BBC four

Documentary series featuring pioneering images that capture the dazzling array of mysterious and wonderful creatures populating China's most beautiful landscapes. Ancient tea-growing cultures, traditional seaweed-thatched villages, bird-filled wetlands, rare white dolphins, snake-infested islands and futuristic cities jostle along China's fertile eastern seaboard, which marks the front line in the

Dr Janina Ramirez follows the footsteps of some of the greatest archaeologists and explorers from the past who discovered incredible treasures from the ancient world. She travels around the world to visit the locations where these groundbreaking discoveries were made, offering a new understanding of the origins of civilisation. Ramirez takes the viewers on an amazing and unforgettable journey, fro

Professor Jim Al-Khalili takes a sharp-witted and refreshingly optimistic look at how we have created machines that can simulate, augment, and even outperform the human mind – and why we shouldn't let this spook us. Following in the footsteps of BBC Four's award-winning maths films like ''The Joy of Stats' and 'The Joy of Data', and the recent "Joy of Winning" this latest gleefully nerdy adventure

The BBC's flagship science strand Horizon first began transmitting in 1964 – and since then has regularly produced films looking at computer technology and the emergence of 'artificial intelligence'. Horizon cameras have tracked the growth of computing power and AI systems and technologies; but uniquely it has also tracked our very human relationship with AI, and what emerges in this special archi

By the middle of the 18th century, Britain was in possession of a vast empire. It required a new way of seeing ourselves and so we turned to the statues of ancient Greece and Rome to project the secular power and glory of the British Empire. The message was clear: Britain was the new Rome, our generals and politicians on a par with the heroes of the ancient world. The flood of funds, both public a

In the 1820s, the colonist population doubled in Tasmania, and so too did the death count as settlers came into conflict with Tasmanian Indigenous people resisting their arrival. In the second part of this authored series, film-maker Rachel Perkins, who has both European and Indigenous Australian ancestry, examines why – despite detailed public records of the extensive conflict in Tasmania – there

Captivating six-part nature documentary series that explores some wonderful and wild regions of China- paddy fields of Yuanyang County, south-western Yunnan province, the Tibetan Plateau, extreme landscapes north of the Great Wall, China's 14,500 km coastline, and many more. See the fascinating landscapes, meet some incredible people and encounter some amazing and mysterious wildlife of the large

Presenter Liz McIvor tells the story of the people who operated the canal boats, carrying fuel and goods around the country. Conditions were tough, days were long. Victorian society began to grow suspicious of these "outsiders" and they gained reputations for criminality, violence and drinking. But was this reputation really deserved? Liz discovers grisly canal crimes, investigates health and welf

Rugby legend Gareth Edwards and wife Maureen head to one of Wales's most popular holiday destinations. They arrive just as a heatwave hits, turning Llandudno into a resort to rival the best sunny seaside locations. Llandudno is known for its seafront hotels and B&Bs and the pair check in to a room with a sea view before going in search of the pier and ice cream. Once, people flocked here for a tra

Hyacinth insists that her name Bucket is pronounced bouquet. In her house everything in its proper place and everything is perfectly clean and shiny. Her husband must always wear a tie and has to follow endless instructions as he chauffeurs her around in their immaculately kept car. Hyacinth's guests live in fear of her invitations. However, there is one very enormous drawback to Hyacinth's preten

Elevated to the highest governmental office in unusual circumstances, the Rt Hon James Hacker MP sets about implementing his dream of reshaping Britain, introducing a host of exciting reforms, reinvigorating the economy and cementing his place in political history as a bold public benefactor and inspiring leader. Nothing less than a root and branch upheaval of the stuffy Whitehall machinery will d

The story of an epic 1930s quest to find the origins of the earliest Irish men and women on the island of Ireland using archaeology. Ardal goes back to world-famous archaeological sites to see how Ireland had some of the most important finds in Europe at the time. Further beneath the surface, Ardal discovers how both in Northern Ireland and what was then called the Irish Free State, archaeology wa

Presenter Liz McIvor tells the story of the people who operated the canal boats, carrying fuel and goods around the country. Conditions were tough, days were long. Victorian society began to grow suspicious of these "outsiders" and they gained reputations for criminality, violence and drinking. But was this reputation really deserved? Liz discovers grisly canal crimes, investigates health and welf

By the middle of the 18th century, Britain was in possession of a vast empire. It required a new way of seeing ourselves and so we turned to the statues of ancient Greece and Rome to project the secular power and glory of the British Empire. The message was clear: Britain was the new Rome, our generals and politicians on a par with the heroes of the ancient world. The flood of funds, both public a

Join historian Lucy Worsley as she examines fabricated stories from throughout British history, separating the truth from the lies and revealing how the ruling powers manipulated the stories to bolster public opinion. Some of these events and moments are the hugely important on the timeline of British history, and Worsley scours historical archives and documents to debunk the fibs and falsehoods t

This is the story of the men who built our canals – the navigators or 'navvies'. They represented an "army" of hard physical men who were capable of enduring tough labour for long hours. Many roved the countryside looking for work and a better deal. They gained a reputation as troublesome outsiders, fond of drinking and living a life of ungodly debauchery. But who were they? Unreliable heathens an

Gareth and Maureen Edwards head to St Davids, a place which holds half a lifetime of special memories for them. After making 53 appearances for Wales, Gareth retired from rugby in 1978. After years in the public eye, he and Maureen booked a holiday in St Davids for them and their young boys. The holiday was such a hit, they returned every summer for more than 40 years. Gareth and Maureen begin wit

Former Royal Marine and expedition leader Bruce Parry sheds the trappings of a western existence and journeys to meet some of the world's oldest and most remote tribes. Daring to go where other presenters fear to tread, he immerses himself in the traditions and practices of these indigenous people. In this series, he travels to the so-called 'Cradle of Mankind', the Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia

Sam Willis explores how, by the Wars of the Roses, castles were under attack from a new threat – the cannon – but survived into the Tudor era only to find their whole purpose challenged. What had once been strategic seats of power now had to keep up with the fickle fashions of the court and become palaces to impress monarchs such as Elizabeth I. Just as castles seemed to have lost their defensive

Artist and writer Matt Collings takes the plunge into an alien world of equations. He asks top scientists to help him understand five of the most famous equations in science, talks to Stephen Hawking about his equation for black holes and comes face to face with a particle of anti-matter. Along the way he discovers why Newton was right about those falling apples and how to make sense of E=mc2. As

This is the story of the men who built our canals – the navigators or 'navvies'. They represented an "army" of hard physical men who were capable of enduring tough labour for long hours. Many roved the countryside looking for work and a better deal. They gained a reputation as troublesome outsiders, fond of drinking and living a life of ungodly debauchery. But who were they? Unreliable heathens an

Former Royal Marine and expedition leader Bruce Parry sheds the trappings of a western existence and journeys to meet some of the world's oldest and most remote tribes. Daring to go where other presenters fear to tread, he immerses himself in the traditions and practices of these indigenous people. In this series, he travels to the so-called 'Cradle of Mankind', the Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia

Follow historian Sam Willis as he rediscovers the story of Britain's castles, emphasising their variety and revealing a thing or two about history, legends and myths deeply rooted in British culture, from picturesque Tintagel Castle inseparably linked with the legend of King Arthur to Castles like Caernarfon and Beaumaris turned into an instrument of colonisation by king Edward I. Immerse yourself

Liz McIvor explores the heritage of our canal network. After years of decline in the postwar period much of the network was eventually restored. Once places of labour and industry, they became places of leisure and tranquillity. The newly renovated canals were increasingly popular for boating holidaymakers. Liz visits the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales and travels to Birmingham where canals have b

For the last of their new adventures, Maureen has arranged a trip to the spectacular Brecon Beacons. But it's not the usual walks amid epic mountain scenery on the agenda. In a first for both, the childhood sweethearts enlist in tank school. After donning cam cream and military gear, the couple get a lesson in controlling a full-sized tank. Maureen's keen to see if the new vehicle can pick up spee

A unique amateur film provides the centrepiece of a documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of Scotland's great landmarks, the Forth Road Bridge. The documentary traces the memories of the people who built the bridge,the biggest of its kind in Europe at the time, as well as those who ran the Forth ferries that stopped running when it opened in 1964.Producer Maurice Smith and Sarah Howi

Drama based on John Buchan's classic novel, set in the lead-up to the First World War. When an undercover British spy is killed in his flat, a man finds himself accused of murder and caught up in a deadly conspiracy which threatens not only his life, but the safety of the nation. Pursued by spies and the police, he reluctantly joins forces with a feisty suffragette as he attempts to uncover the tr

„Die Frauen von Yorkshire strahlen in der letzten Phase am allerherrlichsten“, erkannte der an Leukämie verstorbene John – wie wahr! Seine Frau Annie Clarke (Julie Walters) und ihre Freundin Chris Harper (Helen Mirren) erinnern sich daran, als sie sich bei den Vorträgen im Women’s Institute in Skipton langweilen, wo ältere Frauen alles über Broccoli oder Teppiche erfahren. \n\nUnd als zur Produkti

The BBC's flagship science strand Horizon first began transmitting in 1964 – and since then has regularly produced films looking at computer technology and the emergence of 'artificial intelligence'. Horizon cameras have tracked the growth of computing power and AI systems and technologies; but uniquely it has also tracked our very human relationship with AI, and what emerges in this special archi

Liz McIvor explores the heritage of our canal network. After years of decline in the postwar period much of the network was eventually restored. Once places of labour and industry, they became places of leisure and tranquillity. The newly renovated canals were increasingly popular for boating holidaymakers. Liz visits the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales and travels to Birmingham where canals have b

Dr Janina Ramirez follows the footsteps of some of the greatest archaeologists and explorers from the past who discovered incredible treasures from the ancient world. She travels around the world to visit the locations where these groundbreaking discoveries were made, offering a new understanding of the origins of civilisation. Ramirez takes the viewers on an amazing and unforgettable journey, fro

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

To celebrate St David's Day, this trip through the BBC's music archives features a selection of tracks from some of the most important and innovative Welsh artists of the past few decades. The programme includes performances by Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, Marina and the Diamonds, Stereophonics, Feeder, Shakin' Stevens, Bonnie Tyler, Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones

Trevor Nelson and Edith Bowman present highlights of Dame Shirley Bassey's special performance for the BBC Electric Proms from London's Roundhouse. The British icon performs a set packed with classic tracks like Big Spender and Goldfinger and the premieres of songs from her album The Performance, produced by Bond composer David Arnold. In her first major show after Glastonbury 2007. and her only l

James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore and their band return to St David's Hall in Cardiff, where they played some of their earliest busking gigs, but this time to play a brand new show for Radio 2 Live. The band perform live songs from their 35 year back catalogue as well as their new album The Ultra Vivid Lament, all in front of a small and socially distanced audience of fans. Introduced b

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

Travel back in time with a compilation of legendary performances of classic acts straight from the archive of one of the most popular music chart shows in history. Top of the Pops was broadcast weekly from 1964 until 2006, welcoming the greatest stars who performed their biggest hits. This special brings you unforgettable musical moments of pop and rock icons like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles,

In the early 1960s a Cheshire farmer discovered a human jaw bone in his fields. It remained a mysterious find until the secret beneath the field was revealed. Julian Richards joins archaeologists as they excavate a long-lost chapel and the undisturbed burials of medieval landowners. Using science, genealogy and some good old-fashioned detective work, the team are able to bring a Hampshire teacher

As Hetty Wainthropp (Patricia Routledge) reaches retirement age at 60 and faces an uncertain future financially, she decides that the life of a pensioner is not for her and opens a detective agency instead. Armed only with her no-nonsense Lancashire attitude and her notebook, she embarks on a series of criminal investigations. Aided by her teenage sidekick and reformed thief, Geoffrey, and her dev

There are very few famous personalities who have not sat on the interview couch with veteran broadcaster Michael Parkinson, for an in-depth conversation exploring their childhoods, early career starts and professional successes and occasional failures. World leaders, top sports people, filmmakers, legendary actors, political campaigners, business chiefs and famous musicians have shared stories and