BBC four

Michael Portillo ventures down under to ride one of the world's greatest rail journeys aboard the legendary Ghan Railway. Michael's 1913 Bradshaw's Guide tells him "a transcontinental railway is being constructed" and he traces its route from the southern harbour of Port Augusta to the port of Darwin on the north coast. Along the way, Michael uncovers the history of the ambitious project, which st

Robbie battles his way through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal.

Last in the series examining the relationship between culture and the natural environment. Historian Simon Schama looks at paintings by Poussin and the writings of Horace, Virgil, Rousseau and Thoreau as he investigates different interpretations of the theme of Arcadia.

Post-war architectural innovations in the Big Apple.

Robert Robinson referees a duel of words and wit between Frank Muir and Patrick Campbell.

Joseph Cooper is joined by Joyce Grenfell, Robin Ray and David Attenborough.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its launch, this film tells the remarkable story of how Hubble revealed the awe and wonder of our universe and how a team of daring astronauts risked their lives to keep it working.

Cameras in space tell stories of life on our planet from a brand new perspective. At a time when the Earth's surface is changing faster than ever in human history, watch cities grow, forest disappear and glaciers melt. In the ever-growing grey of cities one man is feeding thousands of parakeets; in Sumatra a female orang-utan and her daughter face life in a forest under threat; while in Tanzania l

Dr James Fox takes a journey through six different landscapes across Britain, meeting artists whose work explores our relationship to the natural world. From Andy Goldsworthy's beautiful stone sculptures to James Turrell's extraordinary sky spaces, this is a film about art made out of nature itself, featuring spectacular images of landscape and art. James travels from the furthest reaches of the S

Michael Portillo ventures down under to ride one of the world's greatest rail journeys aboard the legendary Ghan Railway. Michael's 1913 Bradshaw's Guide tells him "a transcontinental railway is being constructed" and he traces its route from the southern harbour of Port Augusta to the port of Darwin on the north coast. Along the way, Michael uncovers the history of the ambitious project, which st

Robbie battles his way through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal.

Cameras in space tell stories of life on our planet from a brand new perspective. At a time when the Earth's surface is changing faster than ever in human history, watch cities grow, forest disappear and glaciers melt. In the ever-growing grey of cities one man is feeding thousands of parakeets; in Sumatra a female orang-utan and her daughter face life in a forest under threat; while in Tanzania l

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its launch, this film tells the remarkable story of how Hubble revealed the awe and wonder of our universe and how a team of daring astronauts risked their lives to keep it working.

Michael Portillo continues to trace the route of one of the world's greatest rail journeys – the legendary Ghan Railway. Before boarding the luxurious, modern transcontinental at Alice Springs, Michael meets orphaned joeys Tilly and Max at Brolga's Kangaroo Sanctuary, where he helps at feeding time. Close by, at Bond Springs Cattle Station, Michael discovers the rags to riches story of the early 2

Robbie gets stuck in the mud in Woodseaves Cutting and explores the village of Kinver.

Godber takes up boxing and enters the prison championships.

Jean's daughter goes out with a man who turns out to be her mother's long-lost lover.

In the medieval and Tudor world there was no question in people's minds about the order of God's creation – men ruled and women didn't. A king was a warrior who literally fought to win power then battled to keep it. Yet despite everything that stood in their way, a handful of extraordinary women did attempt to rule medieval and Tudor England. In this series, historian Dr Helen Castor explores seve

With unprecedented access to one of the most secretive cabals in the world, the Taliban, this extraordinary film begins on the day after the last US soldier left Afghanistan in 2021 and follows a group of Talib leaders in their first year back in power. Director Ibrahim Nash'at was allowed, under strict, hostile guard, to follow and film two of the Taliban men now operating out of Kabul airbase: a

It's said that journalists write the first draft of history. To mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989, John Simpson, the BBC's world affairs editor and longest-serving correspondent, goes back to his reports on what he believes is the most important story he ever covered – the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Back in 1989, John thought this event would change the

Michael Portillo continues to trace the route of one of the world's greatest rail journeys – the legendary Ghan Railway. Before boarding the luxurious, modern transcontinental at Alice Springs, Michael meets orphaned joeys Tilly and Max at Brolga's Kangaroo Sanctuary, where he helps at feeding time. Close by, at Bond Springs Cattle Station, Michael discovers the rags to riches story of the early 2

Robbie gets stuck in the mud in Woodseaves Cutting and explores the village of Kinver.

In the medieval and Tudor world there was no question in people's minds about the order of God's creation – men ruled and women didn't. A king was a warrior who literally fought to win power then battled to keep it. Yet despite everything that stood in their way, a handful of extraordinary women did attempt to rule medieval and Tudor England. In this series, historian Dr Helen Castor explores seve

It's said that journalists write the first draft of history. To mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989, John Simpson, the BBC's world affairs editor and longest-serving correspondent, goes back to his reports on what he believes is the most important story he ever covered – the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Back in 1989, John thought this event would change the

Michael Portillo embarks on an epic rail adventure aboard the transcontinental Indian Pacific Railway, from the southern port city of Adelaide, south Australia, 1,700 miles deep into the desert, to the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie, and finishes in Perth, Western Australia. First, Michael explores McLaren Vale, where an enterprising early 19th-century Briton with a murky past began to grow vines. M

Robbie navigates the mighty River Severn and takes an unexpected bath.

For a long time we've known that plants can move, but recent studies reveal other secrets.

Ted Green talks about a 600-year-old oak tree in Windsor Great Park.

A documentary about Thomas Hardy's Dorset with Sir Michael Hordern.

Most of Thomas Hardy 's personal papers were destroyed at his request when he died, but one seminal notebook survived the flames. Its pages offer unique insight into Hardy's methods of research, showing how the writer took snippets from local newspapers and, using the immense power of his imagination, transformed them into some of the greatest literature ever written in the English language.

Third in the four-part drama series based on the novel by Thomas Hardy. Tess agrees to marry Angel, to his great joy. When he confesses to a dishonourable event in his own past, Tess feels that she can at last tell him about her relationship with Alec D'Urberville and its consequences.

In the last in the four-part drama series based on the novel by Thomas Hardy, Angel has gone to Brazil, leaving Tess to endure a harsh winter on a swede farm. While being relentlessly pursued by Alec, she has written to Angel, pleading with him to return before it is too late. Unfortunately, Angel has been struck down by a dangerous fever, and when Tess' sister arrives with bad news about their fa