BBC four

Documentary from 2004 about Luciano Pavarotti, hailed as one of the greatest tenors of all time. The film chronicles his background and upbringing and follows him as he performs to sell-out audiences on three continents, culminating with his valedictory performances of Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Backstage in LA, the tenor greets celebrity admirers, including Michael Caine and Dus

Katherine Jenkins introduces what was billed as Pavarotti in the Park, but Luciano Pavarotti's 30th-anniversary concert in Hyde Park could just as well have been called Pavarotti in the Deluge. The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duchess of York, then prime minister John Major and his wife Norma, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, actor Michael Caine and a crowd estimated at 125,000 turned out despit

Ron Howard directs this definitive documentary about arguably the greatest tenor star who ever lived, Luciano Pavarotti. It looks at his humble upbringing, his will to succeed, his extraordinary voice and charisma, the tours and the impresarios who made him famous and his great love of the pleasures of life. With extraordinary archive footage and contributions from family, lovers, collaborators an

The most famous name in English furniture, the 'high priest of mahogany', who saw the potential of the middle-class market and who started a revolution in design. Presented by Hugh Scully.

This edition focuses on the work of 18th-century Scottish furniture-maker Robert Adam.

Hugh Scully and Arthur Negus explore the work of Gillows, Hepplewhite and Sheraton.

Documentary from 2004 about Luciano Pavarotti, hailed as one of the greatest tenors of all time. The film chronicles his background and upbringing and follows him as he performs to sell-out audiences on three continents, culminating with his valedictory performances of Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Backstage in LA, the tenor greets celebrity admirers, including Michael Caine and Dus

Katherine Jenkins introduces what was billed as Pavarotti in the Park, but Luciano Pavarotti's 30th-anniversary concert in Hyde Park could just as well have been called Pavarotti in the Deluge. The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duchess of York, then prime minister John Major and his wife Norma, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, actor Michael Caine and a crowd estimated at 125,000 turned out despit

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Northern Ireland across the water to Scotland. Leaving from the seaport of Larne he reaches Stranraer and the Mull of Galloway, where in a lighthouse built by railway engineer Robert Stevenson, he discovers a magnificent machine, installed at the turn of the 20th century. In the Lowland town of Cumnock, canvassers are out in force – it is the cradle of t

The real side of boat life with Robbie Cumming. Robbie runs aground on the Rochdale Canal – will he make it to Manchester? Moderation: Robbie Cumming.

The team are on an archaeological hunt of our more recent past as they follow the search for artefacts from World War II. They join marine archaeologists in the Solent as they raise the once-in-a-lifetime find of a Fairey Barracuda dive-bomber. More than 2,500 Barracudas were in service during the war, but not a single complete plane survives today. Naoíse Mac Sweeney joins the post-excavation to

Stonehenge is an icon of prehistoric British culture, an enigma that has seduced archaeologists and tourists for centuries. Why is it here? What is its significance? And which forces inspired its creators? Now a group of international archaeologists led by the University of Birmingham and the Ludwig Boltzman Institute in Vienna believe that a new state-of-the-art approach is the key to unlocking S

In July 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope released its first images. They were visually stunning, and it was clear they provided more detail of stars, galaxies and planets than ever before. But for the scientists waiting on the data, this was just the beginning of their journey to discover what the new telescope would reveal. Since then, they have been working hard and publishing papers on all

The story of how the smallpox vaccine was developed, from the groundbreaking practice of variolation and Edward Jenner's famous experiments, to US president Thomas Jefferson's clinical trials, the opposition of early 19th-century anti-vaxxers and the eventual global eradication of the disease through the World Health Organisation. The tale exemplifies our astonishing ability to combat serious illn

Inventions that combat illness directly are relatively recent breakthroughs in humanity's fight against life-shortening disease. In this episode, Steven Johnson and David Olusoga explore the remarkable and often unsung work that has led to major medical advances. Alexander Fleming's famous discovery of antibiotics was followed – in the midst of World War II – by the rollout of the manufacture of p

Patagonia invites you into a rarely seen South American wilderness, home to surprising creatures who survive in environments that range from the mighty Andes Mountains to Cape Horn. Discover the secret lives of pumas and hummingbirds. Soar with condors over glacial peaks and explore monkey puzzle forests from the time of dinosaurs. Ride with extreme kayakers over raging waterfalls, and with Patago

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Northern Ireland across the water to Scotland. Leaving from the seaport of Larne he reaches Stranraer and the Mull of Galloway, where in a lighthouse built by railway engineer Robert Stevenson, he discovers a magnificent machine, installed at the turn of the 20th century. In the Lowland town of Cumnock, canvassers are out in force – it is the cradle of t

The real side of boat life with Robbie Cumming. Robbie runs aground on the Rochdale Canal – will he make it to Manchester? Moderation: Robbie Cumming.

The team are on an archaeological hunt of our more recent past as they follow the search for artefacts from World War II. They join marine archaeologists in the Solent as they raise the once-in-a-lifetime find of a Fairey Barracuda dive-bomber. More than 2,500 Barracudas were in service during the war, but not a single complete plane survives today. Naoíse Mac Sweeney joins the post-excavation to

Lucy Worsley tells the story of Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. Built in the early 17th century, it became the pleasure palace of playboy Cavalier and ambitious courtier William Cavendish. Guiding us on a tour of the castle and its remarkable collection of artworks, Lucy brings to life the spectacular masque held by Cavendish to win the favour of King Charles I. And from within the walls of this ec

There are engine issues and a leaky boat to fix before Robbie reaches Liverpool Docks.

Victor and Margaret are preparing for a holiday to Athens, but first they must cope with Mrs Warboys's bout of food poisoning, a visit from the electricity man and a snake that hitches a ride home with Victor after escaping from its enclosure at the garden centre.

Ria has decided that her life is an untidy drawer full of people who bother her.

After the failure of the plot to blow Adolf Hitler to pieces as he studied his campaigns in the Wolf's Lair on 20 July 1944, the conspirators were rounded up, put on trial and hanged. To savour his revenge at leisure, Hitler ordered the trials and death throes of his enemies to be filmed. Four hours of Hitler's film have been tracked down, and from it emerges a unique and bizarre parody of justice

As the 2020 season ends, a cloud hangs over Oisin Murphy as he defends his jockeys' title.

Kingsclere staff brave winter as Andrew sends runners to the Middle East.

Marty Feldman, for many years a successful comedy writer before turning to performing, explores humour through the people who create it, comparing their traditions, motivations and anxieties with his own. Among the people Marty talks to are Peter Sellers, Eric Morecambe, Peter Brough and Archie Andrews, Dudley Moore and Barry Took. Moderation: Marty Feldman.

Lucy Worsley tells the story of Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. Built in the early 17th century, it became the pleasure palace of playboy Cavalier and ambitious courtier William Cavendish. Guiding us on a tour of the castle and its remarkable collection of artworks, Lucy brings to life the spectacular masque held by Cavendish to win the favour of King Charles I. And from within the walls of this ec

There are engine issues and a leaky boat to fix before Robbie reaches Liverpool Docks.

After the failure of the plot to blow Adolf Hitler to pieces as he studied his campaigns in the Wolf's Lair on 20 July 1944, the conspirators were rounded up, put on trial and hanged. To savour his revenge at leisure, Hitler ordered the trials and death throes of his enemies to be filmed. Four hours of Hitler's film have been tracked down, and from it emerges a unique and bizarre parody of justice

Stonehenge is an icon of prehistoric British culture, an enigma that has seduced archaeologists and tourists for centuries. Why is it here? What is its significance? And which forces inspired its creators? Now a group of international archaeologists led by the University of Birmingham and the Ludwig Boltzman Institute in Vienna believe that a new state-of-the-art approach is the key to unlocking S

Day one highlights from the first Test between England and the West Indies.

Michael Palin travels the Pacific Rim, through 18 countries. On this leg, he takes an open canoe trip through the middle of the breathtaking Peruvian rainforest and, in one of the remotest parts of the world, finds that a community of Indians is being touched by outside influences. Next, he visits Bogota, the Colombian capital, and Cartagena, one of the oldest cities in the Americas.

Kedleston Hall is a grand stately home nestled in the Derbyshire countryside. In its grounds lives one of the most elusive of British mammals, the stoat. On the estate at the end of winter, we catch a rare glimpse of a stoat in ermine. A visiting shrike, or butcher bird, is another unusual sight. The stately stoats have resided in Kedleston for many years, and each spring an old walled garden is w

What is it about stories of magic, epic adventure, and imaginary worlds that has turned fantasy fiction into one of the world's most popular forms of storytelling, regularly filling the bestseller lists and entrancing adults and children alike? In the second episode of his series that deconstructs the books we (really) read, Andrew Marr argues that these stories are filled with big ideas. Yes, the

A crime is viewed through the eyes of the detective investigating it.

A crime is viewed through the eyes of the detective investigating it.

Four-part drama series about the British judicial system, dealing with an investigation presented from the perspectives of the police force, the criminal, the solicitor and the prison system. Does Mr English pick the villain from the identity parade?

Four-part drama series about the British judicial system, dealing with an investigation presented from the perspectives of the police force, the criminal, the solicitor and the prison system. The solicitor takes centre stage in this edition.