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- StarsMichael EalyBarry StraussRichard RiddellRome. The greatest empire the world has ever known. This docudrama tells the story of Rome through the eyes of the empire's many adversaries who battled to see its destruction.
- StarsMary BeardAntoni Pugi PalermSilvia OrlandiThe acclaimed British historian Mary Beard fell in love with the intrigue of classical Rome as a child - here she delves deep into the heart of that society to meet the real Romans.Embracing the latest archaeological evidence, she reveals what went on behind closed doors and in public baths 2000 years ago. Join us and Meet the Romans.
- StarsLucy WorsleyJanet HartleySimon DixonBritish historian Lucy Worsley travels to Russia to investigate the 300-year reign of the Romanov dynasty.
- DirectorNick Clarke PowellStarsSerge AberdamRichard ClaySo WhatUK art historian, Dr Richard Clay, visits Paris to show how The French Revolution tried to erase the previous order by destroying the art that symbolized it, and how destruction of public space is used even today to influence people.
- StarsTamsin GreigQueen AlexandraQueen VictoriaDocumentary about the closely related rulers of three different European empires: Georg V of Britain, Wilhelm II of Germany and Nicholas II of Russia, all of them grandchildren of Queen Victoria, whose countries fought on different sides in World War I.
- StarsSimon ReeveVissarionTravelogue in which Simon Reeve embarks upon an epic three-part journey across Russia one hundred years after the Russian Revolution.
- StarsFarah Zeynep AbdullahSimon ReeveTravel writer Simon Reeve embarks upon two long-distance journeys across Turkey, exploring this dramatic and beautiful country that now finds itself at the centre of world events.
- StarsMary BeardIn this four-part series classicist and historian, Professor Mary Beard draws on her immense scholarship, unique viewpoints and myth-busting approach to Roman history, to give her definitive take on the Roman Empire. How and why did it happen? In search of answers, she takes us to the most telling sites and the most revealing artifacts, and she examines the legacy the Roman Empire has left behind.
- StarsAndrew RobertsDavid SibleyStephane CornicardHistorian Andrew Roberts travels the world retracing the footsteps of Napoleon on the approach to the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
- DirectorRenny BartlettStarsTariq AliMartin AmisNicholas AsburyIn February 1917, Nicolas Ii abdicated as Tsar of All the Russias. By October, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin have seized control. Was the Russian Revolution really a popular uprising? Or merely a stunning coup d'etat?
- StarsBettany HughesMarcel DorianMarek LichtenbergHistorian Bettany Hughes selects eight pivotal days that defined the Roman Empire and its establishment as the world's first superpower.
- StarsRageh OmaarSoner CagaptayRageh Omaar recounts the epic story of one of the largest and most influential empires in world history, that of the Ottomans.
- StarsSteve RosenbergMikhail PiotrovskyVladimir PutinThe Russian Revolution of 1917 sparked a political and social earthquake that would define the 20th century. 100 years on, how do Russians view the revolution that came to be known as Red October?
- DirectorMargy KinmonthStarsTom ContiMargy KinmonthThierry MorelHermitage Revealed A Margy Kinmonth Film 'Hermitage Revealed' vividly brings to life the human stories behind one of the world's greatest art collections in its 250th anniversary year, 2014. The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, holding over 3 million treasures and world class masterpieces in stunning architectural settings. To celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2014, Margy Kinmonth's film reveals the remarkable stories that have shaped the Hermitage's 250 year journey from Imperial Palace to State Museum.
- StarsRichard MilesSimon Russell BealeValerio Massimo ManfrediAn Ancient society is examined, but not just from a historical point of view. The researchers try to present and approach it as if they lived in that Classical or earlier culture, religion etcetera.
- StarsElla Al-ShamahiNick KellingtonCecily FayArchaeologist Ella Al-Shamahi and actor Andy Serkis bring the prehistoric hominids 'back-to-life' through animation, uncovering some surprising similarities to modern humans.
- The cars are world-famous, much sought after by collectors, idolized by car fans -- the Mercedes-Benz 540K, built from 1936 to 1938. For some, these cars represent the ultimate in vehicle design. Here is the story of Mercedes-Benz recreating one forgotten version of this beautiful vehicle.
- DirectorSteve O'HaganStarsMark EvansPaul EvansLeo HubbardThe story behind the invention of the diesel engine in the 19th century that later became the workhorse of the 20th and 21st century.
- DirectorNic StaceyStarsSimon SchafferIlan GoodmanLaura HeathExcellent one hour documentary narrated by Professor Simon Schaffer which explores the fascinating and rarely told story of automata, those intricate clockwork devices built hundreds of years ago with the intent to mimic and recreate life. Of particular interest are Jaquet-Droz's 'The Writer' (1774) and Merlin's 'The Silver Swan' (1773) which beautifully illustrate the degree of technical mechanical sophistication achieved by artisans over 240 years ago. There is also a funny aside: the record Prof. Schaffer places on the turntable at the end (columbia LX466, 1935 impression) is the Beethoven String Sonata Opus 132 and not the Symphony 7 so BBC used any old record and overlaid the sound track.
- StarsJim Al-KhaliliJim Al-Khalili travels through Syria, Iran, Tunisia and Spain to tell the story of the great leap in scientific knowledge that took place in the Islamic world between the 8th and 14th centuries.
- StarsSimon ReeveThe travel writer and broadcaster journeys around the Mediterranean discovering the extremes that lie beneath the picture postcard tourist veneer.
- StarsSimon Sebag MontefioreVienna - a pivotal city in the story of Europe. Home to the Holy Roman Emperors and target of Ottoman aggression, the city nurtured the architectural style of the Gothic and the music of the Baroque while being coveted, cultured and decadent. From its Roman origins until now, its strategic position has made it witness to war, intrigue and deceit. This is its story.
- StarsBettany HughesApostolos C. DoxiadisShantum SethBettany Hughes travels to India, Greece and China, profiling Buddha, Socrates and Confucius, the three greatest thinkers of antiquity.
- StarsRageh OmaarTariq AliKaren ArmstrongA landmark documentary series examining the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the origins of Islamic faith.
- StarsPatrick FloersheimThursday, October 24 : the Wall Street Stock Exchange crashes, the greatest economic crisis of the 20th century suddenly breaks out. Fueled by the idea that everyone can get rich without limits, it puts a final stop to the euphoria of the 1920s. America is then caught in a devastating cycle which spreads around the world a few months later like a malign infection. Calling on renowned historians and economists, William Karel conducts an incredibly detailed analysis of the economic and financial mechanisms that lead to the crash of Wall Street and then to the Great Depression of the 1930's.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughJohn BrownSophie DarlingtonA nature documentary series on five vulnerable or endangered species known to form enduring populations: chimpanzee, emperor penguin, lion, tiger and African wild dog.
- DirectorLorry PowlesStarsSimon Russell BealeMatthew BurtonBen CrystalThe character from Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe (2013) presents a mockumentary about William Shakespeare, talking us through his life and works in her own unique style.
- StarsBettany HughesSimon GoldhillHannah DawsonHistorian Bettany Hughes retraces the lives of three great thinkers whose ideas shaped the modern world: Karl Marx, Frederick Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud.
- DirectorEdward BazalgetteStarsOrgil MakhaanUnubold BatbayarUnurjargal JigjidsurenGenghis Khan, ruthless leader of the Mongols and sovereign over the vastest empire ever ruled by a single man, was both god and devil - not just in the Middle Ages, but for centuries to come.
- DirectorMelanie ArcherWilliam LyonsStarsMark CorbyNeil FaulknerSean Francis GeorgeIn his "Commentarii de Bello Gallico" the Roman general Julius Caesar wrote about his Gallic Wars (58 - 50 BCE). This documentary investigates if his account is accurate or propaganda.
- DirectorHarry KillasStarsArmand LeroiA film that examines Aristotle's discoveries about nature on the island of Lesvos and how they influenced his views on human biology.
- DirectorBen FinneyStuart ElliottStarsPaul McGannArchaeologists set out to find the wrecks of Captain Franklin's infamous North West Passage voyage.
- StarsSimon SchamaMichael KitchenSamuel WestA comprehensive historical survey of the British Isles.
- DirectorGeorge ChanStarsDeborah MaclarenLawrie HallTerry GourvishDocumentary which tells the surprising story of how Britain entered a new age of steam railways after the Second World War and why it quickly came to an end. After the war, the largely destroyed railways of Europe were rebuilt to carry more modern diesel and electric trains. Britain, however, chose to build thousands of brand new steam locomotives. Did we stay with steam because coal was seen as the most reliable power source or were the railways run by men who couldn't bear to let go of their beloved steam trains? The new British locomotives were designed to stay in service well into the 1970s, but in some cases they were taken off the railways and scrapped within just five years. When Dr Richard Beeching took over British Railways in the 1960s the writing was on the wall, and in 1968 the last steam passenger train blew its whistle. But while steam use declined, steam enthusiasm grew. As many steam engines lay rusting in scrap-yards around Britain, enthusiasts raised funds to buy, restore and return them to their former glory. In 2008, the first brand new steam locomotive to be built in Britain in nearly 50 years rolled off the line, proving our enduring love of these machines.
- StarsIain StewartAn excellent narration of oil industry since early days to 20th century and up to today. How oil changed the world and shaped our modern world today.
- The inside story of a family dynasty at the heart of one of the world's biggest problems.
- StarsSimon SchamaNorman LebrechtA historical documentary tracing the Jewish experience from ancient to modern times, presented by Simon Schama and based on his book of the same name.
- StarsAngela Palmer-HaibachDiarmaid MacCullochDiarmaid MacCulloch, an Oxford history professor, travels to historical points of interest relevant to Christianity discussing the origins and spread of Christianity in a span of 6 episodes.
- StarsJenny NortonHundreds of industrial towns across Russia face extinction. Once the pride of the Soviet Union, many have now been abandoned and millions have lost jobs and homes after the collapse of their local industry. The government now has a plan to save at least some of Russia's dying towns.
- DirectorPatrick ForbesStarsPatrick ForbesVladimir PutinThis documentary will provide the first authoritative account of who Vladimir Putin actually is. What drives him, what does he fear, who does he love and hate?
- DirectorEuan McDonald SmithStarsMaggie Aderin-PocockChris LintottPete LawrenceWe know that distant galaxies are racing away from us. But just how fast is the Universe expanding? Scientists are yet to agree on an answer.
- DirectorAnna CoxStarsJanina RamirezElizabeth Evenden-KenyonDaryl GreenIt is 500 years since the Reformation, when England broke away from the authority of the Catholic Church. This is the story of three books at the heart of the schism. Presented by Dr Janina Ramirez.
- DirectorMorag TintoStarsAlice RobertsMary Shelley's Frankenstein has become synonymous monsters and the dangers of science without morals. Author and scientist Professor Alice Roberts returns to the original text to explore the myths of the novel and what Shelley originally intended Frankenstein to be about.
- DirectorOlly LambertStarsBrian CoxOlegar FedoroLarissa KouznetsovaThe Life and Death of Grigori Efimovich Rasputin.
- DirectorNick Gillam-SmithStarsBettany HughesBettany Hughes examines the story of the god of wine, revelry, theatre and excess. She visits Jordan, Georgia, Greece and Britain to discover his origins, modern presence and role in the development of civilisation.
- DirectorDenis MinihanStarsSaul DavidMilitary historian Saul David explores how the West saw the USSR and Russia throughout the 20th and the 21st century using footage from classic Timewatch documentaries.
- DirectorJessica KellyStarsMarcel TherouxKrishnan Guru-MurthyThe Russian Orthodox Church is at the forefront of a new movement combining religion and nationalism and has forged close ties with President Putin. But is it also responsible for a wave of intolerance?
- StarsWaldemar JanuszczakIn this series critic and writer Waldemar Januszczak challenges the traditional review that the European Renaissance originated in southern Europe, advocating a case for the north instead.
- StarsTony RobinsonAndrew Wallace-HadrillRay LaurenceThe lives of Julius Caesar, Nero, and Caligula are examined.
- StarsMichael ScottRosie WylesEdith HallClassicist Dr Michael Scott presents a three-part series looking at the power, influence and history of Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, through the prism of one of its most important cultural spaces - the theatre.
- DirectorJörn DonnerStarsIngmar BergmanJörn DonnerSitting together on a sound stage, Donner interviews Ingmar Bergman in depth, with an emphasis put on on his Bergman's film and theater work. Bergman's personal life and thoughts on religion, family, and loss are also discussed.
- StarsJosh GatesDanny HermanHaytham DieckJosh Gates journeys to the Holy Land to find out where Jesus was born; his investigation leads to potentially explosive revelations that may change people's understanding of Jesus' origin story.
- DirectorNigel MaslinStarsTim HardyLooks at Project Trois, a huge archaeological expedition and dig in North-West Turkey, searching for the city of Troy.
- 2004– 49m7.6 (13)TV EpisodeDirectorTimothy CopestakeStarsFrancis PryorPryor tells the story of Roman Britain from the perspective of the native Britons rather than the conquering army.
- StarsDavid TennantJade AnoukaFelix AylmerMeet with David Tennant and fellow Hamlets who compare notes on the challenge of playing the iconic role.
- DirectorGuy EvansStarsJohn Eliot GardinerIan HislopIan Hislop and John Eliot Gardiner reveal the story behind Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Described as the 'greatest 'great' piece ever written,' its opening notes are among the most recognisable in history. But no one really knows what Beethoven was trying to express with this piece. The traditional wisdom is that he is railing against fate and his deafness. But John Eliot believes the music expresses Beethoven's belief in the French Revolution. This is turbulent music from a turbulent man living in a turbulent age. John Eliot and Ian Hislop bring to life the exciting and dangerous times that shaped Beethoven personally and creatively.
- StarsMelvyn BraggMichael CroninDavid GwillimThe history of the English language.
- DirectorChris RodleyStarsNicola BenedettiKristian BezuidenhoutEleanor DennisTom Service delves into the life and times of Mozart to try and rediscover his greatness.
- DirectorTitus OgilvyStarsMichael PortilloAt East Grinstead, Michael dons a boiler suit and takes to the footplate of a loco on the Bluebell Railway, Britain's first passenger carrying heritage line.
- StarsDavid AttenboroughAlec BaldwinChadden HunterFocuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
- DirectorKen BurnsStarsKeith DavidKevin ConwayPhilip BoscoA biographical film about the acclaimed American humourist and author.
- StarsMatthew MacfadyenRichard OveryJohn DoliboisProfiles on the major defendants of the Nuremberg war crimes trials.
- DirectorRobert KirkStarsBill RatnerSamuel BurgessEugene GargesHistory of the 1948-1949 Berlin airlift.
- StarsDan Cruickshank
- StarsDavid AttenboroughDavid Attenborough explores Charles Darwin's controversial theory of evolution by natural selection.
- StarsJeff WilburnThe world explores super epic things across the world
- StarsSimon SchamaAllan CordunerPaul PopplewellFocusing on eight iconic works of art, Power of Art reveals the history of visual imagination through the ages.
- DirectorEoin O'SheaStarsJohn Sergeant
- DirectorAlastair McKeeStarsShirley BasseyRaymond BaxterTony BennA Supersonic Story follows the story of the most glamorous aeroplane ever built - told by the people whose lives she touched. We uncover rare footage telling the forgotten row between the French and British governments over the spelling of Concorde which threatened to derail the whole project.
- StarsAndrew Graham-DixonThis 3 part series is presented by the British Art Critic, Andrew Graham-Dixon. He explores the Low Countries of the Netherlands and Belgium and how history has influenced the area's art, architecture and culture. Cloth was used in the area's first expression of art in the making of tapestries going back to the 14 th century. They were the No. 1 luxury item of the day. The Low Countries were well placed geographically for markets for their art.
- CreatorMark KermodeStarsMark KermodeBritish film critic Mark Kermode presents his guide to cinema.
- StarsPaul McGannHannah FryPhilippa PerryVictorian Sensations transports us to the thrilling era of the 1890s. Dr Hannah Fry, Paul McGann, and Philippa Perry explore a decade of rapid change that still resonates today.
- StarsTony RobinsonMichael HollandThe actor and television presenter embarks upon a 200-mile journey from source to sea to discover what makes the Thames one of the greatest rivers in the world.
- StarsPaul MurtonCalum MacleanGeoff SheltonPaul Murton sets out to explore the lochs of Scotland, travelling from the wilds of the west coast to the Grampian Mountains, discovering the secrets of these iconic features of the Scottish landscape.
- StarsAlan LittleDocumentary series in which Allan Little explores how devolution has shaped Scottish lives.
- DirectorTodd Douglas MillerStarsNeil ArmstrongMike CollinsBuzz AldrinA look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins.
- DirectorTom RichardsonStarsMichael Portillo
- DirectorAlex HemingwayKiki LawranceSimon WinchcombeStarsBrian CoxDara O BriainKevin FongTo celebrate the Apollo moon landing's 50th anniversary, Professor Brian Cox and Dara O Briain travel to where the historic Apollo 11 mission began - Cape Canaveral in Florida. They hear first hand from astronaut general Charlie Duke what it was like to guide Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the surface of the Moon in the Lunar Lander and how he followed in their footsteps three years later. They also look at the most exciting new developments and, with privileged access, they broadcast from the top of launch tower that is being prepared for crewed missions and from the assembly line of a spacecraft factory. They are joined by astrophysicist and medic Dr Kevin Fong and mathematician Dr Hannah Fry, who explore the latest developments in human space flight - from cutting-edge spacewalk technology to a future Mars buggy.
- DirectorCharles MillerStarsSandi ToksvigDocumentary telling the inside story of low-cost airlines - a tale of big characters and big money. Ryanair's Michael O'Leary and EasyJet's Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou opened up new frontiers in the aviation industry as their airlines offered cheap flights to a vast range of popular and alternative destinations. The programme follows O'Leary as he flies to Poland, takes an EasyJet flight to Moscow and a joins a group of lads travelling to Riga to sample the low-cost airline experience. As the cost of flying keeps increasing, how much further can these companies grow? Stelios, EasyJet's biggest shareholder, is trying to halt its expansion, while O'Leary has just placed a massive order for new planes.
- DirectorWill LorimerThe story of Britain's biggest ever food scandal. Since 1996, almost 200 people have died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, whilst BSE has been responsible for the death of over four million cows. It has cost the NHS over a billion pounds and virtually destroyed the British beef industry in the 1990s. A story of greed, corruption and catastrophic political misjudgement by the then Conservative government can be found beneath the statistics. This film pieces together a forgotten chapter of our recent history, with access to all of the politicians, scientists and families who have been defined by this epidemic.
- StarsPhilip GlenisterPeter GinnRuth GoodmanHistorians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn bring back to life the golden age of steam, exploring how Victorian railways helped to shape modern Britain.
- StarsRuth GoodmanCherry HealeyGregg WallaceGregg Wallace is in Germany at a historic pencil factory where they produce 600,000 writing implements a day.
- StarsStephen NoonanPeter GinnRuth GoodmanIn this unique project, historian Ruth Goodman as well as archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn immerse themselves in the life of the Victorian farmer as he would have lived on the Acton Scott Estate.
- DirectorAndrew HuttonStarsBenedict CumberbatchJamie ParkerAidan McArdleThe story of Vincent Van Gogh, with dialogue sourced from his own words.
- StarsRobert BartlettProfessor Robert Bartlett examines the extraordinary expansion and unchecked ambition of the Normans, and shows how they transformed the history of Europe.
- StarsNeil OliverAlison SheridanFrancis PryorNeil Oliver tells the epic story of how Britain and its people came to be over thousands of years of ancient history - the beginnings of our world forged in ice, stone, and bronze.
- StarsBrian McCardieLisa HiltonCharles SpencerHistorian Lisa Hilton discovers how, in just fifty tempestuous days, Charles I's rule collapsed, laying the foundations for civil war, the loss of royal power and, ultimately, the king's head.
- StarsBettany HughesThe historian explores the land that inspired her passion for the past by embarking upon a 900-mile journey along the river Nile and examining how it shaped ancient Egypt.
- DirectorDavid StarkeyStarsJanina RamirezArt Historian Dr Janina Ramirez explores the BBC archives to create a television history of Leonardo Da Vinci, discovering secrets of the Mona Lisa and his anatomical knowledge.
- DirectorNathan BuddStarsHelen MacdonaldA two episode documentary about The River Tay which is Scotland's longest river. The show was presented by writer and naturalist Helen Macdonald.
- DirectorJack CockerStarsRupert EverettPrepare for an Odyssey. This is the remarkable story of Rupert Everett's ten-year quest to write, direct and star in his own film about the tragic last years of his hero Oscar Wilde, the great Irish writer imprisoned for loving another man.
- DirectorNick Gillam-SmithStarsBettany HughesSalima IkramColin ClementBettany Hughes goes to Alexandria, Egypt, too look at one of the great cities of history. Founded by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was once one of the intellectual and culture hubs of the world. It was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the immense Library of Alexandria.
- DirectorMelanie ArcherTim KirbyStarsBettany HughesNicholas FarrellGeorge TsonevBest known for the myth of the Minotaur, Crete gave birth to Europe's first civilization. Yet little is known about those who inhabited the island. But now, with fresh archeological evidence, light is finally being shed on this ancient culture.
- StarsIfor ap Glyn
- DirectorBill LockeStarsBettany HughesRomany WagenaarKostas DervenisBritish historian Bettany Hughes tours the eastern Mediterranean in search of facts behind the legends of "the face that launched a thousand ships," exploring the ways Greeks made love and war circa 1300 B.C.