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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
