of mankind. It was the beginning of the Space Race.
Talk of a strike spreads through town, but the owner of one factory will do all that he can to ensure his women stay at work. Can Eliza convince her colleagues to fight?
An incredible true story of survival and forgiveness. Eva Kor and her twin sister Miriam were captured by Nazis and experimented on in Auschwitz as children. Despite struggling with her traumatic past, Eva decides to forgive her tormentors.
This documentary recounts the transfer of the body of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the founder of modern Iran, from his place of exile to his return to the homeland.