The extraordinary story of Paul Downes, a 49-year-old
businessman with bipolar disorder, who in 2009 invited 12
young Ukranian women, some of them part time models, to join
him in a Jamaican castle.
What at first appeared to be an innocent fantasy rapidly
became ever more bewildering as Paul at first invited a
number of women...
A new frontline has opened in Afghanistan. Thousands of
Taliban and mujahedin soldiers have moved into the north of
the country, further stretching the ISAF forces’ attempts
to contain the insurgency. They aim to take over the
countryside surrounding the towns and cities, and block the
main supply route, the Kunduz-Baghlan road, which services
coalition troops...
Fondly known as ‘Ol’ man River’ by generations past,
and ‘Father of Waters’ by native Americans, the
Mississippi is North America’s mightiest river.
Along the Mississippi is a revealing and captivating
three-part series which transports viewers along the banks
of this great river, travelling from the south to the north
of the vast territory of America.
It...
This breathtaking blue-chip series showcases Asia’s most
spectacular National Parks and the enormous natural variety
of the world’s largest continent. Each park features
fascinating, beautiful and often endangered animals, as well
as a wealth of seductive landscapes.
The series takes us on a journey to some of the last
remaining wildernesses in Asia. These jewels are...
As the West pours billions of dollars into the fight against
the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, an ancient tradition
(banned when the Taliban were in power) has re-emerged
across the rest of the country. Hundreds of young boys
living in extreme poverty are lured off the streets on the
promise of a life away from...
At 24,000 nautical miles the power boating global
circumnavigation is the world’s longest race. Shot over a
four-year period in over 20 countries, Earthrace follows
Captain Pete Bethune and his crew on their attempt to break
the world record running on renewable fuel alone.
Sailing a specially designed Wavepiercing vessel Pete is on
a mission...
In perfect time for the 2012 Olympics in London, Footloose
in London presents a glorious summer walking trail through
the heart of the renowned capital. The four engaging
episodes are hosted by Debra Rixon and filmed by her husband
David.
Together the friendly couple show a low-cost way to see a
fantastic selection of the most...
Gone Fishin is a fishing and travel show which boasts great
characters, spectacular scenery and incredible outdoor
action. Over the course of the series, viewers are immersed
in some of the world’s best sport fishing, and taken on a
journey through New Zealand and beyond.
We venture into the wild, wonderful, pristine landscape of
Antarctica where...
Nowadays, ship extensions are a popular procedure. Why buy a
new one when you can extend the old one for cheap? But
it’s not a simple process! How Ships Grow is a dramatic
new programme which follows shipbuilders and engineers as
they take on the challenge of separating ships in two to
make even bigger...
On 7th February 2009, Australia suffered its worst peacetime
disaster. ‘Black Saturday’ claimed 173 lives, left
almost 8,000 homeless and destroyed millions of hectares of
bush-land. One year on, Inside the Firestorm is a
documentary record and commemoration of this unprecedented
mega fire – faster, hotter, larger, and more dangerously
dynamic than ever before.
Made up of...
Kate Moss – idol of an entire generation. No other
supermodel has ever made it onto the covers of so many
different magazines, appeared so often in the headlines, or
attracted such legions of male and female fans. Designers
from all the big labels compete for her. Whether Versace,
Gucci, Dior, Cavalli, Chanel, or Yves...
When tattooed and pierced motor-biking evangelist Todd
Bentley was invited to speak to a small congregation from
Lakeland, Florida in April 2008, a strange phenomenon began.
Within days, the deaf were hearing, people were popping out
of their wheelchairs, and families were claiming that their
dead loved ones were being resurrected from the grave.
Through nightly...
Meet the millionaires, mechanics and motors behind some of
the world’s most remarkable multi million-dollar car
collections in the exotic Kingdom of Bahrain. Fuelled with
facts, fast driving and fun anecdotes, Millionaire Motors
introduces a host of exquisite luxury, sports and vintage
cars, all in mint condition.
The exclusive series of shorts is filmed in the...
Paranormal Investigators – The Challenge takes a very
different approach to ghost hunting. A group of Australian
spook chasers are looking for their next recruit – someone
who can withstand the most hellish conditions imaginable and
face unseen forces. Four possible candidates are put
through the most nerve wrenching trial of their lives, alone
in the...
Long before the oil industry transformed the Gulf region,
pearl diving was the biggest industry in Bahrain. The unique
combination of fresh water and salt water created the
perfect habitat for oysters, making the best, most
captivating natural pearls in the world.
The quality of Bahraini pearls was renowned across the
globe. Like Cartier, people...
On 11th July 2010, 91,000 people will watch the World Cup in
Johannesburg. But what does the rest of South Africa look
like? This is a beautiful and dramatic aerial journey
showing that South Africa really is the Rainbow Nation.
The journey takes in the incredible variety of landscapes
in South Africa, from scorching deserts...
Filmed on location in England’s outstandingly picturesque
Lake District, The New Art Doctor combines the revelation of
incisive art techniques set against a backdrop of some of
the most beautiful English countryside.
This refreshing new series allows viewers to watch a work
of art being created before their eyes in one hour of real
time, showing...
Far more than a sports film, The Rivals shows how football
is the crucible in which lessons of class, pride and
perseverance are learned and fought over – lessons that
will last a lifetime. It is a moving story of ‘haves’
versus ‘have-nots’; two towns in Maine that both resent
and respect each other. Rumford...
Hot on the heels of the hit series What’s Really in Our
Food?, Petra Bagust opens up our bathroom cabinets to get
the lowdown on some of the most ubiquitous products used in
our everyday lives. We spend a fortune on personal care
products – but are we choosing the products that are best
for...
Africa is home to some of the world’s best known animals,
as well as being where humanity began its extraordinary
ascendancy, bringing us increasingly into conflict with the
animal kingdom.
Wild Africa Goes Hi-tech is a six-part series which offers
new insights into the unique co-operative ventures that are
creating new resolutions to longstanding problems in...
Want to attract wildlife to your garden but don’t know
how? In Wild Gardens, passionate ecologist Mike Dilger
visits the countryside for inspiration and finds out how to
create space for nature in even the smallest garden. His
expertise helps us bring nature closer to home through our
gardens.
In each episode of the series,...
Endlessly energetic chef Chris Coubrough finds a wealth of
new culinary inspiration on an exciting gastronomic journey
around the beautiful uncharted territory of Greenland. With
his self-sustaining background, Chris seeks out the most
natural Greenlandic produce, cooking up a storm with the
delicious and surprisingly diverse local fare!
Want to be more adventurous in the kitchen? Then take some
tips from Chef Volli, a hot new talent on the culinary
scene, as he travels around Iceland. Combining his passion
for food and love of the outdoors, he uses the freshest
ingredients, conjuring up simple yet mouthwatering dishes
guaranteed to spice up anyone’s home...
Multi-coloured costumes, music, dancing, laughter, emotions,
suspense – these are the ingredients of The World’s
Festivals. Every year, all kinds of events, festivals and
memorial ceremonies take place throughout the world. Across
five continents, The World’s Festivals series follows
local families and experts as they celebrate a traditional
or indigenous festival, uncovering the significance of
rituals which...
10 Fabulous Recipes for Summer Entertaining is a one-off
special in which renowned food expert Peta Mathias
demonstrates 10 dishes, from the tantalizing arrangement of
recipe ingredients at the start to the delectable visual
symphony at recipe’s end. This is a very practical kitchen
companion and Peta, with her endless wit and wisdom, will
keep you...
Adventures With Attitude is an edgy, entertaining and
insightful series featuring young people with disabilities
who challenge themselves to travel and to step outside their
comfort zone. It is not easy to travel or be adventurous if
you have a disability, but these intrepid youngsters head
off with a ‘can do’ attitude. Their outlooks can’t
help...
Since 1960 developed countries have given almost $500
billion in aid to Africa. Yet there are more Africans living
in extreme poverty today than ever before. If international
efforts to eradicate poverty have failed, is there another
way? Narrated by Tilda Swinton and shot on a grand scale
across great swathes of land, this controversial,...
What would it be like to be so incapacitated that you could
barely do a thing for yourself? What would it be like to
live with Down syndrome, to strive for an ordinary life yet
be judged at every turn? What would it be like to be one of
the fittest and most daring...
Top British TV chef Antony Worrall Thompson embarks on his
most ambitious culinary adventure, this time exploring
Brunei Darussalam, a tiny kingdom in Southeast Asia.
Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the East’, Brunei is immensely
rich in culture, heritage and traditional Malay cuisine.
Worrall Thompson travels around the exotic sultanate,
delving into its colourful and aromatic markets,...
In Eritrea, a newly independent nation struggles to preserve
the health of its children – and its incredible cultural
riches – while balancing a population half Muslim and half
Christian.
Behind the Crisis is an informative documentary which looks
deep within the complexities of this situation and explores
the inside stories of how it affects individuals,...
Presented and narrated by eminent actor Sir Derek Jacobi,
Charles Dickens’s England for the very first time traces
the life and work of Dickens through a compelling journey
which uncovers the important and intriguing places, towns
and cities that inspired some of the most famous settings in
literature.
Over 100 locations all over England are visited,...
A snapshot of modern South Africa, Comrades is a vibrant
character study following the journeys of six diverse South
Africans as they train for and run in one of the world's
toughest marathons and the country's most celebrated
sporting event – the historic 90 kilometre Comrades
double-marathon.
Using rarely-seen archive footage from across the twentieth
century, the...
Prominent international chef, Ashley Charles James, travels
the United States to cook with famous foreign and ethnic
influence chefs, unveiling their celebrated delicacies and
their contributions to the American cuisine.
An Englishman, Ashley designs the menus and oversees the
kitchens at the renowned Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly
Hills, California. He has built the hotel’s dining
experience...
On 11th June 1955, the world of playboy racers and their
exotic cars exploded in a devastating fireball. On the home
straight early in the Le Mans 24-Hour race, future World
Champion Mike Hawthorn made a mistake and pulled the trigger
to a massacre. French driver Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes 300
SLR smashed into the crowd,...
If your country has no cultural history, can you simply buy
one? The ruling family of Dubai certainly thinks so – and
has ordered everything under the sun to make the desert
bloom.
With exclusive access, Drilling For Art goes behind the
scenes of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority which has
launched an ambitious plan...
African football currently has more global stars and enjoys
a higher profile than at any other time in history. Football
is a religion in Africa and every youngster dreams of
reaching the English Premier League to become the next
Muntari or Essien. But how exactly does a child kicking a
ball in a rural African...
Our planet is at a pivotal time in history where it faces
many pressing challenges. Nations grapple with a global
environmental crisis, while billions of people remain
trapped by poverty, illiteracy and oppressive rulerships. In
some parts of the world, preventable diseases still claim
the lives of thousands each day.
From this milieu, many remarkable individuals...
Superstars and supercars come together for the 10th
Anniversary Tour of the Gumball 3000 rally. An A-list of
rock stars, supermodels, sporting legends, eccentrics,
billionaires and Hollywood’s finest gather for a
jaw-dropping car display at the starting grid before setting
off on an incredible 3000-mile, 8-day drive to the Beijing
Olympics via West Coast USA and...
Honeymoon in Kabul is an inspirational documentary which
follows newly weds, midwife Maggie Haertsch and clown doctor
Jean Paul Bell, on their whirlwind mission to take medical
aid and humour to the children of Kabul. Maggie and Jean
Paul arrive in Kabul amidst riots and discover that their
precious cargo of advanced medical equipment is...
How to Start a Sex Cult is a powerful and disturbing
observational documentary about a self-appointed 'cult'
leader and his sex slave.
Lee claims to be a leading member of a sex cult called the
Kaotians with, he says, thousands of followers worldwide. He
believes that men are naturally dominant and that women
should serve as...
Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Olivia de
Havilland, this is an informative documentary offering
pivotal new insights into the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease through the creative arts. In the film, leading
international neurologists share findings which support the
transformative power of drawing, painting, music and museum
visits, illustrating how the parts of the brain related to
emotions...
In Search of the Messiah reveals a miracle of engineering
and exposes an extraordinary world of politics, deception,
crime and passion, spanning over 350 years of history. The
title of the documentary is inspired by the most perfectly
preserved Stradivari violin in existence: The Messiah, which
is displayed in a glass case at Oxford’s Ashmolean...
Psychopaths have a rich history in the media of being
portrayed as mastermind serial killers and mass murderers.
The real truth behind these individuals is much more
frightening and serious than most people imagine.
Psychopaths account for approximately 3% of society, and
many of those included in that percentage have never seen
and will never see...
Jackpot takes viewers inside the strange, compelling,
sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking world of
hardcore Bingo players. With their cards laid out in front
of them, and their hopes and dreams riding on the next
number out of the machine, these passionate players have
devoted an innumerable amount of money, time, and effort to
the pursuit...
This exhilarating documentary boasts exclusive access to the
fastest vehicles in the world as they battle to break
international motorcycle and car landspeed records. It is a
thrilling look at the world of landspeed racing, including
terrifying accidents, mechanical setbacks and
larger-than-life characters.
2008 proved to be a vintage year for landspeed racing on
the fabled Bonneville...
Line of Fire is a three-part documentary series which takes
viewers into the secretive world of the Armed Offenders
Squad (AOS) in New Zealand. Most people will only see the
Armed Offenders Squad on the television news – and will be
thankful for that. This élite squad is a barometer of
public safety and is...
Music affects our development from the womb to the grave.
This documentary examines the role that music plays in
developing our brains as humans. It looks at the influence
of music on premature infants in neonatal intensive care
wards and on growing children (including discussion of the
Mozart effect), as well as exploring the role...
Norm is an exuberant and challenging documentary about love,
family and survival. Norman Llewellyn was born with Down’s
syndrome in 1949, in an era that assumed children like him
would be sent away to institutions and that their life
expectancy may not exceed fifteen years. Though he spent
much of his childhood with his family,...
Presenting the latest science on climate change, this is an
informative and inspirational documentary which offers
realistic solutions and gives the reality of global warming
a human face, showcasing amazing examples of individuals and
communities tackling the world’s environmental problems.
The film takes its lead from an exclusive group of
influential international leaders as they travel...
Palm oil: we consume more than 50 million tonnes of it every
year. In supermarkets across the globe, 1 in 10 products
contains some trace of palm oil – from breads, biscuits
and cakes, to cooking oil, cosmetics and detergents. A
billion dollar industry, palm oil is also increasingly being
used as a bio-fuel substitute...
Parkinson’s disease affects around 13 million people
worldwide. It used to be considered an old persons’
disease, but is being diagnosed in increasing numbers of
people in their 40s and younger. Once diagnosed with
Parkinson’s, people are told they can expect to be kept in
reasonable shape with the current treatment for five to ten
years....
Presented by the effervescent world traveller and food
expert Peta Mathias, and set in a country renowned for
engaging the senses, Peta Unplugged in Marrakech offers
fresh perspectives on a culture via its cuisine. Peta guides
her gastronomads on a culinary and cultural tour of
Marrakech and its intriguing surrounds. Featuring cooking
classes both in the...
They have been playing together for over 40 years, they have
been honoured with OBEs, and they are officially the hardest
working band in the UK. This is the definitive history of
infamous rock band Status Quo – a no-holds-barred,
access-all-areas look at the band, from their rebellious
origins in the ’60s right through to...
Fearless, feisty and resolute, the Rough Aunties are a
remarkable group of women unwavering in their stand to
protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten
children of Durban, South Africa.
This documentary by internationally acclaimed director Kim
Longinotto (Sisters In Law, Divorce Iranian Style) follows
the outspoken, multi-racial cadre of Thuli, Mildred, Sdudla,
Eureka and...
This is the story of an eccentric British couple who give up
the comforts of retired life in England and travel to India
on a mission. They want to save the working donkey. For the
slum dwellers in Delhi, the donkey is a work machine, put
into back-breaking labour 7 days a week, 8...
One of the most intriguing developments on the Internet is
the invention of online role-playing, where people from all
corners of the world can come together in a virtual reality.
Second Life is one of these virtual universes, uniting
hundreds of thousands of online gamers. The gamers,
otherwise known as ‘residents’, each create an avatar
through...
Shooting the War shows World War Two in Britain and Germany
as it has rarely been seen: through the lens of home movie
makers. Some of these amateur film enthusiasts were soldiers
who took their cameras to the front line and filmed men at
war; others who stayed at home recorded everyday life on...
From the lazy late night Samba beats in the clubs of Rio’s
backstreets to the pulsating rhythms of the heart of Bahia,
Slave to the Rhythm showcases the brilliance of African
Brazilian musical talent today.
In Brazil, groups of children on the streets use their
hands as drumsticks to keep beat on tables and chairs.
Rhythms...
Sonia Rykiel is a timeless fashion icon. At the age of 80,
she is still among the most creative and successful
designers in the world, and has just released a collection
of underwear for international high-street store H&M. Sonia
Rykiel: Rebel and Visionary is an intimate documentary
portrait of Rykiel, revealing the sensitive woman behind...
Tantric Tourists is a cult documentary which tells the story
of Laurie Handlers, a 60-year-old self-proclaimed tantric
guru from New York, as she takes a group of people to India
to find spiritual enlightenment and the ‘real’ India.
It is only Laurie’s second time in India yet she claims
to understand the culture of a...
This is a love story – of a woman, a man, a family, a
people and a homeland. It is the story of Rebiya Kadeer,
China’s nightmare – the woman it accuses of inciting
terrorism within China’s borders. It is also the story of
the ‘other Tibet’ – the country its people call East
Turkestan,...
This documentary presents a whirlwind year in the life of
six home-schooled children from a local community in the
foothills of Northern California who have developed an
ingenious invention for the early detection of forest fires.
What starts as a local environmental solution evolves into
an idea that could have a major global impact after...
Since the invasion and attempts at aid and reconstruction,
Afghanistan is still experiencing widespread hunger,
homelessness and lawlessness. In this film we travel through
this troubled land with Rosemary Morrow, an Australian aid
worker who operates outside the mainstream. By trade
Rosemary is an expert in the field of Permaculture, an
agricultural technique that enables individuals...
From abdication to Afghanistan, from fairytale princesses to
terrorist attacks, this is the real story of the Windsors
– an archive history with a story-line that you just could
not make up. The 3-part series chronicles nearly a century
of royal triumphs and misfortunes, from the reign of the
first Windsors, George V and Queen...
In 2012 The Queen will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee – 60
years on the throne. This is the life story of Queen
Elizabeth II – an unprecedented archive history of the
great events in the Queen’s public life, set against the
joys, sorrows, trials and passions of her private life. The
film traces how she...
Marking the recent anniversary of the topping of St Paul’s
Cathedral in London, public artist Martin Firrell exhibited
text illuminations onto this iconic building. His
controversial projections, in English, Arabic and Hindi,
explore the relationship between art, faith and everyday
life, tackling the crucial question of what makes life worth
living.
Described as ‘the artful dodger meets...
The Russians Are Coming lifts the lid on the exclusive world
of super rich Russians who want an English Public School
education for their children. Dina Karpova epitomises the
aspirational and determined Russians who are embracing the
capitalist ethos of the West. A glamorous international
property broker, she capitalises on Russia’s love for all
things English....
From Portugal to Peru, from Bangladesh to Belize, this
programme investigates the health and sustainability of the
world's oceans, with a special emphasis on issues affecting
marine preserves, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems.
Today the oceans are home to nearly 80 percent of the
planet’s plants and animals, providing sustenance to
billions of people. What was once...
This unique series tells the story of man’s relationship
with the land. It charts the revolution that food production
in Britain underwent in the 20th century, and examines the
impact this had on the lives of farmers and consumers alike.
With epsiodes focusing on milk, fruit and vegetables,
wheat, and beef, as well as intimate...
The Tudor dynasty lasted 118 years and changed England
forever. After years of civil war, The Tudors started the
process that would eventually bring peace, stability and
change to the land, and many of the places that witnessed
this change still exist in the landscape today.
During the medieval period it was the great cathedrals...
Join twelve men and women from all walks of life as they
compete against each other for the chance to create and
launch their very own wine label. Set in central California,
The Winemakers is an exciting series which plunges viewers
inside the most storied beverage on earth. It follows the
diverse cast of hopefuls...
Testament to the human capacity for change, this is an
eye-opening and gripping investigation into the psyche of
child sex offenders which introduces a psychological
treatment programme that has the potential to stop cycles of
abuse.
With unprecedented access to prisoners, whose identities
are protected for their own sakes as well as for their
victims, the documentary...
Most teenagers row with their parents. But what happens if
you leave home while you are still at school? And what is it
like living alone while you are still a child? At the tender
age of sixteen, Tony left home and was forced to fend for
himself. He has managed to survive alone...
Uncle Hitler introduces us to the descendants, family
members, acquaintances and employees of Adolf Hitler. The
documentary focuses on exploring the unknown story of
Hitler's family and the dramatic fates of those related to
the most hated man in history.
It also explores the genetic history of Eva Braun to
determine if Hitler and his wife...
Everywhere you look, groups of people are using the Internet
to come together, work together, or take some kind of public
action. New technologies and a closely related culture of
collaboration present radical and exciting models of social
organisation. For the first time in history, we have the
tools that truly amplify group effort and...
The second series of What’s Really in Our Food? take a
more detailed look into the intricacies of some our of
staple everyday foods, with even more expert opinions and
science. It investigates our fundamental foods, the ones we
often eat without thinking twice about – the kind of foods
we assume are absolutely fine....
Filmed in hotspots around the world, Extreme Clergy is a
unique documentary series which offers a rare glimpse of the
challenges faced and met by spiritual people struggling to
better the lives of the poor, the embattled, and the
desperate.
From the Surfing Rabbi who offers inner city LA high school
students a lifestyle to replace...
Marking the 80th anniversary of the Wall Street Crash, this
film looks back at the great financial disaster which shook
the 20th century. Startlingly topical in view of the bleak
banking crisis of today, the film traces the background and
backlash of 1929 with astonishingly fresh and detailed
archive footage.
The Wall Street Crash spread...
Never have so few companies controlled so much of the music
sold at retail stores and played on the radio. At the same
time, there are more bands and more ways to discover their
music than ever. Music seems to be split in two – the
homogenous corporate product that is spoon-fed to consumers,
and...
When Prince Charles turned 60 in November 2008, he became
the oldest heir to the British throne in history. Ever
since his mother became Queen in 1952, he has been a
king-in-waiting, constantly searching for a role that is
both public and royal. It has been a long, sometimes
painful journey for this dedicated prince...
Collector Showdown is a fun, high-drama, information-packed
series dedicated to collectors and their collections. In
each episode two contestants of a certain collector genre
face off in a friendly battle of knowledge and skill for the
ultimate prize: either an experience of a lifetime and or a
coveted take-home addition to their collection.
Who is the...
In Muslim countries people turn to Sharia, Islamic Law, to
resolve their problems. From a terraced house in East
London, Britain's Sharia Council presides over hundreds of
cases every year. This parallel legal system remains unknown
to many people, yet the court has existed in the UK for over
20 years. This documentary follows the...
Narrated by Golden Globe and Academy Award winner Brad Pitt,
e² transport investigates different approaches towards
solving transport issues, focusing less on the area of
design and fuel alternatives and more on the larger context
of human behaviour and urbanization.
The biggest culprit in terms of sustainability in transport
is the car. At the same...
Inspired by the great Andy Warhol, eccentric photographer
David LaChapelle has created a surreal and boundless world
where women are pictured swinging from crystal chandeliers,
squashed by giant hamburgers and half swallowed by sharks.
Renowned for the wild imagination and erotic charge of his
images, LaChapelle has become the hottest photographer of
the moment, and celebrities...
Britain has been building castles for over 3000 years and
each one in turn was a state-of-the-art fortress. The castle
was a place where power was based, and where law and order
were dispensed, offering local populations protection from
attackers. Yet it could equally be a site that was designed
to instil fear and dread,...
This documentary follows Stig Aavall Severinsen, current
World Champion in freediving, as he lives out his dream to
interact with killer whales and explore their memerising
underwater world, diving only wih a mask and snorkel. The
film takes viewers on an unforgettable journey north of the
Polar Circle, to Tysfjorden, Norway, where killer whales
come each...
Heavy Load is a punk outfit subject to the inflammatory mix
of ego, fantasy and desire that fuels any emerging band. The
band is also, uniquely, made up of musicians with and
without learning disabilities, which makes its survival a
precarious negotiation between two different worlds: on the
one hand the institutional timetable of day...
Prince Charles Edward was Queen Victoria’s favourite
grandson. In 1900, the sixteen-year-old Prince was the only
viable British contender for the hugely wealthy Dukedom of
Saxe Coburg and Gotha in Germany. Ordered to go by Queen
Victoria, he took the title and was transformed from a
British Prince into a German Duke – Herzog Carl...
How Do They Do It? is one of the highest-rating pop-science
shows which reveals the amazing secrets behind some of the
everyday objects we take for granted. Presented by comedian
Robert Llewellyn, the three 10-episode series of How Do They
Do It? collectively lift the lid on the modern world and
show us how it...
This series reveals the intriguing lives of today’s landed
gentry as they turn their mansions into money spinners. It
is an entertaining, character-driven series with an emphasis
on the quirky and eccentric among the country’s posh and
privileged. No longer cocooned in their ivory towers, the
lords and ladies of Great Britain have had to...
From its lofty perch high above earth’s atmosphere, the
Hubble Space Telescope can see both nearby and distant
objects with unwavering clarity. The Telescope’s
breathtaking views of deep space bridge the separate domains
of art and science – they not only transmit data, but also
form a direct connection between the human spirit and the
most...
Since his death in 1977, James Castle has gained world
recognition as a prominent self-taught artist. This
documentary is a revealing journey into the artist’s life
and creative process, as told by family members, art
historians, curators, artists, collectors, and members of
the deaf community.
James Castle was born deaf in 1899 in central Idaho. He
refused...
Lifeproof is a sex-education series firmly anchored in the
lives of teenagers – a rich, multi-layered portrait of
teen relationships that peels back the layers to reveal what
really makes them work.
When it comes to relationships, there is never a right or
wrong answer. Everyone does it their own way, and this
series explores how...
Traditionally, marriage is 'for richer, for poorer' – but
can a relationship survive the relentless pressure of
mounting debt, unpaid mortgages and credit card bills? Love
and Money: Family Misfortune is a documentary series
following the stories of two families facing the prospect of
financial meltdown. These revealing programmes follow the
couples as they talk candidly...
Motivated is a must-see for anyone wishing to understand the
innate human attraction to risk and boundary-pushing for
fame and glory. A biography series analyzing the incredible
lives of the world’s top extreme athletes, it devotes each
episode to the story of a champion, from childhood to the
present. Family, friends and colleagues are interviewed,
revealing...
Sometimes the best way to understand your home is to ask a
newcomer to tell you about it. As much as we may think we
know our own country, you’d be surprised what you learn
when you hear about it from the perspective of an immigrant.
Since North America was built on immigration, people...
The past has left us with a legacy of mysterious places.
Sacred sites, symbolic landscapes, ancient villages and lost
lands are all around us. They fascinate and thrill those who
seek them out, firing the imagination and generating wonder
through their sheer scale.
Britain and Ireland are covered with examples of a
mysterious past, from stone...
New York and Paris: Two cities whose names are synonymous
with passion and beauty. Both of these cities were
extensively photographed during their golden ages and the
results produced some of the most striking iconic images in
the history of photography. The two artists who carried out
this world-renowned work were linked together in a...
On 11th February 2000 at 12:43, Space Shuttle Endeavour
began to push away from the Florida ground. Inside, six
Astronauts were excited and nervous. They were thrilled to
be going into outer space, but smart enough to know that
they were basically riding a bomb. The trust and courage of
the astronauts was rewarded with...
Operation Valkyrie: The Plot To Kill Hitler is the
definitive film on Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg and
the ‘Valkyrie’ conspiracy to assassinate Hitler on 20th
July, 1944. Produced in collaboration with the official
German Foundation dedicated to the memory of the
conspirators, it features testimonials and eyewitness
accounts from all of the aristocratic families involved...
When 39 twenty-somethings climb on board a bus bound for the
hottest destinations along the stunning coast of Australia,
anything can (and does) happen… This six-part series
follows a group of young explorers as they make a whirlwind
journey that will change their lives forever. Packed with
adventure and drama, including skydiving, wild rafting,
beach parties...
This series takes you inside the adrenalin-fuelled world of
those people who keep a NASCAR racing machine on the oval, a
hydroplane on the water, a motorcycle on the track.
Jack up a car, change four tires, fill the gas tank, check
the oil, wipe the windows and get back on the road… Oh
yes,...
An intimate biography which explores the truth behind the
life of the Queen’s sister. With her youthful beauty and
great sense of fun and adventure, she was the finest
princess and perhaps the least understood member of the
Royal Family.
In Antarctica, where the world’s largest glacier meets the
sea, a team of biologists has set up a primitive base camp.
They have come to study the phenomenon of ‘penguin
cities’, giant living laboratories where tens of thousands
of Adélie penguins converge in raucous colonies to breed
and rear their young.
For Grant Ballard and...
Rubberneckers are people who turn their heads to stare at
something. Featuring a collection of eye-popping moments
that promise to make you open your mouth involuntarily and
gasp for breath in amazement, shock, awe and bemusement,
this hilarious series explores the curious phenomenon of
rubbernecking!
Bringing together content from all over the world, the
series gently pokes...
Shanghai Living offers an intimate portrait of a city which
is undergoing rapid economical development and considerable
social change. Money, art, sex and poverty are the
ingredients that drive this change. The documentary traces
the day-to-day lives of four very different protagonists: an
artist, a young female prostitute, a self-made billionaire
and a poor shoe-shiner. After...
Sky view takes the viewer on four stunning aerial trips
around some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.
Starting with a journey from Florence, in the heart of
Italy, to Rome, the heart of Europe’s ancient Empire, the
series then travels to the west coast of Ireland, otherwise
known as the Emerald Isle. The...
Ukrainian film director Sergey Bukovsky takes the viewer on
a poignant journey of discovery as he and several Ukrainian
students absorb the testimony of local people who escaped
brutal execution and those who rescued friends and
neighbours during the Holocaust. A collection of men and
women share the details of their experiences, and we are
afforded...
The Disappearing Male is a documentary about one of the most
important, troubling and least publicised issues facing the
human species: the toxic threat to the male reproductive
system.
The last few decades have seen steady and dramatic
increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering
from genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm
abnormalities and...
This is the story of the extraordinary 16 months between
February 1952 and June 1953 when a shy and petite
25-year-old was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the
limelight, soon to become the most recognised person in the
world: the Queen.
The Paranormal 5: a team of investigators whose aim is to
prove – or disprove – the existence of paranormal
activity. Together they visit various public and residential
locations which have experienced unexplained occurrences and
seemingly paranormal disturbances.
In each episode of the series, the Paranormal 5 check for
logical explanations, running technical tests which detect
fluctuations...
Hitler called her ‘The most dangerous woman in Europe’.
This film takes a look at Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, known around
the world as the Queen Mother, whose remarkable life spanned
the entire twentieth century.
The Morning Glory is a form of roll-cloud, born from the
collision of mighty natural forces, that surges along a line
stretching up to a thousand kilometres or more. It can be
one or it can be many, looking like a giant wave or series
of waves in the sky. The waves are marked...
Everyone has a fantasy – something out of the ordinary,
glamorous and fun that they have always yearned to try. For
one reason or another, there are lawyers who want to be
Shakespearean actors, plumbers who are frustrated pilots,
farmers who could have been basketball stars, and bankers
who should have been fashion models.
Ultimate Dream...
Join best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith as he
travels to the heart of Botswana, inspiration and location
for The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Already published
in 43 languages worldwide, this series has sold more than 15
million copies, and a film based on the books has been
produced by the late Anthony Minghella for...
A shocking series which goes behind the headlines to find
out what it is really like to work as an undercover agent.
These are tales from the criminal underworld as told by the
people who lived it – and living a lie among dangerous
criminals is not for the faint-hearted!
In 1974, the New Zealand...
This film offers unique insight into the US-led initiative
to train and recruit women for Iraq’s New Army and police
force after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s government.
Hundreds of Iraqi women responded to recruitment
advertisements and knowingly put their lives on the line to
protect their country and its fledgling democracy.
They expected criticism from...
This revealing film takes the viewer to the heat of the
world’s forests. Shot in ten countries and looking at both
tropical and temperate forests, this film examines the
damage that is being done to this precious resource and the
devastating consequences such as floods, drought and
disease.
Winner of US National Environmental Education Association
Special...
Four months of music boot camp in Kampala transform a group
of Ugandan orphans into a superb choir. Led by music teacher
Jennifer Banas, the children embark on a road tour of North
America, moving audiences to tears with their emotionally
charged singing and dancing.
This is a film about the transformative power of music...
Touching, passionate and provocative, A Team for Peace
follows the riveting journey of a group of pre-adolescent
soccer players, half of them Arab, half of them Israeli, who
are put together to play on an all star team – The Peace
Team – and compete in the world’s largest international
youth soccer tournament.
Behind the...
In the U.S., female juvenile offenders have the fastest
growing rates of incarceration, yet media access to their
stories is extremely limited because they are minors.
However, the Governor of Illinois granted veteran
documentary filmmaker Tod Lending (Nomadic Pictures)
unprecedented access to a female juvenile correctional
facility outside Chicago in order to tell this story.
In...
In the acclaimed follow-up series to Autopsy: Life and
Death, Dr Gunther von Hagens recreates serious injuries on
human bodies to reveal what happens to the body when faced
with assaults or accidents and to show what first-aiders,
paramedics and physicians can do to preserve life against
the clock.
He is joined by Dr John Heyworth,...
The acclaimed current affairs strand Dispatches and
award-winning journalist Rod Liddle join forces in a
documentary that investigates the day to day struggle of
both Palestinians and Israelis living on the West Bank. In
an attempt to portray a balanced account of eveyday life on
the West Bank Liddle talks to residents from either side...
Beyond Beijing unravels many of the mysteries of travelling
around modern day China. Engaging, fast-paced and highly
visual, the series is designed to appeal to both the
experienced traveller as well as the armchair explorer,
taking them 'beyond Beijing' to six other equally
fascinating Chinese cities. The series captures images of
China at an historic crossroads…...
During the Vietnam War, American bombs rained down on Laos
in the ‘Secret War’, leaving it the most bombed country,
per capita, in history. The deadly legacy of this
destruction continues, as the country is still scattered
with unexploded ordnance which kills and injures people on a
weekly basis.
In the war-ravaged countryside, bomb scrap metal...
The most adrenaline-pumping, action-packed class of the
year! Join our crew of stunt-artist wanabees with big dreams
through an intense crash-course in tumbling, fighting, high
falls, fire burns, stunt driving, motorbikes and
speed-boats. Learn from the best with exclusive tips and
tricks from the Hollywood stunt co-ordinators that double
for the stars. Will our thrill-seekers manage...
Diana: The Inquest takes a remarkable look at the mysterious
beginnings and proceedings of the British inquest into the
deaths of Princess Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and their driver
Henri Paul. Featuring statements from those most closely
connected to the three people who died on that tragic night,
and exclusive CCTV footage from cameras inside...
Commissioned by BBC’s Storyville, this is a documentary
portrait of world acclaimed Malian photographer Malick
Sidibé, and a journey through Malian history inspired by
this man’s iconic images.
Malick’s snapshots from the late ‘50s through to the
early ‘70s capture the carefree spirit of the youth. At
they time they were asserting their freedom in...
An award winning and incredibly touching portrait of a young
boy who finds solace from a bullied school life and broken
home in a world filled with archery, masters, vassals and
the occasional dragon. For 14 year old Colin Taylor, known
to his fellow vassals and master as Drakmar, is a member of
the Kingdom...
Narrated by Golden Globe and Academy Award winner Brad Pitt,
e² design explores the complex social, political, cultural,
environmental and economic issues of sustainable
architecture. Traversing the globe, the series chronicles
important and exciting stories of green architecture made
reality, in New York, Chicago, China and rural Mexico.
The building of shelter consumes one-sixth of the...
Narrated by Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman, this
series investigates innovations in alternative energy
technologies, such as solar, sea, wind, and hydro power,
that provide options for a more sustainable energy future.
Through these renewable energy solutions, e² energy
demonstrates how, despite predictions to the contrary, the
global economy can not only survive but in...
A Chinese odyssey, this is the epic story of the female
soldiers of the Long March - a massive military retreat of
over 200,000 troops on foot over 12,500km between 1934 and
1937. Only one per cent of the soldiers were female.
Most of them were teenagers fleeing poverty, cruelty and
general discrimination against females. ...
Footloose in Europe is a travel and lifestyle series hosted
by Debra Rixon and filmed by her husband, David. Believing
that the best way to discover a country’s beautiful places
is to walk its trails, pathways and streets, the energetic
couple visit some of the most varied and exquisite locations
in Europe:
1- Hallstatt, Austria 2-...
A 6-part series in which John McCarthy explores the complex
relationship between religion, money and power in a
fast-changing world. God’s Business aims to get to the
heart of what it means to be religious today, as well as
what it takes to function as a large religious organisation
in the modern world, full of...
Gone Wild discovers intimate and touching stories about
once-domesticated animals now gone feral who have made
themselves at home in surprising places, often with
unimaginable consequences. Having been abandoned by – or
escaped from – their owners, millions of domestic animals
around the world roam free. These resourceful stray animals
have managed to survive in spaces...
What inspires people to risk their lives for their beliefs
– to sail a ship into a nuclear test zone, to get between
a pod of whales and an explosive harpoon, or to block
bulldozers mowing down a forest? What happens when
individual citizens decide to make a stand, however
formidable the challenge or severe...
The 90’s new mum may have been too posh to push, and went
for an elective caesarean, but in 2005 new mum’s are
taking control themselves, kicking hospitals into touch and
having their babies at home. The good news for these sassy
and strong minded women is that there is a new breed of
community...
Journey into Buddhism is part of an ongoing series that
travels to places of spiritual wonder and empowerment.
Journey into Buddhism or the Yatra Trilogy is a cycle of
meditative passages offering a direct experience of sacred
spaces and the wisdom they convey.
DHARMA RIVER is a timeless journey through legendary rivers
to the great Buddhist...
A unique behind-the-scenes look at the birthplace of James
Bond, Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code among many others,
London’s Hollywood delves into the everyday workings of
the Shepperton and Pinewood Studios, the powerhouse at the
heart of the European film industry.
Shepperton-Pinewood is a self-sufficient mini-metropolis,
one of the biggest studio complexes in Europe...
You are probably familiar with ‘Mr Right’. He is
lusciously handsome with a thriving – yet low maintenance
– career. He is witty and charming. He is dangerous, yet
caring. It may seem like he isn’t ready to commit, yet
deep down all he wants is to find, marry and impregnate the
woman of his...
The great white shark is one of the world’s most vilified
predators. Its maligned public image arises from
occasionally attacking humans, but more importantly by its
popular portrayal as a man-eater by media.
White sharks permit only small glimpses into their lives,
much of which is still shrouded in mystery. However, recent
technologies are allowing scientists...
Nought to Five is the definitive insiders' guide to
parenting the under-fives. The two series run in consecutive
order from delivery suite to the school gate. They are aimed
at anyone involved in a preschooler’s life – be it a
first time parent or an old hand, a grandparent, a childcare
educator, whoever! Everyone learns...
The world needs energy. But what type of energy should be
used and how should it be produced? That is a controversial
question. Feverishly, scientists around the world are
looking for solutions.
Many see salvation in the worldwide use of a mix of
renewable energies. Here, the interest and the knowledge of
the general public concentrate...
Pregnancy and Birth: The Truth provides and informed and
reliable guide to every stage of pregancy and birth, from
pregancy tests to baby massage. Aimed at dispelling the
myths and fears surrounding childbirth, frank and practical
information is given from the perspectives of doctors,
midwives, and of course parents. A Must-see for all
prospective parents!
No other sport in the world requires that you tape your
racket to your hand – but for wheelchair tennis. Mark
Eccleston is an athlete who has overcome tremendous
adversity – this frank, fearless and often funny film
tells his triumph of the human spirit. He became one of the
world’s leading wheelchair tennis players...
Real Outlaws takes you into the world of Britain’s real
vigilantes, those few who, for better or worse, have decided
to take the law into their own hands and fight back. In
examining this modern day phenomenon Real Outlaws will take
you into the heart of Britain’s most notorious estates,
the infamous football hooligan firms,...
After centuries of obscurity, the rite of exorcism is
raising its profile. While church attendance appears to be
falling, so-called masses of deliverance from the devil
attract large congregations. A recent survey carried out by
the Association of Catholic Psychiatrists and Psychologists
discovered that half a million Italians annually turn to
exorcists for help. Now for...
SACCO AND VANZETTI tells the story of Nicola Sacco and
Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrant anarchists who
were accused of a murder in 1920, and executed in Boston in
1927 after a notoriously prejudiced trial. It is the first
major American documentary film about this landmark story.
The ordeal of Sacco and Vanzetti came...
Hidden behind the staid atmosphere of most museums is a
vibrant and exciting world involving theft, authentication,
forensics and fables. Secrets of the Exhibit takes you
behind the scenes, delving into the intrigue and mystery
which underlie the seemingly orderly and perfectly labelled
displays in museums. Each episode opens the doors that
shield the average patron...
Sexually Transmitted Infections are on the up, and it is
those aged 16 to 24 who are catching them most. 1 in 10
young people has Chlamydia, while half of the world’s HIV
positive population is aged under 25.
This observational documentary follows a group of young
people over a 48-hour period. It takes them...
Presented by Tim Collins, this three-part series presents a
portrait of the twentieth century by following the fortunes
of three history-making ships. From the Titanic's fateful
launch to the sinking of the Bismark, from the German sea
blockade to the departure of the TS Canberra to fight in the
Falklands, we experience the century of...
Small Town Gay Bar opens a small world of the gay
communities in the Deep South of America. Homosexuals in
these communities lack the social outlets of their
cosmopolitan brethren. However, in the face of cruelty,
ridicule, and even violence, they manage to find sanctuary
in the only place they are offered within hundreds of...
Deep in the heart of Central Asia lies one of the world’s
most secretive countries – Turkmenistan. Run until
recently by a crazy dictator whose megalomania spawned a
personality cult to rival that of Chairman Mao, this
unlikely desert republic has earned itself a grim reputation
as ‘the North Korea of Central Asia’. But since...
One of the best known UK news journalists, Krishnan
Guru-Murthy, reveals the dark side of modern India -
discrimination against Muslims, a rise in Hindu nationalism,
farmers driven to suicide by debt and a caste system which
prevents those at the bottom from securing any but the most
menial and humiliating jobs.
As the gap between...
This film is not just a history of the Internationale but a
history of the meaning this song has carried to all those
who have raised their fists and sung it in the hope of a
better future. The Internationale is an anthem which has
been sung in most places and languages of the...
The printing press was the world’s first piece of
mass-production technology. Its invention changed the world
as dramatically as splitting the atom or sending men into
space. It ignited a cultural revolution which shaped the
modern age. It changed the way our brains work, replacing a
spoken culture with a written one. It is the...
The New Medicine explores a burgeoning movement taking place
in hospitals and clinics across the country: integrating the
best of high-tech medicine with a new attitude that
recognizes it is essential to the healing process to treat
the patient as a whole person, and not a cog in an assembly
line.
Hosted by Dana Reeve, who...
Internationally recognised scientist Martin Kilpper and
Alternative Nobel Prize Winner Hermann Scheer take you in a
unique trip through Europe, drawing an accurate and
fascinating picture of the pioneering potential of renewable
energy resources such as biomass, wind, geothermal, water
and sun. ‘The New Power’ offers a surprising and
encouraging result : a realistic possibility of...
Follow six amorous couples as they embark on an adventure of
the senses to improve their sex lives. In an original
mixture of history, culture and sex this fun series explores
the sexual traditions of each exclusive location. Together
the couples embark into a new sexual world as they
re-discover each other and foreign cultures...
Renowned theologian Robert Beckford goes on a literal and
historical journey to unravel a mystery: why are there so
many different interpretations of Jesus? Travelling across
parts of the world where the story of Jesus exists and is
still played out, delving into religious texts and
interviewing top scholars, Beckford reveals the astonishing
similarities in the...
Join Academy Award winning actor Matt Damon as he discovers
how global warming, sea-level rise, over-fishing, and
habitat destruction are beginning to empty the world's
oceans. Damon's dramatic journey takes us to the Pacific
Northwest, (salmon and sea otters), New England (coastal
fisheries), Florida (sea level rise and its effect on
loggerhead turtles), Japan (the slaughter...
Are populations soaring out of control? Today the Earth’s
population has surged to nearly 6.5 billion and is
increasing by nearly 80 million people each year. Yet the
population explosion that began in the mid 1900s is finally
slowing down – and it is happening in some of the most
unexpected places.
Are we running out...
The State of the Planet’s Wildlife visits the high country
of Montana, Florida’s Everglades, South Africa, Singapore,
Bangladesh, Kenya, Zambia, the Amazon, the Arctic, and
China.
Specific case studies explore the loss of wildlife as a
result of climate change, population and poverty pressures,
poaching, the international bush-meat trade, and the loss of
wildlife corridors. From severe...
From the highly acclaimed Dispatched Current Affairs strand
comes a comprehensive look at the history of atheism and
whether it can rightly be considered as the rational
alternative to religion.
Award winning journalist Rod Liddle speaks to the
worlds’ most renowned scientists, theologians and
philosophers and asks them the questions we have always
wanted to ask...
This is Civilisation is a contemporary revision of Lord
Clark’s British television landmark, Civilisation: A
Personal View. Presented by art critic Matthew Collings
(whose previous credits include the BAFTA award-winning This
is Modern Art), this 4-part series examines the world’s
greatest works of art and architecture, and looks into those
parts of art history which Clark...
Timeless Journeys: to Bodhgaya, India is a spiritual Journey
from London, across Northern India to the place where the
Buddha gained enlightenment. It is a spiritual journey
revealing the history and some of the teachings of Buddhism,
set to an original score.
The film flows through the history and landscapes of rural
India, through the pink...
Victory By Design is a landmark, award-winning documentary
series which profiles the most important examples of iconic
motoring marques. Episodes cover Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Aston
Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, Jaguar, Ford, Lotus, Corvette, and
some of the most important Grand Prix cars ever built.
The series is shot in international locations, and the cars
are driven by...
The first series of What’s Really in Our Food?
investigates the food we eat, exploring where it comes from
and how it is made, demystifying the science, testing the
ingredients and translating the labels. The programme offers
a guide on what to eat to improve physical and mental
performance and what nasties to avoid, from...
Monumental Vision is an international arts and culture
series which follows the adventures of Andrew Rogers, one of
Australia’s most distinguished contemporary sculptors, as
he works in remote and exotic locations around the world –
Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Australia, Iceland, China, India,
Turkey, Nepal and Slovenia.
Rogers creates giant Earth Artworks made of rock and
designed to...
The adventure begins with the 4600km journey from the
southern tip of Africa - the mission: to construct a new and
advanced research base (SANAE IV). This programme is a
stunning visual Odyssey revealing the mystery and wild
beauty of the ice continent. One of the most visually
impressive parts of the journey is the...
Why do some people live long and healthy lives, while others
die younger and after painful illnesses? For many of us
death is mysterious – an outsider which robs us of life in
an instant and without warning. But death and disease are,
in many ways, less of a mystery than we imagine; their
origins...
Unlike other baby shows that gloss over the birth and boil
it down to a few short seconds of pushing, this series tells
it like it really is, focusing almost entirely on the birth
and first few days at home. As no baby’s birth is the
same, the series presents a wide range of...
Part docu-soap, part travelogue, part extreme sports series,
Backpacking Australia is a fast-moving account of the
backpacking adventures in Australia of a group of young
travellers from all over the world. From Bungee jumping and
sky diving to swimming with dolphins, the episodes follow
the backpackers through the experiences of a lifetime. For
many it is...
In this epic series, Britain’s best-known art critic,
Brian Sewell, retraces the journey of the Grand Tourists
through his own exploration of ancient Rome and Renaissance
Italy.
Setting off in search of a Lost Civilisation in the
footsteps of Byron, Turner, Boswell and others, Brian
journeys to some of the most romantic places on earth –
Milan,...
A whirlwind tour of the capitals of the Pacific, this series
reveals the mysteries and beauty of these varied locations,
from Auckland to Honolulu, from Easter Island to Sydney, and
many more.
Episodes 1
Hanga Roa: Through conversations and interactions with the
locals, viewers discover the profound soul of Hanga Roa,
Easter Island – the most geographically...
Join culinary explorer Emmanuel Stroobant as he combs
Singapore to discover the local flavours - from hawker fares
to coffee shops and home recipes passed down from ancestors.
Join him as he discovers feasts of joyous occasions,
religious rites and business meals; from the kitchen of the
ordinary folks to the most well known hawker...
For the very first time, young people are not waiting until
they have left school to declare their sexuality to friends
and family. Gay culture has crossed over to the mainstream,
and in many societies homosexuals can now enjoy acceptance
and equal rights. Coming Out to Class follows Q-boy, the
UK’s only openly gay rapper,...
On 7th January 2005 Rick Rodriguez slit the throat of his
former nanny and then killed himself. A few hours previously
he had video taped a suicide message; a deeply disturbing
record of a life scarred by a childhood spent with The
Children of God, a cult notorious for taking the 1960s
culture of free...
Having examined the physical causes of dyslexia and the
difficulties it causes children affected by it, this
academic yet upbeat film goes on to discuss ways in which
these difficulties can be overcome and to ask if we are
right to view dyslexia as a disability. Freed from the
blinkers of the traditional, largely verbal...
Tim Collins re-investigates Britain’s critical desert
campaign, and the controversial battle tactics needed to
take on the unbeaten Panzer army in total war, preventing
Hitler from gaining Egypt, Iraq and the oilfields.
Foreshadowing current world events, this oil-rich region was
crucial to the war effort. These are the World War II
battles that shaped the Middle...
Madness lead singer and presenter Graham ‘Suggs’
McPherson sets off on a journey through London, to celebrate
the endangered buildings and open spaces which give this
capital its special charm and unique character.
From the humble Italian coffee house or traditional London
pub to the open air swimming pool or exotic Turkish bath,
these hidden gems...
Seven days a week these modern-day wranglers can be found at
the Cedar Lane Stables, fulfilling their mission to pass
down the legacy of the black cowboys to inner city youth.
The documentary leads us to a world on the other side of the
fence where respect for life is taught through horsemanship.
The stories...
As a virulent new strain of influenza spreads across the
world on the wings of migratory birds, scientists look to
the past in order to prevent a future global pandemic. The
clues needed are locked in the long-dormant genes of
history's worst killer - the 1918 Spanish Flu. After
painstakingly reconstructing the virus responsible for...
Every summer, the usually quiet Serbian town of Guča is
stormed by around 200,000 people making music and dancing
madly to the sound of Serbian and gypsy brass. This film
follows two young trumpet players, Dejan Petrovic and Veljko
Ostojic, who compete for the coveted Golden Trumpet. It also
introduces Boban Markovic (the ‘Godfather of...
Featuring celebrities such as the Jackass guys, Caprice,
Adrian Brody and Darryl Hannah, and the world’s slickest
cars from Ferraris and Lamborghinis to pimped-up Smart Cars,
Gumball 3000 has become one of the year’s most glamorous
and high-octane events. Around the World in 8 days is the
most outrageous Gumball 3000 rally. A tough ride...
This ground-breaking series focuses on African innovation,
addressing today’s and tomorrow’s problems with courage
and imagination in equal measure. It is a fascinating look
at how cutting-edge scientific technology from all over the
world is being put to use to alleviate the problems faced by
Africans today.
The thirteen part series tells stories from all over
Africa,...
Narrated by Christopher Olgiati, Jihad: The Men and Ideas
Behind Al Qaeda is the definitive history of the world’s
most dangerous terrorist organisation. With rare footage and
first hand testimony from those who fought, conspired and
lived with them, it tells the inside story of Al Qaeda’s
three leaders – Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Zawahiri,...
A brand new documentary film celebrating the newly
democratic Liberia and the so far successful presidency of
Africa’s first elected woman head of state. This
award-winning film examines the complex issues of
nation-building confronting the country’s transitional
government, the international community and the nationals of
Liberia. At a critical moment in Liberia’s bitter history,
the documentary bears...
In each half hour, Hugh explains one of the vital elements
of the River Cottage philosophy, referring back to all the
most memorable adventures, escapades and learning
experiences at River Cottage (and beyond!). In doing so, he
encourages us to grow our own fruit and veg, be thrifty and
resourceful and get the best of...
This fascinating one-off brings to life two of the biggest
characters in art – two larger-than-life immigrants who
were battling for nothing less than the future soul of
British painting: Sickert, the gruff, aggressive
man-of-the-people, and Sargent, the urbane and charming
dandy.
Focusing on some of the most beautiful and alarming
paintings ever made – pictures of...
There's been a change in how we spend our leisure time.
Increasingly we flop in front of TV's, play computer games,
listen to our iPods on treadmills. What the older folks'
pursuits had in common - from brass bands to pigeon-fancying
to cake-baking competitions - was that they were creative,
gregarious and largely free! Our...
‘Acutely Anxious’, ‘Deeply Depressed’, and
‘Seriously Stressed’ each looks at the one mental
illness from a biological, physiological point of view,
always within the context of what their impact is on daily
life. With state of the art 3D graphics we go inside the
brain and body and look at what goes on when things...
John and his boyfriend Douglas Fox run the biggest escort
agency in the North East. Calling themselves an executive
agency, clients pay between £130 and £600 for escorts’
‘time and companionship’. But what do Christony’s
clients get for their money? Is this prostitution under
another name? And if so, how do John and Douglas get...
For over a 100 years the Ugg boot a type of sheepskin boot,
has been a cultural icon sported by sheep-shearers,
‘surfies’ and anyone pottering around the house. Through
a bizarre comedy of errors the ownership of the 'ugg'
trademark passed to an aggressive US corporation. 'The Good,
The Bad and The Ugg Boot' is...
Hugh’s retrospective assessment of the vital elements of
rural life will include edited highlights from previous
River Cottage series. The final programme reiterates that
sharing fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce with family
and friends has
become the cornerstone of the River Cottage experience.
A teasing glimpse into the glamour, furor and fun of the
annual Gumball 3000 rally. In Ultimate Gumballers we meet
the characters who bring the glitz and drama to the rally
and in Rules of the Road Ed Leigh reveals what it takes to
be a Gumballer.
From the thrill of riding in a chopper across the beautiful
Vietnamese countryside to the life and death situations they
faced in theatre and intensive care, the women tell the
untold stories of their Vietnam War. Maggie, Colleen,
Terrie, Jan, Diane and Ann were young women with a passion
for life, determined to leave their...
His legacy is the endless daily movement made by one
airliner after another between the world’s cities. Yet
when he first conceived the engine that would make feasible
such mass air travel, aeroplanes were wood and canvas
contraptions powered by car engines, that flew low and slow.
The programme reveals how Frank Whittle invented the...
The Allies were determined to inflict total defeat on their
enemies, at any cost. But following Victory the big three,
Britain, American and Russia, fought each other for
supremacy. This definitive new series covers the conflicts
in the final days of the war on both the European and
Pacific fronts. The shape of the world...
This is a light new hybrid of fishing, cooking and travel
programming. With unique access to remote fishing
communities, this voice-over led series will take the viewer
on a whirlwind tour of the globe. The series features
ancient cultures, raw passion, and big appetites. The local
characters provide the catch and cooking expertise, and also
deliver...
From the depths of the African bush comes a heartwarming
tale of survival and a scientific journey. . . the story of
a huge herd of elephants condemned to death by a government
decree. Today there are more than 350 elephants in South
Africa's Addo Elephant National Park - descendants of the
handful that not...
This two part series looks at the rich heritage left by the
Moors who ruled southern Spain for eight centuries. Their
rule was punctuated by murderous politics, constant warfare
and family strife. But it produced outstanding architecture
and a memorable architectural legacy – much of which still
stands. The programmes trace the achievements of Al-Andalus,
concentrating...
Aphrodite’s Drop dives into the sensuous world of pearls,
uncovering their past and exploring their present – from
their production, symbolism and pleasures, to the hard
knocks of the marketplace. Pearls are a mirror to history
reflecting and determining attitudes of wealth, culture and
social advancement. They have played an instrumental role in
bringing together East...
You've probably never heard of Tuvalu. The tiny nation is an
island in the middle of the South Pacific covering an area
the size of Central Park. Once the world’s third poorest
country, in 1999, at the height of the dot com boom, it sold
its internet domain name – '.tv' – for $50...
Despite being a U.S. territory, Saipan is exempt from
federal minimum wage and certain immigration laws. The
clothing the labourers sew is shipped duty-and-quota-free to
the U.S. for sale by The Gap, Polo and other retailers.
Powerful hidden camera footage, along with the personal
stories of many of the garment-workers, offers a rare and
unforgettable insight...
In this much awaited new series from the popular River
Cottage collection Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is back and
the stakes and the jeopardy are higher and more real than
ever before. Beyond River Cottage is a natural extension of
Hugh's downshifting experiment at River Cottage, combining
the benefits of a completely fresh location and a massive
new...
Body Shocks follows the extraordinary medical survival
stories of five people who cheated death. Using dramatic
re-enactments, specialist interviews and sophisticated
animated graphics, Body Shocks will tell of stories of
lightening strikes to gas explosions, brain aneurysms to
punctured lungs. Exploring real-life trauma and medical
miracles, each of the stories reveals both how vulnerable
and how resilient...
In this incisive series world famous French TV journalist
Christine Ockrent interviews some of the biggest names alive
today. England football manager Sven Goran-Eriksson, film
directors Lars Von Trier and Mike Leigh, music superstars
Bono and Lionel Richie and high-street mogul Luciano
Benetton all get the celebrity interview treatment. These
are people that are shaping the...
A revolutionary television series, Chat the Planet allows 15
to 22 year olds to speak their minds about the world around
them. In the first 6 episodes, young people - filmed in
their home countries and linked by satellite - from South
Africa, Australia and Jordan discuss issues such as
political correctness, materialism, youth culture,...
2004 was the year for Greece as the Olympics returned home.
It was also a big year for King Constantine of Greece who
re-entered his home-land after the European Courts ended his
36 years in exile. This documentary is an intimate portrait
of the workings of a monarch in exile, his life in London,
his...
Chinese cuisine is now famous the world over but how many
people know that it is food inventions and discoveries made
thousands of years ago that shape the way that people eat
today?
Culinary China: Food For Thought gives an insight into the
inventions of chopsticks, hotpot, vinegar, bean curd and
noodles. Have a taste of...
After the death of Diana Princess of Wales, conspiracy
theories filled the headlines. As so many of the conspiracy
theories are absurd, many simple questions about the fatal
night of August 31st have never been asked. By the end not
only Princess Diana but also Dodi Al Fayed and the driver
Henri Paul were dead.
In...
With religion losing its grip in the western world, along
comes a church that guarantees an encounter with the
Divine... Empire of Juramidam is a haunting exploration of
Christianity's strangest offspring – the Santo Daime
church, otherwise known as the Church of the Eclectic
Universal Flowing Light. Their ceremonies are based around
the consumption of a...
The average person is satisfied with an occasional glass of
wine, a relaxing massage and a normal sex life to find
happiness. But for some that is not enough. For some, in
order to relax and feel sexually content, their lives bear a
whole other ball game. Extreme Pleasures is an exceptional
six-part series delving...
Floyd's mission is to discover the varied tastes and the
rich regional diversity of Italian cuisine. The eccentric
chef abandons all accepted conventions as he forays into the
best restaurants and the most luscious vineyards. Amidst the
classic scenery Floyd prepares exquisite dishes including
squid ink tagliatelle and Tuscan wild boar.
Floyd goes in search of the true flavour of Spain. This
series celebrates the food and drink of regional Spain in
restaurants and bars, mountain tops and the length and
breadth of this rich and diverse country.
Written and presented by Bob Geldof and shot entirely in
Africa, this original series guides the Live Aid generation
through the continent to create awareness of and inspire
response to the beauty of Africa’s inhabitants and
landscapes. The series celebrates Africa and unravels its
complexities: cultural, historic, climatic and political.
The episodes are filmed in West...
This series showcases the glorious heritage left to us by
Islamic artists and architects – and explain the close
connection between the architectural splendour and the
religious message of Islam. Combining travelogue with
compelling story-telling, the programme is highly accessible
to a broad audience. Presented by Professor Akbar Ahmed, who
is at the forefront of attempts...
This is Lonely Planet's up-beat guide to indigenous
Australia, hosted by Olympic Gold champion Cathy Freeman
and real life friend Deborah Mailman, actress from the award
winning series "The Secret Life of Us".
The girls hit the road together to take a fresh look at
Aboriginal Australia, now a major hotspot for the countries
5...
Hawk Speed is a fly-on-the-wall series which allows viewers
VIP unrestricted access to one of the most exciting
superbike teams for the whole 2005 race season. The cameras
go right into the thick of the action as they share the all
excitement and some of the disappointment the team
experience. Delve into the pit garage...
Attracting a growing number of celebrity fanatics, and some
of the world¹s greatest gamblers and sharpest minds,
backgammon is a high stakes game with a growing profile that
offers an alternative to audiences already watching poker.
High Stakes Backgammon is the first-ever televised
backgammon event from the 30th World Championships in Monte
Carlo.
Match-play is...
Jabe Babe – A Heightened Life explores the personal and
medical experiences of 31 year old Jabe Babe, who measures
6ft 2 inches (188cm) and has a life threatening genetic
condition called Marfan Syndrome. Jabe works and lives on
the margins, defying society’s expectations of the
‘normal’ feminine body and sexuality.
Told that she would die...
Best known as the birthplace of the fictitious Borat,
Kazakhstan is in fact a delightful country with an
extraordinary artistic past, and an even more extraordinary
artistic present. Art critic Waldemar Januszczak discovers
this when he travels there to investigate the shocking
stories he has been hearing about the mad experimental art
of modern Kazakhstan. Are...
A moving, sometimes funny, and ultimately uplifting story
about the love and commitment of two extraordinary people.
Lin, 54, is blind and has cerebral palsy. Husband Ralph, 70,
is her full time carer, and has Parkinson’s disease. They
are living proof that two people who really care for each
other can move mountains. Filmed over...
This is the story behind the multibillion dollar fever that
has led internationally renown geologists to the most
unlikely place on earth – a land package the size of Texas
in the empty, remote and vast barren lands of the Artic.
Fueled by the fever of the hunt for that rare and precious
find and...
The owl's huge, night-piercing eyes are like a radar,
constantly surveying the environment. Once nature’s
stealth fighter focuses, its unique first strike capability
allows the owl to swoop in for the kill on swift, silent
wings in the dark of night. For most, there is no defense
against the owl. Shot on film and employing...
Next: A Primer on Urban Painting is a documentary
exploration of graffiti-based visual art as a world of
culture which profiles the art form in the USA, Canada,
France, Holland, Germany, England, Spain, Japan and Brazil.
The film features interviews with important painters,
writers and designers who represent the dynamism and
creative brilliance of this emerging...
Emma O'Brien is a music therapist, as well as a composer and
performer. Opera Therapy documents her work with patients in
the Oncology Ward at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Mary Doggett
Williams, Dianne Graham, Lisa Kanidiadis and Bruce McCulloch
share their stories of battling cancer with Emma, and allow
her to transform their experiences and emotions...
These women include a three-time cancer survivor, a
sharecropper's daughter, a political refugee, a former
cowgirl and the oldest athlete to ever be honoured as a
finalist for the Sullivan Award which celebrates the top
amateur athletes in America.
Pre-Title IX, these athletes grew up in an era when women
did not participate in sports....
This documentary follows the reunion of a father and
daughter with blood on their hands. In the 1980s, Louis van
Schoor was responsible for the deaths of 39 men as a
security guard in East London, South Africa. In October 2002
his daughter, Sabrina, began a 25-year prison sentence for
hiring an assassin to kill...
Competitive eating is recognised in the USA and Japan as a
sport of champions; gastronomic gladiators skilled in the
ancient arts of Kung-food and Pie-kwan-do. In Britain the
sport is virtually unheard of, but finally a British
challenger is found who has the guts for glory to take on
the greatest global gurgitators, stomach to...
Aukland Harbour, New Zealand. July 10th 1985. French navy
combat men place two mines against the hull of the
Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior. At ten minutes to
midnight, the bombs explode, sinking the ship and killing
photographer Fernando Pereira.
The French government is desperate to hide the truth. The
truth about the bombing. The truth about...
Forget the Millennium dome: the Eden project is far and away
the great success story of Britain’s millennium building
programme. Visited by tourists from around the world, and a
unique resource for botanists investigating a perfect,
natural environment, it lives up to its name.
In Gardening at Eden we follow a team of 60...
For 56 years Prince Charles has been the king in waiting –
a wait that has surely been hard on him. Against the
background of his wedding to Camilla the film examines his
controversial ideas on architecture (nothing too modern,
please), on medicine (coffee enemas and a diet of liquidised
fruit) and on religion (flirting...
The third secret of Fatima was purportedly known by only two
people: Pope John Paul II and the Portuguese visionary Lucia
who, during an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1917, was
given dire prophecies of the future of the planet. Within
seven weeks of each other these two key players both passed
away. This...
Meet Sabrina, Feodora and Lilly – three very different
young women with the same insatiable desire to starve
themselves. Once isolated from society by their anorexia,
through websites they have now found others like themselves
who share the unbridled passion to be thin. Pro-ana forum
members swap ideas about living the anorexic lifestyle and
support each...
Traditional education is increasingly challenged by the
arrival of ‘e-learning’, a catch-all phrase that
encompasses almost any form of learning that depends on
electronics.
E-learning is at the heart of ‘e-ducation Without
Borders’, a student-organized movement that is expanding
the boundaries of knowledge through the creation of a
worldwide network of young people who are riding the...
For decades people have shot stills and video footage of
UFOs and convinced nobody. In a remote Norwegian Valley
there have been frequent appearances of both craft and light
orbs for the past twenty years. The reliability of
sighting has attracted the attention of various scientists
in particular those keen to snap one clear spectrograph...
In the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tsunami, a group of
volunteers travel to Sri Lanka to help rebuild a small
fishing village. On a tight ten-day deadline, they try hard
to do everything they can to help; build a refugee centre,
help the locals fix the engines on their fishing boats and
create some...
There is no shortage of theories exploring how these
monoliths were constructed- from the Creator-god to aliens
and giants. This programmme chronicles University of
Pennsylvania researcher Alexei Vranich's expedition to prove
his theory of how the American Stonehenge was created: that
the stones were transported across Lake Titicaca on gigantic
totora reed boats and then laboriously...
Humourous and hip, What Women Really Want is a real treat
for both men and women alike. The series features a
succession of funny, charming and sassy female interviewees,
including the familiar faces of Ulrika Johnson and Jodie
Marsh, who generally agree that men are 'inexplicable
aliens' and who put together the complex jigsaw of...
Princess Martha Louise of Norway, a former international
show jumper, goes in search of great human-equestrian
partnerships that demonstrate the fascinating connection and
capacity for communication, between horse and man. Among
others, she meets the famous horse whisperer Monty Roberts,
the horse doctor Kelly Marks, the Paralympic Dressage Gold
Medallist, Lee Pearson and the blind rider...
He’s a 43-year-old happily married man and devoted
father. He’s also the transvestite potter from Essex who
won the prestigious British art award, the Turner prize. In
the fine art world, Grayson Perry has two unique selling
points. One is his expressive pottery and the other is
Claire. His transvestite alter ego is a regular...
Featuring the world’s slickest cars, the 3000-mile Gumball
rally is the year’s most high-octane event. In 2004 the
rally ventures into Africa via Paris and Madrid, shooting
through Marrakesh and back through Barcelona to finish in
Cannes. In 2005 it hits Eastern Europe, Italy and Monaco for
the F1 Grand Prix.
Percy Savage started fashion PR, introduced Saint-Laurent to
Dior, created the Mary Quant explosion, invented fashion
video and established London Fashion Week. This fascinating
documentary tells the story of his glittering career and
extraordinary influence on fashion, beauty and design.
Narrated by iconic model and actress Joanna Lumley, the film
features rare archive, exclusive footage, the...
African Diaries takes you on a journey to some of the most
luxurious resorts in the world - to places where the rich
and famous stand face to face with 'the Big Five'. Located
in the wildest corners of Africa, the places visited in this
extraordinary new series convey the impressive diversity of
the African...
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel has stood proudly on the
waterfront in the heart of Hong Kong for 40 years. It's one
of the best hotels in the world, but it's more than just a
hotel, it is Hong Kong, the vibrancy of the city is felt the
moment you walk through the doors.
Best selling...
Beer is by far and away the most popular alcoholic beverage
on the planet. Today, we down over 120 billion litres of the
stuff every year. Countless nations claim the ancient brew
as an intrinsic part of their culture and heritage, but
despite our continuing global love affair with beer and its
important place in...
This series investigates some of the 21st century plagues
that directly or indirectly affect us all at some point
during our lives. Presented by Dr Phil Hammond, Body Wars
investigates some of the world’s most common but costly
illnesses, including prostate cancer, manic depression,
asthma, GORD and heart disease.
Sul Ross State University is a small West Texas university
where rodeo rules, rather than football or basketball.
It’s a tiny school but unique, the place where college
rodeo began and where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo
Association was first formed more than 50 years ago. It has
won 8 national championships in the past 50...
Nearly 5 years in the making, and incorporating footage
spanning 19 years, one can say with unusual literalness that
DRAWING OUT THE DEMONS is about an artist’s journey. For
most of the 1990’s Attila worked in Berlin, where he lived
a wild lifestyle amongst Berlin’s gay underground.
Youthful, handsome, and with a clear sense of...
Well-known art critic Waldemar Januszczak explores the myths
behind and origins of some of the most famous and beautiful
paintings in the world. Who is the mysterious Mona Lisa, and
how did she come to feature in the most famous painting in
the world? What is the disturbing moral of Rembrandt's The
Anatomy Lesson of...
At the core of each episode of Family Secrets is an honest,
expressive and vulnerable individual who explores the
complexity of his or her family ties. The series explores a
range of modern family dynamics, showing viewers how family
units and individuals are affected by life-changing events.
Long before Jamie Oliver thoght about setting up his
restaurant to help disadvantaged children, an extraordinary
and humble man had already done so in Vietnam. This film
tells the story of Jimmy Pham, a Vietnamese-Australian, who
decided to do something to help the street kids of Hanoi by
setting up KOTO, a restaurant and training...
This series explores the degradation of the world's
grasslands, climate change on marine ecosystems, the
increased spread of infectious diseases and the relationship
between armed conflict and the environment.
A remarkable film revealing how 57,000 silent killers were
prised from the soil of South Lebanon in one of the
world’s most successful de-mining operations. In 2000,
thousands of people were able to return to their villages
for the first time in over 10 years. But within days their
dreams were once again shattered. Mines...
Animal House Secrets looks at an average suburban home owner
from the perspective of the pet, among the other creatures
who share, visit and borrow our kitchen, bedrooms and the
spaces in between. From the roof to the basement, Animal
House Secrets blends animal behaviour and environmental
science with a sense of humour as we...
Bear CSI takes two bear experts back to the crime scene of
four bear attacks to investigate what went wrong. Blending
expert interviews, stock footage, reenactments and special
effects with a forensic science approach, Bear CSI unravels
the mystery of bear attacks and teaches new lessons of a
fearsome animal.
Three teams, one goal: create a nutritious three-course meal
using only wild foods found in the woods. At the end of
the show, the three teams gather at a northern resort where
they prepare and enjoy their wild meal outside. Eating
Wild is ‘Survivor’ meets ‘Emerald’. Who knew nature
tasted so good?
Featuring exclusive footage of a species never before filmed
in the wild, Searching For A Monster chronicles an
incredible four year scientific quest to find and explore
one of nature's most reclusive, little-known creatures; the
Greenland Shark.
In the towering rain forests along the northern shores of
the Pacific, scientists recently discovered a new subspecies
of the gray wolf. Unlike its genetic kin anywhere else in
the world, this wolf swims, fishes for salmon and roams
great distances from island to inlet across both water and
rough terrain. Secrets of the Coast...
Massive in scale and scope, oceanic weather bombs are an
unpredictable and deadly force of nature to be reckoned
with. Blending storm science with an exhilarating and
dangerous adventure on the high seas, this is the study of
mother nature’s newest, most destructive power.
The Navajo people are the largest Native American nation
and, more than any other Indian nation of North America,
they have maintained their identity and values. Navajo
Springtime recounts their struggle to do this and celebrates
a people proud of its history, proud of its traditions and
proud to exist.
Rolls Royce cars – once things of utter beauty, the last
word in engineering, carriage of kings and aristocrats. But
now? Are they anything more than tawdry status symbols for
celebrities, bankers and plumbers?
This is the tale of Phantoms, Shadows and Ghosts; the rise
and fall of a great British Institution – a company...
This heartfelt and informative hour chronicles the Derks
family’s first year living with quintuplets, born
prematurely at 24 weeks, 3 days. After four long and
sometimes harrowing months in the hospital, the quintuplets
make the journey home to River Falls, Wisconsin. As
newcomers to town, the quintuplets, their six-year-old
sister and parents are greeted by an...
Two visually provocative programmes exploring underwater
marine life and phenomena. Rainforests of the Ocean examines
the creation of both the accidental and intentional
artificial reefs in Barbados, Bermuda and Qatar. Nomads of
the Ocean looks at the efforts being taken to protect the
nomadic lifestyles of marine turtles.
A look at American culture, particularly that of the
American South, through the food tradition known as
barbecue. Through ten subjects from five different states,
the film explores the history and heritage of this food from
its rural beginnings to its present day incarnation in
large-scale commercial organisations. Shot in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas...
A fly-on-the-wall documentary shot over a twelve-month
period which follows three engaging ‘vintage transport’
enthusiasts across the UK as they pursue their amazing and
eccentric interests, unleashing their very un-PC opinions on
the world. The storyline is structured into themed chapters,
in which the characters brilliantly express themselves on a
wide raft of issues, and deliver...
According to the Bible, The Ark of the Covenant was a box
which housed the two tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten
Commandments. An object of immense power - capable of laying
waste armies, of killing those who dared touch it in a flash
of sparks, and guaranteed victory to those who carried...
The British UFO Files reveals for the first time the secret
history of alien aircraft investigations led by the most
powerful forces within the British government. Featuring
eye-witness accounts by top ranking military personnel,
previously unseen top secret documentation and rare archive
footage, the film examines in detail a cache of information
ranging from the alleged...
Set in the sprawling urban capital of Buenos Aires, The
Cardboard Train is an amazing story of Argentinean culture
and the will to survive. This is a personal story of a young
girl and her family adapting to their newly impoverished
lives. Instead of commuting to the office, they travel by
train as a community...
At 15:30 on March 27th 2004, the seabed off south east
Cornwall changed forever and, after many years of planning,
the dream to turn an ex-Royal Navy warship into northern
Europe’s first diving reef had become a reality for the
team at the National Marine Aquarium. The Sinking of Scylla
follows the exciting and unique...
So often when prostitution is looked at, one group remains
largely invisible - the male clients who generate 99% of the
business. Why Men Pay For It breaks through this barrier and
asks - who are these men, and why do they do it? The
setting is contemporary Australia - the themes are
universal. The...
A visually entertaining documentary that takes you on a
gastronomic journey across centuries as you feast your eyes
on a lavish Chinese banquet and explore the lives of those
immersed in the art of Chinese cooking. 'A Chinese Feast'
probes the Chinese psyche for food, going back in time
thousands of years to track down...
A Girl, a Horse, a Dream documents how far one will go in
order to fulfil a childhood passion. This film follows
Bernadette Cooper, the top female jockey in Australia, and
her extraordinary battle to compete with men for victory in
Australia's richest races. It is a journey that is
unpredictable, euphoric, unnerving and intoxicating,...
In this intimate and personal portrait, we follow Paul, a
single, straight bus driver of 37, as he undergoes a gender
transition to begin living as a woman called Julia. At first
glance, Paul comes across as a regular, affable and blokey
man with a passion for racing cars and farming, but inside
it is...
The story of two 'half-caste' Aboriginal women – Zita, a
'stolen child', kidnapped and brought up as a 'whitefella',
and her 'aunty' Aggie, a traditional elder. We are given an
insight into their personal histories, and the comparison
between the ways they live. Front and centre is the
controversial question 'Would the stolen generation have
been...
Big Brother Africa is a fever that is infecting all of
sub-Saharan Africa, grabbing the attention of millions of
viewers and giving rise to passionate debate: ‘How is it
possible to broadcast the love stories of these young
housemates, their kisses, their talking about sex' – some
people are saying – 'in a continent where...
Narrated by award winning comedian Dawn French ('The Vicar
of Dibley'), this thought provoking film addresses a subject
matter rarely tackled: why do humans believe in a higher
power? By interviewing scientists, atheists and religious
leaders from diverse faiths, this groundbreaking documentary
explores the motivations of man to believe in something
bigger and more powerful than...
Meet the ladies who dominate some of the most powerful men
in Los Angeles. Dominatrix Diaries is a candid, intimate
portrait of six strong and fascinating women and their lives
beyond the dungeon doors. It's a whole alternative lifestyle
turning conventional ideas of pain, pleasure and sexuality
upside down. As Mistress Lisa says, 'Most women...
The first full-length biography of one of the world’s most
popular yet controversial artists, this epic documentary
follows the Paul Gauguin through countless twists and turns
in a remarkable life that takes him from an idyllic and
forgotten childhood in Peru to an horrific and notorious
death on the Marquesas Islands.
Gauguin is best known...
What happens when a bunch of clean living Christians hit the
notorious party island of Ibiza for a summer of love - Jesus
style? 'God Bless Ibiza' follows a team of passionate
young Christian clubbers who spend the summer in Ibiza
trying to bring the love of Jesus to the hedonistic tourists
on Europe's clubbing...
Marking the 50th Anniversary of the supposedly safe
sedative, Mat Fraser, Britain’s best-known thalidomide
explores the history of thalidomide and travels to Brazil to
meet the new generation of thalidomides – children and
young adults whose mothers were given the drug long after it
was withdrawn for use in the West.
Ice Girls follows the trials and tribulations of three
élite young figure skaters – Canadian Keyla Ohs and UK
skaters Jennifer Holmes and Vikki Hodges – as they pursue
their dreams of one day being the girl who picks roses off
the ice and ascends the Olympic podium. Shot over three
years, Ice Girls paints...
On a vast salt lake surrounded by red earth, world-renowned
sculptor Antony Gormley embarks on a sculptural installation
that awakens a small Goldfields town in remote Western
Australia. Inside Australia, Gormley's most ambitious work
to date, consists of 51 extraordinary sculptures standing
silently in the hot desert wind, capturing a moment in time.
The installation celebrates...
Presented by leading journalist and Britain’s longest-held
hostage in Lebanon, John McCarthy, It Ain’t Necessarily So
is an enlightening series which questions biblical
assumptions and looks at new archaeological issues
challenging the whole story of biblical Israel.
Kai Ora brings to the world a glimpse of Maori culture and
lifestyle never seen before. Featuring Anne Thorp, New
Zealand’s Maori Queen of Cuisine, the show is filmed in
Auckland City and the beautiful and exclusive Pakiri Beach.
Each show features fantastic food, a hot-pot of home-grown
music and famous guests – from 'The...
Brian Haw, a 53-year-old father of seven, left his family
home in Birmingham in June 2001 and moved to the pavement at
Parliament Square, London. He is still there now. His aim
was to protest against the sanctions imposed on Iraq. Brian
has now lived rough opposite the Houses of Parliament for
over two years,...
Love for Sale follows the highs and lows of the clients,
girls and madams of two brothels in Nevada. Madam Kitty's
Cathouse and the Moonlight Bunny Ranch are on the outskirts
of Carson City, Nevada - the only state in the US where
prostitution is legal. Schooled in the ar t of a sale,...
From pimp to politician, from celebrity 'guru' to vilified
murderer, Michael X was Britain's most notorious and
flamboyant Black Power leader. This is a tale that spans the
sixties and seventies - years of turbulent social change in
Britain - which were as much about race as 'flower power'
and sexual liberation. 'Michael X' is...
A Kosova Australian Boy, Selmon Beha, is beckoned back to
Kosova for his brother’s arranged Muslim wedding. What has
happened to that war-torn country since Selmon was last
there, 16 years ago? Have Selmon’s parents returned to
Kosova to feel more comfortable with their Muslim faith, at
a time when more and more international hysteria...
After graduating from university, Chloe and Dalia move to
Japan to work as hostesses in Tokyo’s infamous red-light
district, making a film of their escapades. They earn good
money to talk, flirt and get drunk with Japanese businessmen
in the same area where English hostess Lucie Blackman was
killed. When Chole's sister Kat comes to...
450 miles from the North Pole stands Horizontal Everest, the
mountainous jewel of the remote north. It boasts the
highest peaks of the Western Hemisphere, east of the
Rockies. While many have climbed vertical Everest, only
explorer Jerry Kobalenko has climbed Horizontal Everest.
Using exclusive photography, Kobalenko shares this world of
enchanted beauty as we travel...
The Pacific coast of North America is the largest laboratory
on earth where on-going studies into the state of the Killer
Whale reveal startling new information about the oceans we
inhabit. Killer in Peril is a sobering report on our
planet’s heath told from the unique perspective of an
extraordinary animal.
This is the story of Nature’s Extreme Machine. We study
the beavior of the Beaver from Argentina to Alberta and
reveal insights into the role Beavers play in a larger
ecosystem.
This is the story of how the coyote - at once revered and
reviled - has learned to adapt across diverse landscapes.
While grizzlies and wolves narrowly missed extinction, the
coyote has earned its status today as top dog.
In the exotic tundra of eastern Siberia a bizarre Canadian
experiment is delivering extraordinary natural and human
dividends. Featuring original footage of Muskox in the
Siberian Badlands, The Soviet Muskox is the epic journey of
the returning Muskox and the secret world into which they
were placed and includes the dramatic new discovery of the
spectacular...
This the exciting story of how scientists employ cutting
edge technology on land, sea and in the air,
to study the natural environment in amazing and heretofore
impossible ways.
The dugong, the animal that is believed to have spawned the
famous legend of the mermaid, is now the most endangered
mammal in East Africa. In this documentary, Daniel Prior, a
young filmmaker, travels with two close friends to the
remote and beautiful Lamu archipelago, the tip of Kenya's
most northern coast, where they embark...
A fascinating 200-year journey through the history of
British interior design, 'No 57: The History of a House',
examines how design has affected one Georgian house and its
inhabitants in Bristol, from when it was first built in 1779
right up to the present day. Throughout the series,
presenter Maxwell Hutchinson, a former president of...
'Paranormal Files' is a series which examines extraordinary
stories that have happened to ordinary people. Some of these
events include one of the most controversial cases recorded
in the UK - the alien abduction of a former police officer,
since the officer took a photograph of his abductor. There
is the uncanny appearance of crop...
This observational series documents the British troops who
have been on a NATO peacekeeping regiment in Bosnia for over
a decade, highlighting the real low-down of their duties.
Most soldiers find their tours of duty a difficult
combination of boredom, danger and incomprehension and their
feelings have been captured openly on camera.
The Army knows the...
Uncovering shocking foreign office communications and using
fascinating footage never seen on television before, this
documentary shows how British double-dealing during the
First World War ignited the conflict between Arabs and Jews
in the Middle East.
This is a story of intrigue among rival empires; of
misguided strategies; and of how conflicting promises to
Arabs and Jews...
In the ghettos of New York lies the largest Sunday school in
America. Led by Pastor Bill Wilson and attended by up 20,000
kids a week, its services are far from what we may imagine
Sunday school to be like. This compelling documentary
follows the controversial, maverick preacher who drives
frenetic services which include hip-hop...
In one of the most highly acclaimed television series of
recent times, the inimitable Brian Sewell, Britain's most
famous and best-loved art critic and historian, makes the
pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. His remarkable
journey is at turns moving and hilarious. It is an
exploration of art and religious belief which takes Sewell
by boat, car...
The Bradshaws are possibly the oldest known cave paintings
of humans in the world. Found in the beautiful Kimberley
region of Australia and hidden from the outside world for
thousands of years, these are sophisticated and graceful
drawings, depicting highly decorated figures adorned with
tassels, delicate jewellery and elaborate headdresses.
This film follows the 25-year crusade...
Most sensible humans avoid extreme weather conditions if
possible, but surfers long for the cyclone season which
brings wild storms and thrilling waves. This gripping
documentary follows world famous American surf tracker Mike
Perry, whose lifelong obsession with global wave activity
has earned him a reputation for forecasting the greatest
waves around the globe for the...
In the dead of night in March 1945, almost seventy desperate
young German prisoners of war tunnelled from a camp in
Bridgend in Wales and escaped over the sand dunes. The film
follows the fate of the POWs, many of them committed Nazis,
as they were tracked by armed soldiers, the Home Guard,
dogs, local...
Sir Stanley Clarke, a former plumber, made a vast fortune
through property development. Fighting off cancer at
sixty-eight, he bought Dunstall Hall, a country home set in
twelve and a half thousand acres of Staffordshire
countryside, where his mother worked as a maid.
The Hall has been neglected over the last few decades and,
determined to...
This is the extraordinary story of disabled actor Mat Fraser
and his journey into the brutal world of Ultimate Fighting.
Mat has short arms but will not make this disability stop
him. At the age of 41, Mat decides it is time to put himself
on the line and have a competitive fight. The...
Beijing Swings explores some of the most dark and disturbing
art in the world today, from a performance where an artist
eats a stillborn baby, and grafts some of his own skin to a
huge piece of pork, to a column made of human fat, and
photographic diary of a woman's menstruation.
The investigation of...
With ETA terrorist activity continuing to plague the Spanish
tourist centres in the summer of 2003, a timely and
fascinating film about a remarkable young man, Borja Semper,
a 25 year-old politician in a northern Spanish town near to
San Sebastian. As the youngest councillor in the country, Mr
Semper faces daily risk and danger....
Follow the separate journeys of two captive polar bears, as
they travel from their northern hemisphere homes to Sea
World, on the Gold Coast of Australia. Drawing upon years of
experience in the care and exhibition of marine mammals, Sea
World took on their most ambitious project when they set out
to create a living...
In 1976, after battling with blatant sexism within the
monastic order, British born Tenzin Palmo isolated herself
in a remote Himalayan cave engaging in twelve years of
Buddhist meditation. She faced unimaginable cold, wild
animals, near-starvation and avalanches. Her goal was to
gain enlightenment as a woman. Now a globe-trotting
fundraiser, she is battling to build...
Hugh is preparing for his first Christmas at River Cottage.
He has decorated the bay tree with fairy lights, harvested
the sprouts from the vegetable garden and his Gloucester Old
Spot pig is now a festive ham. Top of his Christmas list is
a goose, but before Hugh can purchase his Christmas lunch he
needs...
During the 1967 Six Day War, Israel attacked the USS
Liberty, an American spy ship. Israel has always claimed
this was a tragic accident based on mistaken identification,
while the ship's survivors maintain that the attack was
intentional. This film reveals the full story of collusion
and cover-up for the first time, and shows how...
The double jeopardy law is intended to protect the innocent
from unfair harassment and persecution. Sometimes it
protects the guilty as well. This programme follows the case
of Mel Ignatow who was tried and acquitted for the rape and
murder of Brenda Schaefer. Photographic evidence a year
later is discovered that points to Mel Ignatow's...
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's dream of escaping the city
sprawl and all its stresses and downshifting into rural
Dorset is finally realised when he arrives at River Cottage
in his 1960s Ford Corsair convertible. His year-long
experiment, living off the fat of the land, and the sweat of
his brow, involves a steep learning curve…and a lot...
Favourite Body Parts is a celebration of what we find
attractive about each other. It is a journey of discovery -
a journey to find out what really turns us on and why...
Sometimes poignant, often humorous but always revealing,
Favourite Body Parts uncovers the truth about our erogenous
zones and explores the reasons behind...
Where violence and criminals strike, local law enforcement
responds, but sometimes help is required. This is when they
bring in the specialists - the CIRG. FBI Critical Incident
covers the crisis negotiation unit in action with three edge
of the seat one-hour case studies.
Louisiana Prison Riots
Texas Railroad Killer
Profiler Drug Warfare
Flash looks at the lives of a group of very rich
cosmopolitan young people with roots right around the world.
The three documentaries lift the lid on the little known or
understood lives of some extremely wealthy young people to
reveal their day-to-day existence and their attitudes to
privilege and to making money. They tell...
Future Sex finds out who's doing what, how they do it, why
they do it and questions if the rest of us should be doing
it too. Presenter Amory Peart embarks on a personal journey
to track down the people who are mapping out our sexual
destiny in five programmes including Technology, Fetish,
Gender, The...
Think of Barcelona and you think of Gaudi – the spooky
gothic shapes of the Casa Battlo, the seaweed balconies of
La Pedrera and above all, the unfinished masterpiece that is
La Sagrada Familia. The genius who dreamed up all these
fantasies was a reclusive eccentric who rarely and
reluctantly left his native Catalonia. Gaudi's...
Graffiti Limbo offers unique insight into what may be the
ultimate expression of public art. Graffiti is a vibrant
combination of art and urban dissent that emerged from the
streets and inspired artists such as Keith Haring and Jean
Michel Basquiat. It is one of the few art forms where
artists face arrest and even...
Planes, trains, and penicillin... plastics, lasers,
computers and the World Wide Web - collectively, they stand
as the greatest set of innovations to grace the last hundred
years, fundamentally improving how we communicate, travel,
heal and explore our world. 'Greatest Inventors' is a two
part special that profiles the geniuses who produced these
and other remarkable...
A seasoned traveller, John McCarthy loves nothing more than
visiting spectacular places. His companion for the series,
Paul the Apostle was also a traveller, frequently
criss-crossing the Mediterranean in search of new converts
to the faith of Jesus Christ. This series follows John
around the Mediterranean by land and sea, into ports,
tranquil villages and bustling...
In 1997, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor was the
scene of the brutal murder of 58 tourists. When the Islamic
fundamentalist group Al Gamaa al Islamiya claimed
responsibility and the Egyptian government quickly drew a
veil over the incident, many relatives were left with
unanswered questions regarding their lost family.
This documentary follows the...
This is the story of three white British women that have
decided to convert to Islam. After the terrorist attacks on
the United States, these women could not have chosen a more
difficult time to become Muslims but they are 100% committed
to their cause. The film examines why these women have
chosen to convert...
In a tomb located in Jerusalem's Hell Valley, on land bought
with Judas Iscariot's bloodstained silver, a sensational
discovery has been made. Vital information has been
uncovered to paint a picture of what Jesus' grave would have
looked like and what his burial process involved. One of the
key moments in Christian history is made...
No one has ever found a bowhead whale that died of old
age. Biologists share their new research techniques as
they confirm that bowhead’s may live longer than 200
years. We also join Alaskan Inupiat on a traditional hunt
to discover new insights about the planet's eldest statesman
In the winter of 2001, a team of high altitude balloonists
embarked on a rare and dangerous expedition over the
world’s largest in-land sea – the Hudson Bay. Polar
Safari is an adventure across virtually uncharted territory,
rarely seen at this time of year and never traversed before
by balloon. Along the way, the team...
The North American west was once a wild horse dominion. In
fact, as late as the 19th century, huge herds roamed the
prairies alongside the buffalo. Today, only a few hundred
remain wild. In captivity they literally will themselves to
die. We photograph that rare sight of a wild mustang
running free.
Being a runway model is every girl's dream… But is it
every boy's? Pretty Boys goes behind-the-scenes of the
catwalks and editorial shoots of male models. This gripping
documentary brings us up close and personal with many
beautiful men and the fashion world that consumes them.
Filmed candidly, it explores the lives of models at
different...
In an attempt to generate some hard cash, Hugh rents the
field over the river, installs a poly-tunnel to grow
vegetables for the market and buys a cow and a sheep to join
his pigs and chickens. But his aim of self-sufficiency is
knocked when his hay crop is devastated by rain and the
tomatoes...
The start of his third year at River Cottage finds Hugh
happily ensconced with pregnant sheep and fattened pigs but
as ever cash is in short supply. His long-term plan is to
produce the ultimate free-range roasting chicken, but once
that is set in motion with the purchase of three varieties
of hen and an...
From the perilous origins of Himalayan mountaineering, and
the first expeditions to utilise the unique strengths of the
Sherpa tribe, this fascinating film takes the viewer through
the arduous training programme of the Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute and the extraordinary young women
who strive to become a part of the backbone of modern -day
high-altitude expeditions. Featuring...
Autism is a condition that can leave one child mildly
impaired and another totally lost in a nether world. It is a
neurological disorder that affects the central nervous
system. It affects communication and language skills:
speech, touch, and hand eye co-ordination… 'Stranger in
the Family' looks at the efforts made at a special school...
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has moved on from his three year
experiment as a smallholder at River Cottage, but in this
series of themed programmes he looks back at all he learned
in those three years. Using archive from three series and
specially shot links, Hugh shows how, while having the time
of his life, he also...
Millionaire Mary-Anne Kenworthy is a woman of many titles:
Mother, Rotarian, Entrepreneur and Brothel Madam. However,
she is mostly known for owning two of the largest illegal
brothels in Western Australia. This intriguing and humorous
exposé of the sex industry follows Mary-Anne on her quest
to launch an online brothel, and her crusade to
decriminalise prostitution.
After...
Intense and riveting, with real life footage, this programme
is a tense and harrowing study of the negotiation process
where life hangs in the balance. Cliff Van Zandt, Chief
Negotiator with the FBI, explains the psychology behind his
nerve-wracking skill. When the FBI began to scientifically
study and teach the art of negotiation, Van Zandt...
Rock Bitch is a group of female musicians who live in a sex
commune. The girls see themselves as striking a blow for
women everywhere, and they are doing it through the medium
of rock music – in the nude. The band was formed in a
converted monastery in France where there is a...
Jeffrey Archer's novels are published in 118 languages. He
has just signed a new contract for £10 million for 3 new
books. Not bad for a man who has recently completed a
lengthy jail sentence for perjury. With unique testimony
from friends, lovers, ex-friends, ex-lovers and even the odd
enemy, the film charts the story...
This poignant film examines the lives of people who suffer
from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Behavioural characteristics include severe distractibility,
impulsivity and hyperactivity. Diagnosis has proved
controversial as most sufferers are diagnosed when young and
treatment is for life. Filmed in New Zealand, the programme
shows the reality of dealing with children so difficult they
can...
A photographer's journey across Africa. Rich and ancient
cultures, unique flora and fauna, scenic wonders and immense
silent landscapes combine to create a tapestry of great
diversity disturbed only by the passing of many animals and
a few privileged visitors. From the central Kalahari desert
in Botswana to the lush Sabi Sand Reserves of South...
A series that examines the lives, legends, and heritage of
the first twelve men chosen by Jesus. Some of them, like
Peter and Judas, are instantly recognisable but others, like
Thaddeus and Bartholomew, are more obscure. The series
unpacks the known facts about them, and follows up the many
legends that surround their deeds. A...
In the wake of September 11, the possibility of biological
weapons being used as a terrorist attack has become a
reality. 'Bioterrorism - The Truth' examines whether it
could happen, how it would be executed and what we can do to
protect ourselves from the consequences. Interviews include
the Pentagon Chief of Biological Defence and...
An incredible series that explains how the bodies of murder
victims can tell stories that can help to catch their
killers. An astonishing variety of gruesome clues left on
the body help give specific information that leads
investigators towards the killer. The pattern of wounds, the
contents of the stomach, the degree of decomposition, even
the...
Diana: Story of a Princess is the first major documentary
series on television about the life story of Diana, Princess
of Wales.
Divorce provokes twisted stories. As this series makes
clear, in the destructive phase of their marriage, Princess
Diana and Prince Charles allowed, and in some cases caused,
biased accounts to be published. Because...
New technological developments are helping to propel the
human race into the future. This series looks at different
aspects of human existence and the effect of technologies
such as automation, space travel, artificial intelligence
and robots.
At the end of the Second World War, ten thousand prisoners
of war waited for liberation by the advancing Russian Red
Army. The Nazis dashed these hopes and forced the prisoners
to march out of Stalag Luft III in the dead of winter toward
the centre of the collapsing Third Reich. This is an
extraordinary...
This is the story of Ernie Paerata: former prison officer,
soldier and poet. A man who had an unblemished personal
history until 10 years ago, when he suffered a mental
breakdown. In 1991 Ernie Paerata was caught at Bangkok
Airport with 425 grams of heroin. He began a thirty year
sentence in Klong Prem, one...
Broadmoor is Britain's most notorious hospital prison for
the criminally insane, whose infamous inmates have included
Ronnie Kray and 'Yorkshire Ripper' Peter Sutcliffe.
Currently Broadmoor houses 400 of the most difficult,
disturbed and dangerous people in Britain. With material
from inside the hospital, this film offers a unique insight
into how a civilised society treats those...
This series explores the world of forensic and clinical
psychology. By examining the processes undertaken by police,
criminal specialists and psychologists, the programmes
attempt to understand the workings of the criminal mind.
Each episode focuses on an area related to criminal
behaviour including hostage taking and false confessions.
The programmes also examine the genetic research that
attempts...
The sea otter's deft aquatic acrobatics are truly befitting
of nature's prima ballerina. After a century of extinction
on Canada's remote West Coast, the sea otter's
re-introduction into the wild has forced it to share the
stage with another species that dances to a different tune.
Three of the world's leading experts share their intimate
understanding of wolf behavior. John and Mary Theberge and
Michael Runtz have spent a lifetime studying wolves and in
particular, wolf language. Against the magnificent natural
backdrop of one of the worlds greatest parks, we learn the
nuances of wolf language and, in turn, perhaps better
understand...
This is the story of studying Mars on Earth at Devon Island,
the largest uninhabited island in the world located 500
kilometres southwest of the Magnetic North Pole. Devon
Island is an analogue to Mars which has made it extremely
interesting to NASA. Mars on Earth follows the largest
scientific mission on Earth known as...
The untold story of an American civil rights hero. Fred
Korematsu's bold decision to resist the forced internment of
Japanese Americans during World War II illustrates the power
of ordinary citizens to defy injustice. His arrest and
conviction, the constitutional issues raised by his Supreme
Court case, and his ultimate vindication 39 years later
stand as...
An intimate story about the tragic use of rape as a weapon
of war told through the personal stories of three young
girls who were abducted, taken to be "rebel wives," sex
slaves, domestic servants and combatants held for many years
against their will; and one boy abducted to be a child
combatant.
WITNESS filmmakers...
In a Church in Rome is a piece of wood believed to have been
brought back by Helena, mother of the first Christian
Emperor, Constantine. It is clearly inscribed with the
remains of the line, 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'.
This is a fascinating detective story, about a small walnut
headboard, which it...
The cultural heritage of Latin American countries is
inseparable from its music. Each country is steeped in its
own history. Its music is distinctive and infectious. The
series takes us on a fascinating journey through the
development of Latin America's most popular form of culture
- its music. From Cuba and the Salsa to Columbia...
This series investigates notorious murders and heists
through their location. Each house, field or riverbank where
a crime is committed is a repository for information for the
police and historians who review famous killings or
notorious robberies. By using archives, contemporary
newspaper reports and photographs, the present day
investigators are able to revisit the crime for...
No longer stigmatized, today's singles are a new breed who
are re-making love and re-writing courtship rituals. In the
richly textured social fabric of today's singles, lonely
hearts have been replaced by free spirits. Cutting across
age, race, gender and sexual orientation, Singles examines
the real life ins and outs of single life. Meet the...
With the phenomenal rise of House music – the millennium's
new rock 'n' roll – clubs have become the new Meccas of
decadence and DJs have become heroes. These slick, overpaid
creatures live life to the max, travelling to club capitals
such as the party isle of Ibiza on a regular basis.
This series follows...
James Pittar is blind. He is also a long distance swimmer.
In his amazing career he has swum across the English Channel
and taken on sharks and oil tankers. When the reality hit
James that he was going blind, he hid in his bedroom for two
years – his fate was particularly cruel since...
Set in Croatia after the Balkan war, The Boy Who Rushed is
the intimate story of a filmmaker searching for her brother
Ivor who went missing whilst in action. Featuring interviews
and footage shot during the war, the film is a personal and
revealing account of how civilians cope. The story unfolds
and after looking...
Thousands of tonnes of explosives are manufactured and used
in Europe each year. This series takes the lid off the
explosives industry, and the lives of the men and women who
blow things up for a living. High-octane viewing guaranteed!
This documentary takes a highly entertaining look at the
science of laughter. Join a panel of psychologists,
neuroscientists, doctors and other special guests to find
out if humour can be used to make us healthier. The Laugh
Factor explores the causes, physical effects and benefits of
laughter, merging scientific experiments with light-hearted
comic entertainment.
The ‘mysterious...
The Teacher takes the viewer on a colourful and reflective
journey revealing the rich teachings of the Dalai Lama set
against the dramatic backdrop of the Himalayas. Dharamsala,
North India, has been the home-in-exile for His Holiness the
14th Dalai Lama since 1960. The programme features archive
footage of the 1959 uprising in Lhasa, Tibet...
In this travel series to remote and out-of-the-way places,
the viewer is taken to places where no tourist ever cares to
go, with the guide taking a back seat. The first two
episodes journey to the more remote parts of Turkey, Iran
and Pakistan.
The many places and people visited include the Underground
Cities of Cappadocia,...
Uncovering Skin is a fascinating journey inside the human
body's largest and heaviest organ. From a five year old girl
who can have no contact with the sun to a runner who cannot
sweat, the film shows how crucial skin is to our survival
and just how much we take it for granted.
A series that gets under the skin of a culture most of us
couldn't face. This is Vets in Practice on speed. It's an
arresting fly-on-the-wall series featuring the hassled vets,
demanding pet owners and exotic animals of Hong Kong. The
series features the SPCA Hong Kong - one of the largest and
busiest veterinary...
Set in Florida, this series follows detective and law
enforcement agencies that specialise in different areas of
marine crime. Stories run parallel throughout the series and
are intercut with various different types of marine crime
and detection. With a high volume of marine traffic, the
Florida marine patrols encounter piracy, drug smuggling,
illegal alien smuggling, illegal...
This is the story of the critical Eastern Line of the
Underground Railroad and the role it played in the 19th
Century anti-slavery movement in America. This film focuses
on the collaboration between white Quaker Abolitionist
Thomas Garrat and William Still and chronicles their efforts
to help thousands of fugitives to freedom with the help...
This programme tells the dramatic story of the race to map
and decode every gene in the human body and what this means
for the future of medicine. The winners of this race will
hold the blueprint to eradicate deadly diseases, manipulate
genetic make-up and uncover genetic flaws at the embryo
stage of life. With...
The celebration of Makar Sankranti in Ahmedabad is more than
just a festival, it is a social phenomenon that reaches deep
into the heart of a city and reveals something profound
about their culture. Every year as the sun enters the star
sign of Capricorn, celebrations in a region of western India
are marked by...
Dhuway is the story about the first land claim in the
history of Queensland and it depicts a history of holocaust,
diaspora, survival and, at last, a homecoming. Generations
ago the Yiidhuwarra people were removed from their native
lands. In 1993, the people presented their case to have
their lands returned. The hearings were emotional...
We follow the plight of Duma Kumalo as he is wrongly
convicted of murder, spends time on death row, and is
finally granted a reprieve moments before he is to hang. A
harrowing account of human suffering and as he says, 'facing
death is hard, but facing life after facing death is
harder'.
A young New Yorker's extraordinary journey into the culture
and way of life of one of the original peoples of Africa. It
is also the story of the Hadzabe, a unique and ancient
culture under siege. It's an adventure programme but also an
unromanticised look at the effects of the first world on
Africa. The...
Commissioned by the BBC as a landmark for the end of the
20th century, Indian Journeys looks at some of the great
spiritual journeys of India's past and shows how they have
influenced the country. These ambitious journeys are
familiar territory for the presenter William Dalrymple,
whose best-selling books about China, The Middle East, and
particularly...
Jaffa La Mienne is a poignant story of one of the most
beautiful and least known towns of the Mediterranean. The
film treads in the footsteps of the historic families of the
town of Jaffa – the Gargours, the Araktingis – who once
possessed land and orange trees, and who live today in
exile, in...
One thousand years ago on the banks of the Limpopo River
existed Southern Africa's first city, which traded gold and
ivory with the Arabs, Indians and Chinese. In this film
archaeologists and historians follow a thousand years of
untold African history revealing the controversial discovery
of this ancient site and its golden artefacts.
In Canada, more people are killed or injured in vehicular
collisions with moose than by all other wildlife species
combined. In Newfoundland, where moose densities are the
highest in the world, there is proof that it is indeed
Canada’s most dangerous animal.
Numbering less than three hundred, The Northern Right Whale
is the world's most endangered whale species. Every summer
half the population migrates into the Bay of Fundy where,
although whaling is long gone, fishing still poses a deadly
threat to the future of the species.
From the high Arctic, to the Columbia ice fields, from the
Yukon's Mount Logan, to the Pacific coast, the glaciers of
Canada are the planet's most diverse frozen repository of
secrets, telling the tale of our past, present and future in
magnificent detail.
The Thelon Game Sanctuary, located hundreds of kilometers
north of the tree line, is a boreal oasis that should not
exist. Rich with wildlife unparalleled on the Arctic
barrens, it is both one of the world's oldest and largest
wildlife preserves and in First Nation's legends revered as
the place where God began.
Oriental Focus conveys the essence of Eastern reality,
artistry and grace, through its vivid colours and gentle
tones, its sensitivity and strength, its talents and
timelessness. This series shows Asia more deeply through the
beauties of its cultures, its breadth of thought and its
dignified philosophies of life.
This is the story of a group of enthusiastic amateurs who
form a race team to compete in the GT Championship – a
high profile, televised series that supports the British
Grand Prix. It is a David and Goliath story about undaunted
determination pitted against money, innovation against
effortlessness, inexperience against professionalism.
Starting from scratch, they...
A highly entertaining series investigating all aspects of
the pornography industry and contemporary attitudes to
commercial sex and censorship. The series begins with a
one-hour special introductory programme which visits Van
Nuys, California to go behind the scenes at Vivid Video, the
MGM of hardcore pornography and home of the hottest girls in
the business, the...
Hot on the high heels of the first series comes a further
look at the international sex industry that delves deep into
the issue of exploitation. This series is as controversial
and entertaining as the first, featuring contributions from
academics, libertarians, MPs, and leading producers and
performers of hardcore pornography from around the globe.
The first...
Dr. Hennie Roos is a highly controversial plastic surgeon in
South Africa. Working at the forefront of medical
innovation, he has chosen to cut a high profile figure for
himself. Never before has a medical practitioner allowed
such an intimate look into his life and practice. Skin Deep
is the stuff of which movies are...
This series features Betty, the London bus that has
travelled the world. Six twenty-somethings are faced with
the challenge of taking the bus from London via Canada to
Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost point of South America,
the freezing Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego. As the crew
experience the highs and lows of travelling and...
This landmark series explores the frontiers of surgery -
past, present and future. Modern surgery is among the most
sophisticated engineering ever undertaken. The human body is
the most complex machine known to man and maintaining it is
our most ambitious project. Contains contributions from the
world's leading surgeons, doctors and scientists and the
patients who...
'Wildlife Sanctuary' discovers seven different animal havens
whose workers have a passion for rescuing animals and
nursing them back to health. The series covers a wide range
of animals from abandoned seal pups to neglected horses and
hedgehogs.
UK Raw is an outrageous, often hilarious programme
concerning real people and their fetishes. In each episode,
the audience is shown four rather bizarre and in some
instances sexy films. These films are then discussed in an
open forum, with the presenters probing the audience for
their views on what they have seen, gauging their...
An exciting fly on the wall look at a real life Accident and
Emergency ward. This is an intriguing mix of human emotions
and medical mayhem. Accident and emergency professionals
share joy and sorrow as they battle to save lives and
overcome life threatening situations. High drama is combined
with everyday cases which divert doctors...
Amazons in Saris is one filmmaker’s journey to the heart
of Patna, a remote province of India, where caste system
violence prevails and where a band of women are arming
themselves in resistance. The Dalits are a people that have
been oppressed throughout the ages and dominated by the
landed or ‘upper’ classes. The film...
Heathrow airport's Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) is the
largest in the world. With the capacity to hold hundreds of
animals at any one time, it's the channel through which over
a thousand different species pass each year. This docu-soap
follows the everyday workings of the AQS as they interact
with every animal story, from fashionable...
According to the world's scientists, sea level rise is
'arguably one of the world's most important potential
impacts of global climate change'. This documentary explores
two remote regions of the world, the Marshall Islands and
the Arctic. It investigates the problems of climate change
from the perspective of these two environmentally threatened
cultures.
Bioterror tells the chilling story of how scientific
advances in germ warfare are fast outstripping the science
of detection and prevention, threatening nations all over
the world. The film is a grim reminder that germ warfare is
no longer just a futuristic nightmare, it's a very real
danger to all of us.
A documentary on the life and work of maverick
cinematographer, Chris Doyle. This film showcases Doyle's
work using footage from his films such as Gus Van Sant's
remake of Psycho. The film contains fascinating shots of
Hong Kong street life in the city that Doyle has come to
love and call his home and draw...
The Moorish invasion of Spain from across the Straits of
Gibraltar in 700AD dramatically shaped the culture, the
science, the astronomy, the gastronomy, the agriculture,
religion and civilisation of Europe. It is from Gibraltar
that Floyd begins a journey that takes him from the Pillars
of Hercules, the gateway to the Mediterranean, through to
the alluvial...
This fly-on-the-wall documentary shows what happens when six
troubled teenagers board an old fishing boat and set sail
for Australia's wildest coasts for the adventure of a
lifetime.
The lives of Mark, Narelle, Troy, Josh, Amanda and Kody are
filled with family strife, drugs, alcohol, homelessness,
abuse, but they all have to crowd into a small...
A major award-winning series looking at environmental
issues. Rivers of Destiny journeys to four major river
systems of the world to investigate the environmental
problems of those whose lives depend upon the health of
their river. The Urban Explosion explores a major dilemma of
the 21st Century: how to sustain the world's exploding urban
population without...
Fifty years ago, pet shop owner Molly Badham spotteda monkey
in a rival shop's window, sparking a life-long crusade. Now
her shop has evolved into one of the largest zoos in the UK,
with an international reputation for breeding success in
endangered primates. Molly, now in her eighties, is still
very much at the helm....
Dog Of The Midnight Sun, is the story of an icon, the
Canadian Inuit Dog; from ancient roots in the Arctic as the
working sled dog of the Inuit to its confrontation with
modern technological society and sadly, it's potential
demise as a species.
Wandering along a misty creek bed in northwestern British
Columbia, appears a pure white bear the Tsimshian First
Nation calls, the 'Ghost Of The Rain Forest'. But this
ghost is real; one of the rarest animals on earth, and one
of the rarest experiences in nature.
As Beijing celebrated half a century of Communist rule,
America and China were once again confronting each other
over Taiwan. This fascinating documentary includes
interviews with Nixon, Kissinger and the other main players.
Produced by an award-winning production team, 'Playing the
China Card' tells the story of the two nations' stormy
relationship over the last fifty...
The Lovers' Guide™ is the number one selling international
brand on sex and relationships. Acclaimed for over a decade
as the acceptable face of sexuality, it combines compelling
frankness and accessibility with reliability and authority.
With its uniquely sensual and refreshing approach to every
aspect of sex, The Lovers' Guide™ aims to provide
reliable, comprehensive and...
This series documents the work of a very special wildlife
rescue centre where the helpers are dedicated to the rescue,
treatment and shelter of injured or orphaned wild animals
and their rehabilitation back to the wild. The
'fly-on-the-wall' style of the series is filmed with urgency
and energy.
Keith Floyd takes a rest from his kitchen and dedicates some
time to his favourite hobby as he sets off to explore the
wine regions of France. Keith is interested in seeing the
local beauty spots, learning the history, meeting the
people, eating the local produce, and above all, tasting the
wine!
This culinary adventure traverses the frozen arctic
wastelands of Lapland, crosses Sweden and Denmark, heads to
Norway's majestic fjords, and concludes in Greenland. From
herring fillets with dill and parsley to smoked loin of pork
in cherry sauce, Scandinavian cuisine is brought vividly to
life.
An investigation into the greatest man-made structures of
all time, exploring how new materials and construction
techniques have allowed engineers, builders and architects
to work to the limits of their ability. The series focuses
on the buildings that re-wrote the rulebook, and the
architects, engineers and builders who made the impossible
possible.
Fairytales can be seen as a way of understanding philosophy.
A typical fairy tale such as Little Red Riding Hood can be
interpreted in many ways. These extended metaphors stimulate
the imagination to create awareness in life.
A mind opening series showing footage of human experiences
never before seen on television. In four carefully monitored
experiments, volunteers take powerful hallucinogenic or
narcotic substances and the viewer sees the actual effects
in real time. The substances are all legal and come from
plants with a rich cultural history, plants that have been
used historically...
Meet Jim Charlesworth - professor, entrepreneur and Dead Sea
Scroll Hunter. A man convinced that a large number of the
scrolls have yet to come to light, and that he, like a
modern-day Indiana Jones can track them down. He is not
alone in his quest. Other scroll hunters, archaeologists,
scholars and scientists, share his...
A serious yet quirky exploration into the mystery of a
treacherous mother and daughter act who trick lonely old men
into appointing them as beneficiaries in their wills. The
story unearths a legacy of crime dating back over forty
years.
This series is at the cutting edge of science and technology
and shows the future as it will touch the lives of us all.
Shot around the world with the leading experts in their
field, 'Innovators' is informative, authoritative and
captivating. Programmes include Gene Genius, The Mysteries
of Sleep, Fighting Fat, and The Human Brain.
Brain...
This series is at the cutting edge of science and
technology and shows the future as it will touch the lives
of us all. Shot around the world with the leading experts in
their field, 'Innovators' is informative, authoritative and
captivating. Programmes include Gene Genius, The Mysteries
of Sleep, Fighting Fat, and The Human Brain.
Brain...
This absorbing series follows fifteen people who have
plastic surgery on almost every part of the body and talks
to many more who have shared their experiences. With
exclusive access to operating theatres and a close view of
intricate surgical procedures at first hand.
The River Series is a stunning visual mix of adventure,
history and cultures which brings to life some of the most
famous rivers of the world. The Nile, the Thames and the
Seine run through three of the greatest capitals in history,
and the rivers have played a significant role not only in
bringing economic...
In October 1957, one of the Windscale nuclear reactors
caught fire. It was the world's first nuclear accident,
attributed to the rush to build atomic weapons. This
programme highlights the mistakes leading to a nuclear event
which, 40 years on, still takes second place only to
Chernobyl.
Keith Floyd, the world famous TV cook, travels to Africa
visiting a number of regions. The boisterous and bubbly
Floyd cooks traditional dishes from each area using a
variety of heat sources, sometimes in surprising
surroundings.
Floyd arrives in Cape Town by yacht and cooks on board. He
visits the township of Kyelisha where he...
On May 15th 1948 the British government, officially
responsible for maintaining law and order in Palestine,
decided to abandon the country, leaving behind a war which
has led to the dispossession of over three quarter of a
million Palestinian Arabs and the creation of the State of
Israel. One man, an officer who witnessed those...
Controversy surrounds the British nuclear site at
Sellafield. Punctuated by crisis after crisis, including a
series of disastrous leaks, operational inadequacies and
management cover-ups,the true story is told for the first
time by a former company director.
In a major investigation these award-winning programmes
expose British companies trading in weapons which are used
for torture, such as electro-shock batons. Supposedly used
for riot control, evidence shows that they are widely used
for torture in repressive countries. The electro-shock baton
is known as 'the universal tool of the torturer' because the
body shows few...
Justice may be blind, but sometimes it is deaf too - deaf to
the pleas of those who are serving long sentences for crimes
they claim they did not commit. This acclaimed award winning
series has brought hope to the innocent by its
reinvestigations of major crimes, and has succeeded in
getting substantial numbers of...
This programme is a snapshot glimpse into a typical week in
Paul Henery's life. Paul is a naturalist and a wildlife
artist. He is also a cop who will not hesitate to protect
the wildlife of Northumberland, England's largest and most
northerly county.
Eccentric cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall goes anywhere and
eats anything in his quest to survive on the resources of
nature's wild larder. He discovers recipes ranging from eel
soup to rook and pigeon pie and tasty grey squirrel for
protein. Some of his desserts include such delicacies as
gooseberry and puffball soufflé, and his search for...
Citizens of remote areas of the West Country in England have
reported sightings of large non-native wild animals. These
have been variously described as pumas, leopards or
panthers. This film follows the search over one late summer
for the 'beast' of these moors.
Comrade Philby is the fascinating story of a British agent
and Oxbridge gent who turned spy for the Russians. Harold
Adrian Russell Philby, known to his Muscovite companions as
Comrade Kim, defected to the Soviet Union in 1963, working
as a British affairs consultant until his death in the late
1980 s. He was buried...
This programme films several kinds of mixed marriages
between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs ranging across
different generations and social classes and tries to show -
through these couples - the human side to one aspect of the
Arab-Israeli conflict. There is, for example, a Jewish girl
who fell in love with a Palestinian in...
In 1941, the Bielski brothers managed to flee the towns
where Jews were being rounded up by the Nazis, and escaped
to the forest. They vowed to welcome any Jew who could make
their way to them, and by 1943, 1500 partisans were living
in an underground village in a forest in Byelorussia.
Everyone in...
In a major investigation, this documentary exposes the
chlorine industry's negligence in tackling a potential time
bomb - the poison dioxin. There is no safe level of exposure
to dioxin and this fatal substance has been linked to a
series of major medical conditions such as heart attacks,
liver disease and neurological problems. What is...
This award-winning film investigates the allegations of
links between devil worship and heavy rock music. Should
heavy metal music in particular carry a government health
warning?
Recommended by Time Out magazine as 'compulsive viewing'.
Winner of Prix de la Critique & Mention D'Honneur, Jury
International des Journalistes Critics Prize, Prix Danube.
Despite strong feelings about the killing of whales and the
impact of international whaling bans, the people of the
Faroe Islands, a Danish community, still practise an annual
whale cull. Each year they entice a pod of whales into their
harbour, and men and youths enter the water to slaughter
them. As many as 1000...
This series takes Keith Floyd, internationally renowned TV
chef, to the unfamiliar terrain of Asia. Floyd explores the
distinct language, culture and geography of Hong Kong,
Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. This time Floyd's locations
include fishing boats, beaches and naturally he weaves his
way into the homes and kitchens of local families and
celebrities alike.
Talking Pictures consists of two half hour portraits of two
of the world's leading film directors, Sir Richard
Attenborough and the controversial Ken Loach. The programmes
are both searching and compelling and succeed in giving the
audience a greater insight into what inspires these
directors.
Heil Herbie takes an offbeat look at the history of the
Volkswagen Beetle. The film opens up the secret history of
the world's most popular car with a light, often amusing
touch, exploring its origins as Hitler's dream car through
to the flower power Sixties and Seventies and up to the
present day.
Bronze at the...
The process of genetic engineering is becoming more
sophisticated. Inventors of new plants, drugs and life-forms
are now attempting to patent their creations. If successful
the patents could lead to large multinational corporations
owning the world's crops.
A winner of several international awards, this programme
examines the legacy of Pythagoras and Plato and their impact
on the modern world, our thoughts, buildings and
hierarchies. Filmed across North America and Europe, the
documentary is shot on location in the home towns of these
two great historical figures.
Winner: Emily Award (Best of Festival), American...
This series explores the close and complex relationship
between man and trees that has endured though the centuries.
It examines not only the ecological impact of trees but also
the strong spiritual influence they have. The series was
filmed in Britain, California, and on the island of Socotra
in the Indian Ocean.
This series examines the big league of wildlife vets - the
men and women whose work takes them to far corners of Africa
to deal with some of the world's wildest creatures. The
everyday routine of small dogs, domestic tabby cats and
caged rabbits is a far cry from this work, where gored
rhinos, savage...
Made at the time of the renegotiation of the Antarctic
Treaty, this investigative documentary examines what is
really going on in Antarctica. Unlike previous programmes,
most of which have been about the Antarctic environment and
its wild life, this film focuses on the scientific research
being carried out by specific nations. The film goes behind
the...
This major award-winning feature documentary on the
environmental devastation of the Vietnam war shows how the
Vietnamese continue to suffer from the effects of Agent
Orange, unexploded bombs and a land that was shattered by 26
million craters from B-52 bombers.
Winner of Special Jury Prize, BANFF International Film
Festival
Honorable Mention, Golden Gate Awards
Best Film Made...
One of the most extraordinary photographers of the twentieth
century, Martin Chambi was a leading figure in the
revolutionary, artistic and social movements that swept
South America in the 1930s. Sixty years on, this film
explores Andean life through Chambi's majestic photographs
and looks at the contemporary relevance of his work.
The Special Prize at the...
