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Dame Judi Dench shares her memories of Talking to a Stranger, the groundbreaking 1960s drama by celebrated Z-Cars creator John Hopkins. The four-part piece followed four members of an outwardly everyday suburban family that is hit by tragedy one weekend, with each episode focusing on the individual family members' perspective on events as they unfold. Amongst several stellar performances, Judi's p

Judi Dench stars in John Hopkins's quartet of plays that recount the events of one weekend from the viewpoints of four members of the same family. In the first play, Terry, the 30-year-old daughter of the Stephens family, reminisces about her past and tells of the family reunion on Sunday. Hailed by critics as one of the most important and affecting television dramas of the 1960s, it won Judi Denc

During the reunion, Mr Stephens (Maurice Denham) looks back at his life and recalls some previous family arguments. (1966).

Celia Imrie takes a look at some of the leading ladies who've proved time and again, year after year, that they are amongst the very best of British talent. These are our acting Dames, who've earned the respect and affection of cinema audiences – and the royal seal of approval, too. Using BBC interviews and archive footage, those featured include Emma Thompson, Diana Rigg, Julie Walters, Elizabeth

An intimate portrait of Judi Dench, one of the most outstanding and best-loved British actors of all time, told by some of the biggest names in entertainment – Daniel Craig, Stephen Frears, Pierce Brosnan, Samantha Bond and Sir Ian McKellen.

Judi Dench is one of Britain's best-loved actresses, but few people know that Judi holds another great passion, a deep love for trees. Filmed over the course of a year, this is a study of the changing seasons and their effect on Surrey, the most wooded county in Britain. Judi shared her passion with her late husband, and together they nurtured a collection of trees. For the past seven years, she h

Liz McIvor discovers how carving up the landscape in order to build canals helped further our understanding of the earth below. The canal builders struggled with rocks. Without maps or geological surveys, construction often relied on guesswork. The Kennet and Avon had more than its fair share of problems. William Smith, a surveyor working on the connecting Somerset Coal Canal, discovered a way of

The North York Moors provide a picturesque setting for Reverend Richard Coles on a winter walk through this historic landscape. Departing from the iconic Sutton Bank with its panoramic views, Richard takes the viewer across countryside shaped by centuries of change marked by conflict, mining and religion. Armed with his handheld 360-degree camera, Richard finds inspiration in the sights and sounds

Drawing on the BBC's rich archive, this documentary reveals the working practices, lives and opinions of some of the greatest photographers since the 1950s. From Norman Parkinson to David Bailey, Eve Arnold to Jane Bown, Henri Cartier-Bresson to Martin Parr, for decades the BBC has drawn our attention to the creators of what has become the most ubiquitous, contemporary art form. Pioneering BBC pro

Lucy Worsley takes us through the story of the royal photograph – showing how the royal family collaborated with generations of photographers to create images that reinvented the British monarchy. Lucy explores the key types of photo that have enabled the royal family to conduct a dialogue with the British people, forging a modern monarchy that reigns rather than rules. Along the way, she recreate

Leonardo da Vinci is considered by many to be one of the greatest artists who ever lived. Yet his reputation rests on only a handful of pictures – including the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. As the National Gallery in London prepares to open its doors on a remarkable exhibition of Leonardo's work, Fiona Bruce travels to Florence, Milan, Paris and Warsaw to uncover the story of this

Can you use craft to help make the world a better place, one stitch at a time? Writer, comedian and art lover Jenny Eclair meets people doing extraordinary things with knitting, cross-stitch, banners and felt to change hearts and minds. Hearing stories from craftivists around the UK and beyond, Jenny visits Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire to see how miniature knickers are discreetly placed around th

Liz McIvor discovers how carving up the landscape in order to build canals helped further our understanding of the earth below. The canal builders struggled with rocks. Without maps or geological surveys, construction often relied on guesswork. The Kennet and Avon had more than its fair share of problems. William Smith, a surveyor working on the connecting Somerset Coal Canal, discovered a way of

Leonardo da Vinci is considered by many to be one of the greatest artists who ever lived. Yet his reputation rests on only a handful of pictures – including the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. As the National Gallery in London prepares to open its doors on a remarkable exhibition of Leonardo's work, Fiona Bruce travels to Florence, Milan, Paris and Warsaw to uncover the story of this

Leonardo da Vinci is considered by many to be one of the greatest artists who ever lived. Yet his reputation rests on only a handful of pictures – including the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. As the National Gallery in London prepares to open its doors on a remarkable exhibition of Leonardo's work, Fiona Bruce travels to Florence, Milan, Paris and Warsaw to uncover the story of this

The North York Moors provide a picturesque setting for Reverend Richard Coles on a winter walk through this historic landscape. Departing from the iconic Sutton Bank with its panoramic views, Richard takes the viewer across countryside shaped by centuries of change marked by conflict, mining and religion. Armed with his handheld 360-degree camera, Richard finds inspiration in the sights and sounds

Lucy Worsley takes us through the story of the royal photograph – showing how the royal family collaborated with generations of photographers to create images that reinvented the British monarchy. Lucy explores the key types of photo that have enabled the royal family to conduct a dialogue with the British people, forging a modern monarchy that reigns rather than rules. Along the way, she recreate

Liz McIvor tells the story of the early canal builders who struggled with the rugged terrain of England's Pennine hills. Creating a network of canals in this landscape was an uphill challenge – sometimes literally! But connecting the powerhouses of Yorkshire and Lancashire was a great prize at the time of the industrial revolution. What should the engineers do? Should they build over, under or aro

The 'Yorkshire Shepherdess', Amanda Owen, explores familiar territory as she crosses hills and fields through Wensleydale and Raydale on her Winter Walk. Taking ancient routes first made by the Romans, Amanda meets fellow sheep farmers and exchanges notes on their shared occupation. As she walks across the Dales with her 360-degree camera, she describes what life is like living and working in this

The betting stakes are high when the parole board sits and old Blanco is the odds-on favourite to be freed. But when freedom is offered to him Blanco, who has been in prison for 17 years for a crime he always claimed he didn't commit, refuses. Fletcher, seeing how adamant his old friend is, decides to help out.

The elders plan a picnic to show Judy and Alistair that they are meant to be together.

Fiona Bruce traces the story of one of history's great royal love affairs: the love between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It was a love based on a powerful physical attraction, and it grew into a marriage that set the tone for the Victorian age. Over the 20 years they spent together, until Albert's tragic death, they gave each other a dazzling collection of paintings, sculptures and jewellery.

Fourteen months after the first massacres, sixteen people, including three young children, are reported missing in the remote French region area of Vercors. France is in shock. Very quickly, they are identified as members of the Order of the Solar Temple. Eight days after their disappearance, sixteen incinerated bodies are found in remote woodland, in the small sleepy village of Saint-Pierre-de-Ch

In the spring of 1997, a "transit" takes place in Saint-Casimir, Canada. Five people commit suicide to join their cult brethren who they believe have already started a new eternal life on planet Sirius. The testimony of three children reveal the horror: they had to negotiate with their parents to escape the suicide ritual. Theories and conflicting evidence obscure the truth: there is no way of kno

Now on the run, Alamo orders his followers to leave the compound and take his wife's body.

Once released from prison, Tony Alamo begins "wedding" young girls. As the child abuse escalates, former members urge the FBI to intervene.

The surprising story of the hidden powerhouse behind the globalised world, the diesel engine, a 19th-century invention that has become indispensable to the 21st century. It's a tortoise-versus-hare tale in which the diesel engine races the petrol engine in a competition to replace ageing steam technology, a race eventually won hands down by diesel. Splendidly, car enthusiast presenter Mark Evans g

Liz McIvor tells the story of the early canal builders who struggled with the rugged terrain of England's Pennine hills. Creating a network of canals in this landscape was an uphill challenge – sometimes literally! But connecting the powerhouses of Yorkshire and Lancashire was a great prize at the time of the industrial revolution. What should the engineers do? Should they build over, under or aro

The 'Yorkshire Shepherdess', Amanda Owen, explores familiar territory as she crosses hills and fields through Wensleydale and Raydale on her Winter Walk. Taking ancient routes first made by the Romans, Amanda meets fellow sheep farmers and exchanges notes on their shared occupation. As she walks across the Dales with her 360-degree camera, she describes what life is like living and working in this

Fiona Bruce traces the story of one of history's great royal love affairs: the love between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It was a love based on a powerful physical attraction, and it grew into a marriage that set the tone for the Victorian age. Over the 20 years they spent together, until Albert's tragic death, they gave each other a dazzling collection of paintings, sculptures and jewellery.

Liz McIvor tells the story of "canal mania" – a boom period of frenzied activity that helped develop Britain's modern financial economy, now centred in London. The canal capitalists made money by investing and speculating in the new inland waterways used to carry fuel and goods around the country. Many of the investors were part of an emerging middle class. The Grand Junction Canal – built to impr

The snow-covered hillsides of Ribblesdale are the setting for Alastair Campbell's Winter Walk through the Yorkshire Dales. Fog and snow don't deter the political veteran as he makes his way through the county he was born and raised in. Starting at a waterfall above the market town of Settle, Alastair descends into town, meeting local residents who are also out braving the weather. Twisted trees an

Professor Jeremy Black examines one of the most extraordinary periods in British history: the Industrial Revolution. He explains the unique economic, social and political conditions that by the 19th century, led to Britain becoming the richest, most powerful nation on Earth. It was a time that transformed the way people think, work and play forever. He traces the unprecedented explosion of new ide

For decades, scientists have tried to unlock the secrets of ancient DNA. But life's genetic blueprint is incredibly fragile, and researchers have struggled to find genetic material in fossils that has survived for millions of years. Then, one maverick scientist had the controversial idea of looking for DNA not in fossils or frozen ancient tissue – but in the soil. This film follows the scientists

It's 1951. There's a race on, and two of the brightest and brashest young men in Cambridge are determined to win it. The prize is glittering. Eternal fame, glory and almost certainly a Nobel prize await whoever is first past the post – for the goal is nothing less than the secret of life itself. So begins the extraordinary story of the race to the double helix of DNA, one of the greatest true dete

The biggest tech revolution of the 21st century isn't digital, it's biological. A breakthrough called CRISPR has given us unprecedented control over the basic building blocks of life. It opens the door to curing diseases, reshaping the biosphere and designing our own children. This Storyville documentary is a provocative exploration of CRISPR's far-reaching implications, through the eyes of the sc