BBC four

Alastair Sooke unpicks the reasons behind the dazzling revolution that gave birth to classical Greek art, asking how the Greeks got so good so quickly. He travels to the beautiful Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, and to the island of Mozia to see the astonishing charioteer found there in 1979, and marvels at the athletic bodies of the warriors dragged from the seabed – the Riace Bronzes. It was

Oslo, June 2004. It's a hot summer's day when two robbers burst into the Munch Museum and force a security guard to the floor at gunpoint. They proceed to steal two of Edvard Munch's most iconic paintings, Scream and Madonna. Together, they are worth £120m. Eyewitnesses see the robbers leave the gallery in a black Audi. Police find pieces of the paintings' frames scattered on the road as they try

Alastair Sooke unpicks the reasons behind the dazzling revolution that gave birth to classical Greek art, asking how the Greeks got so good so quickly. He travels to the beautiful Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, and to the island of Mozia to see the astonishing charioteer found there in 1979, and marvels at the athletic bodies of the warriors dragged from the seabed – the Riace Bronzes. It was

Oslo, June 2004. It's a hot summer's day when two robbers burst into the Munch Museum and force a security guard to the floor at gunpoint. They proceed to steal two of Edvard Munch's most iconic paintings, Scream and Madonna. Together, they are worth £120m. Eyewitnesses see the robbers leave the gallery in a black Audi. Police find pieces of the paintings' frames scattered on the road as they try

At the home of Scottish football, Glasgow's Hampden Park stadium, Michael admires the oldest football trophy in the world and hears how the "passing game" was born there. From Scotland's busiest railway station, the splendid Glasgow Central, Michael heads to the M8 motorway to see 16 lanes of traffic slicing through the city centre. At the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Michael hears how after the Secon

Broadcaster Kate Garraway goes for an invigorating walk along the edge of the Cotswolds Hills. As she passes through the patch where she first cut her teeth as a reporter, she takes time to appreciate the stunning landscapes. From the panoramic viewpoint of Painswick Beacon, Kate descends through beech woods to the village of Upton St Leonards, soaking up the sounds of nature as she goes. From the

The story revolves around Hyacinth Bucket, a housewife from a lower class whose only aim in life is to impress others with her etiquette and social skills and climb the social ladder. She is terrified that her background will be revealed one day, and goes above and beyond to hide it. She insists her inharmonious surname is pronounced Bouquet. All her attempts as a rule lead to awkward comic situat

Much-loved BBC comedy series following the exploits of prematurely retired, ever-grumbling security guard Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson) and his exasperated, level-headed wife Margaret (Annette Crosbie). The series is a bitter-sweet sitcom set in suburban England, based on the maxim that idle hands make mischief. Victor is unsuited to a life of leisure but finds himself at just the wrong age to b

In the Medieval and Tudor world there was no question in peoples' 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 Helen Castor explores seven qu

Sam Willis looks at the history of the castle from its first appearance with the Normans in 1066 to the longest siege on English soil at Kenilworth Castle 200 years later. The castle arrived as an instrument of invasion but soon became a weapon with which unruly barons challenged the Crown. Tintagel Castle, the place where King Arthur is said to have been conceived, is also on the itinerary. It re

Why did the entire world stand by in 1994 as nearly one million people were murdered over one hundred days of incomprehensible terror in Rwanda? American diplomats describe events on the ground and in Washington as this tragedy unfolded. What did the White House know, when did they know it and why didn't they act? The horrendous results of ignoring the genocide in Rwanda haunts the Washington deci

Three years after the civil war in Bosnia, the world looked like a very different place. The Bosnian genocide had been stopped, but Muslim separatists in the Kosovo region rekindled old conflicts that led President Clinton's White House to consider Serbian President Milošević's regime a threat to their own civilians. With post-Soviet Russia in crisis, Boris Yeltsin, the Russian president, criticis

In the Medieval and Tudor world there was no question in peoples' 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 Helen Castor explores seven qu

At the home of Scottish football, Glasgow's Hampden Park stadium, Michael admires the oldest football trophy in the world and hears how the "passing game" was born there. From Scotland's busiest railway station, the splendid Glasgow Central, Michael heads to the M8 motorway to see 16 lanes of traffic slicing through the city centre. At the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Michael hears how after the Secon

Michael Portillo continues his postwar Scottish railway adventure, this time from Glasgow to the capital, Edinburgh. At Pollok Country Park in Glasgow, Michael joins a women's running club, the Bellahouston Harriers, for a warm-up session. In parkland above the pits en route to Cuningar Loop, he finds Glasgow's geoenergy observatory, where the British Geological Society is researching how mine wat

Famous for waking up the nation on Radio One and his afternoon drive-time show, DJ and presenter Nick Grimshaw heads to the north east of England for a stroll through a fascinating landscape. Exploring historic areas of Warkworth and Amble in Northumberland, Nick begins his walk at first light, dipping his toes in the sea for a refreshing wake-me-up along the beach. Crossing sand dunes and an anci

Historian Dan Snow explores the greatest maritime archaeology project in British history – the Mary Rose. Using 40 years of BBC archive footage Dan charts how the Mary Rose was discovered, excavated and eventually raised, and what the latest research has revealed about this iconic ship and her crew. Dan also investigates how the Mary Rose project helped create modern underwater archaeology, examin

Professor Richard Fortey delves into the fascinating and normally-hidden kingdom of fungi. From their spectacular birth, through their secretive underground life to their final explosive death, Richard reveals a remarkable world that few of us understand or even realise exists – yet all life on Earth depends on it.In a specially-built mushroom lab, with the help of mycologist Dr Patrick Hickey and

Play for Today is a British anthology series that originally aired from 1970 to 1984. Featuring a number of original television plays and adaptations of stage plays and novels, the series produced more than three hundred episodes of high-quality drama. During its run, the show received numerous awards and nominations for superb writing and exemplary performances from the starring cast. Notable act

Historian Dan Snow explores the greatest maritime archaeology project in British history – the Mary Rose. Using 40 years of BBC archive footage Dan charts how the Mary Rose was discovered, excavated and eventually raised, and what the latest research has revealed about this iconic ship and her crew. Dan also investigates how the Mary Rose project helped create modern underwater archaeology, examin

Professor Richard Fortey delves into the fascinating and normally-hidden kingdom of fungi. From their spectacular birth, through their secretive underground life to their final explosive death, Richard reveals a remarkable world that few of us understand or even realise exists – yet all life on Earth depends on it.In a specially-built mushroom lab, with the help of mycologist Dr Patrick Hickey and

Michael Portillo continues his postwar Scottish railway adventure, this time from Glasgow to the capital, Edinburgh. At Pollok Country Park in Glasgow, Michael joins a women's running club, the Bellahouston Harriers, for a warm-up session. In parkland above the pits en route to Cuningar Loop, he finds Glasgow's geoenergy observatory, where the British Geological Society is researching how mine wat

At the former Midlothian mining village of Newtongrange, Michael meets the son of a miner whose name loomed large in the disputes of the 1970s and 1980s, "Red" Mick McGahey. On the outskirts of Edinburgh, at a recording studio in South Gyle, Michael is transported back to the wild world of 1970s pop with Bay City Rollers guitarist Stuart "Woody" Wood. Michael leaves Edinburgh and takes the train n

Comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi walks through stunning scenery in the Peak District and along the Monsal Trail. From the hills above Tideswell, Shappi follows tracks and footpaths along Tideswell Dale and Miller's Dale before reaching the disused railway line of the Monsal Trail. Along the way she meets residents who are charmed by her characteristic wit and ease. Taking time to appreciate th

A novel take on the last seven days of Jesus Christ's life, based on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous rock opera. A group of young people arrive in the Holy Land by bus to act out events leading to the Crucifixion in a blend of biblical and contemporary themes. To Judas Iscariot, Christ is a badly managed superstar, bound to lose the support of a fickle public. To the priests, he is a men

Stephen Sackur is the main host of the legendary HARDtalk interview programme on a one-on-one basis. He has interviewed prominent international personalities including presidents and prime ministers of several countries, leading cultural figures, scientists, actors, influencers. The other presenters are Zeinab Badawi and Sarah Montague. HARDtalk is the proper name for the show, the issues being di

Im Südstaatenstädtchen Sparta ist ein Mord passiert. Sheriff Gillespie (Rod Steiger) nimmt kurzerhand den durchreisenden Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) fest. Der Schwarze trägt einen eleganten Anzug und hat Geld – das muss er doch vom reichen Opfer haben. Aber Tibbs ist selbst Polizeidetektiv aus Philadelphia und räumt im Rassisten-Kaff gründlich auf… \n\nRegisseur Norman Jewison („Mondsüchtig“) le

Sam Willis looks at the history of the castle from its first appearance with the Normans in 1066 to the longest siege on English soil at Kenilworth Castle 200 years later. The castle arrived as an instrument of invasion but soon became a weapon with which unruly barons challenged the Crown. Tintagel Castle, the place where King Arthur is said to have been conceived, is also on the itinerary. It re

Comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi walks through stunning scenery in the Peak District and along the Monsal Trail. From the hills above Tideswell, Shappi follows tracks and footpaths along Tideswell Dale and Miller's Dale before reaching the disused railway line of the Monsal Trail. Along the way she meets residents who are charmed by her characteristic wit and ease. Taking time to appreciate th

At the former Midlothian mining village of Newtongrange, Michael meets the son of a miner whose name loomed large in the disputes of the 1970s and 1980s, "Red" Mick McGahey. On the outskirts of Edinburgh, at a recording studio in South Gyle, Michael is transported back to the wild world of 1970s pop with Bay City Rollers guitarist Stuart "Woody" Wood. Michael leaves Edinburgh and takes the train n

Coverage of the concerts and special musical events that take place each summer over an eight-week period. The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts – or The Proms as they are now more popularly known – have a rich history. Originally founded at the end of the 19th century, The Proms are now a highlight of Britain's cultural calendar. Boasting internationally renowned conductors and musicians and focussin

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,

Enjoy classic performances with this legendary music series that gave a platform to the biggest talents of the 1970s and 80s. First hitting British screens in September 1971, The Old Grey Whistle Test welcomed onto its stage an enviable line-up of stars; Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Isaac Hayes, Blondie, David Bowie, The Police and many more all appeared on the Whistle Test at one point or anot