BBC four

The life of the most glamorous plane 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 name of Concorde that threatened to derail the whole project. On the eve of the opening of Bristol's multi-million-pound aerospace museum, a cast of engineers, flight technicians and frequent fliers tell t

Sharks are among the most misunderstood predators on the planet, but an international team of scientists is trying to change that. Their research is revealing that sharks can be sociable and intelligent, and they could even help solve some of the toughest medical challenges of the 21st century. However, their breakthroughs come just as many sharks face extinction. Science may now be the only way t

Volcanoes have long helped shape the Earth. But what is less well known is that there are volcanoes on other planets and moons that are even more extraordinary than those on our own home planet. This week Horizon follows an international team of volcanologists in Iceland as they draw fascinating parallels with the volcanoes on Earth and those elsewhere in the solar system. Through the team's resea

Ein anonymer Brief führt Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) auf die schottische Insel Summerisle. Dort ist angeblich die 12-jährige Rowan verschwunden. Doch niemand will das Mädchen kennen. Howie lässt sich nicht irritieren, dafür erwecken einige freizügige Bräuche das Misstrauen des gläubigen Christen: Vor dem Dorfpub feiern die Insulaner Orgien. \n\nIn der Apotheke verkauft man Rattenhirn und Hund

Professor Jeremy Black examines one of the most extraordinary and revolutionary 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 exp

Were the ancient Scottish tribes too much for the Roman Empire? Or was Scotland simply not worth conquering? Archaeologist Dr Fraser Hunter looks back on three centuries of contact and conflict with the Roman invaders. The first Tay Bridge, the first depiction of tartan and forgotten Roman camps that once held thirty-five thousand men. A story of a superpower pitted against tribesmen and warlords.

Sharks are among the most misunderstood predators on the planet, but an international team of scientists is trying to change that. Their research is revealing that sharks can be sociable and intelligent, and they could even help solve some of the toughest medical challenges of the 21st century. However, their breakthroughs come just as many sharks face extinction. Science may now be the only way t

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,

A deep-dive into the BBC's archives to celebrate the great Roy Orbison – full-time rock 'n' roll legend, part-time Traveling Wilbury and the man Elvis famously described as 'the best singer in the world'. The Big O's story was in many ways a tragic one, full of family tragedies and heartbreak, and his extraordinary voice captured all those emotions and more, bringing a new dimension to popular mus

Rock star Roy Orbison and his all-star group of friends gather to play some of Roy's most memorable hits. Orbison is joined by his fellow colleagues, the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits, for a live performance of Roy's legendary bangers, including Pretty Woman, Only Be Lonely, Blue Bayou, and many others. The TCB band accompanying the singers used to back Elvis Presley up until 1977, when

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,

A deep-dive into the BBC's archives to celebrate the great Roy Orbison – full-time rock 'n' roll legend, part-time Traveling Wilbury and the man Elvis famously described as 'the best singer in the world'. The Big O's story was in many ways a tragic one, full of family tragedies and heartbreak, and his extraordinary voice captured all those emotions and more, bringing a new dimension to popular mus

One man transfixed television viewers during snooker's golden age – his name was Alex "Hurricane" Higgins. This poignant documentary charts the life of the snooker genius, from his early days growing up in Belfast to his climb to the top of the sport as two-time world champion and finally, his last days spent battling a terminal illness. Contributors include Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Dennis

April 9, 1940. The German war machine occupies Norway. One of their primary objectives is to seize the nation's entire gold reserves. But thanks to a few courageous individuals, the gold is smuggled out – just as the Germans come.​​ ​​This is the incredible true story of how 55 tonnes of gold was transported through rough winter landscapes on trucks, trains and boats​ by a group of unlikely resist

"Timewatch" is a series of first-class documentaries on historical subjects, spanning all human history. The series tackles events ranging from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, to the origin of skeletal remains recovered in a garden in Roman York, to the break-up of possibly the World's most famous pop band; The Beatles. Every programme contains in-depth analysis of the topic and seeks to ans

Professor Jeremy Black examines one of the most extraordinary and revolutionary 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 exp

One man transfixed television viewers during snooker's golden age – his name was Alex "Hurricane" Higgins. This poignant documentary charts the life of the snooker genius, from his early days growing up in Belfast to his climb to the top of the sport as two-time world champion and finally, his last days spent battling a terminal illness. Contributors include Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Dennis

Richard E Grant explores how modern art and the Riviera grew up together when France's Cote D'Azur became the hedonistic playground and experimental studio for the great masters of 20th-century painting. With Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso resident on the coast, other artists from Jean Cocteau to Henri Lartigue, Raoul Dufy to Fernand Leger and Francis Picabia to Sergei Diaghilev were drawn to the

An investigation into the extraordinary life of Gershwin's classic composition, Summertime. One of the most covered songs in the world, it has been recorded in almost every style of music – from jazz to opera, rock to reggae, soul to samba. Its musical adaptability is breathtaking, but Summertime also resonates on a deep emotional level too. This visually and sonically engaging film explores the c

Documentary series in which historian Bettany Hughes travels to India, Greece and China, introducing us to three very different thinkers – Buddha, Socrates and Confucius, and evaluating the contribution they have made to different philosophical and religious traditions. Hughes interviews several experts in Buddhism, classical philosophy, and Confucianism, and visits several of the ancient sites as

Join esteemed actor Richard E Grant for a cultural exploration of the French Riviera, as he follows in the footsteps of great artists such as Monet, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse, and Renoir, whose time spent on the Cote d'Azur inspired much of their work. Whilst strolling through the idyllic region, Richard learns of the relationship between modern art and the area as a tourist destination, with the

Adventurer and explorer Paul Rose heads for Wensleydale in this three-part series about the Yorkshire Dales. He starts his journey in the small town of Hawes, where locals now run many of their own services, including the buses. Paul checks out why cycling is so popular in the Dales and tries to get to the top of the Buttertubs Pass, which is one of Wensleydale's most difficult routes. Along the w

Join Robbie Cumming as he embarks on an adventure across the Midlands and North of England from the comfort of his narrowboat, along the Victorian waterways of Britain on a journey of self-discovery. Intersecting various towns and cities, this documentary follows Robbie as he navigates these winding waterways, whilst maintaining his beloved narrowboat the 'Naughty Lass'. Each leg of his journey is

Documentary series which unearths lost civilisations and reveals the wonder of some of the world's greatest lost cities. This episode looks at the legendary lost city of Piramesse. This magnificent ancient capital was built 3,000 years ago by the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses the Great, but long ago the whole city disappeared. When it was rediscovered by early archaeologists, it opened up a bizarre pu

Andrew Graham-Dixon tells the story of how three British artists responded to the cataclysm of World War One. In May 1917, war artist Paul Nash climbed out of his trench to sketch the battlefields of Flanders near Ypres. So focused was he on his work he tripped and fell back into the trench, breaking his ribs. Stretchered back to England, Nash missed his regiment going over the top at the Battle o

In this second episode of the series, Dr Janina Ramirez and Alastair Sooke are on a mission to get to know one of the most popular cities in the world through its art and architecture. Although Barcelona is famous for its exuberant modernista buildings, the Gothic Quarter and artistic superstars such as Picasso, in this film, Janina and Alastair are determined to discover some less well known cult

Architect Amanda Levete climbs the Tulip Stairs in the Queen's House, Greenwich, and reassesses Inigo Jones' elegant and innovative design, while portrait artist Tai Shan Schierenberg encounters Van Dyck's monumental portrait of the Earl of Pembroke's family and finds signs of the dysfunction and tensions which point to the civil war to come. This was a war that would be waged across three kingdom