On December 4, 1872, the unmanned Mary Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic with its cargo fully intact. The mystery of this "ghost ship" remained unanswered for over 135 years. What happened to the Mary Celeste is widely regarded as the most famous mystery of the sea. Watch it unfold to its stunning conclusion, at last.
Documentary exploring the aftermath of the nuclear disaster that struck the city on April 26th 1986, uncovering how nature has survived in the radioactive zone. This compelling film explores how nature has survived in the radioactive ghost town.
In every comedy generation, Britain has produced quality double act after quality double act. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore, the Two Ronnies, French and Saunders... the list goes on. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are now known as two of the world's most popular figures in entertainment, enjoying solo success (in Stephen's case) writing, performing and broadcasting, and (in Hugh's case) award-winning US drama. But it's easy for a new generation of comedy fans to forget that at the start of their careers they worked together as one of the nation's most popular comedy double acts. This UK premiere celebrates the 30th anniversary of the pair working together. Back in 1980, Fry and Laurie met for the first time at Cambridge University, introduced by their mutual friend Emma Thompson, and quickly became the torchbearers for the established Footlights comedy and performing troupe. They were the perfect combination - Stephen was tall, awkward and an expert straight man, while Hugh was a physical comedy whirlwind. They found themselves at the forefront of the new alternative comedy movement in the early 1980s and reaped the benefits, finding fertile ground in which to showcase their talents - they won the inaugural Perrier Award at the Edinburgh festival in 1981, they frequently appeared in the ground breaking Saturday Night Live, they starred together in Blackadder, and their own series, A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, ran from 1989 to 1995. Now, in Fry And Laurie Reunited, the pair talk exclusively about their friendship, their personalities and talk through some of their favourite sketches. With plenty of clips and rare material, this is the ultimate celebration of two of Britain's favourite sons.
A look at extremes of weather, taking us from one of the world's rainiest places - Cherrapunji in the Indian state of Meghalaya - to South America's Atacama desert.
This documentary looks at the story of the British soldiers ,who in 1940 were tasked with the rear guard of the British Expeditionary force being evacuated at Dunkirk .These soldiers were ordered to "Fight to the last man and last round",of these men including the 51st Highland division.10,000 were killed and 40,000 taken prisoner.These elderly veterans tell their stories about these gallant deeds,these men allowed through their heroism a third of a million allied soldiers to escape to England.
Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain through the eyes of the brave souls based at the Biggin Hill airbase, which was heavily bombarded during the conflict.
Colditz Castle was a maximum security prison from which no one was meant to escape... but escape they did. Take a fresh look at the legendary escapes, featuring stories from both Colditz survivors and their extended families.
Relive the New York homosexual community's spontaneous stand against the police in 1969, a defining event in the gay rights moment that helped put an end to shocking persecution.
It is a giant among fish. Few have filmed it in the wild. For marine biologist and wildlife cameraman Rick Rosenthal, documenting the bluefin became the ultimate challenge. Rosenthal sets off to uncover the secrets of the legendary bluefin tuna, while documenting its place in the grand scheme of the vast marine ecosystem. Capable of weighing in at 1,500 pounds, spanning 10 feet and swimming up to 50 miles per hour in a range from one end of the North Atlantic to the other. Narrated by David Attenborough
Following the crucial tidal cycle, the real story of the lagoon is how its water changes every 12 hours, meaning that different species are ushered in and out of the lagoon with a regularity not often seen anywhere else. And the area is teeming with marine life – crabs scurry in and out of their burrows, sea grass on the sand banks harbour minute, transparent and brainless shrimps and enormous sea slugs.
Ruth Madoc of Hi-de-Hi! fame traces the birth of the 1960s holidaymaking craze, from the seaside charm of Blackpool to Butlins holiday camps and the early package holidays abroad.
When the RMS Titanic set sail across the Atlantic from Southampton on her maiden voyage 100 years ago, the luxury passenger liner that cost $7,500,000 to build was reckoned to be unsinkable. After stop-offs in Cherbourg and Queenstown (now Cobh) in Ireland, she was ready to make the crossing. With 2,201 people onboard she set sail for New York. What happened 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland is history… From the moment the ship sank, a series of powerful myths grew up around the Titanic. Perhaps the most potent of all was that of the band standing on deck, bravely playing on until the last lifeboat had left and there was no hope of escape. For the first time, Titanic: The Band Played On (pictured) tells the story of those unsung heroes who were about to play for the last time. Presented by Madness frontman Suggs, this brand-new and exclusive film reveals why the media and public were so captivated by the story of these courageous men. He interviews renowned experts and descendants of the band’s musicians to delve further into the story that has lasted well beyond their lifetimes. Taking a fresh look at the Titanic disaster, the film uncovers new details about the heroic band of musicians who played together for the first and last time aboard the ship, as well as examining the facts and looking at memorabilia to ask questions about the band’s role in the tragedy. It also asks why the hymn Nearer My God To Thee has grown up around the ship’s final moments.
Meet Trevor Hutton, a South African freediver. Diving as deep as possible on one breath is a dangerous but exhilarating business, and in Deep Blue Dive we follow Trevor as he negotiates the hostile South African coastline, the ocean swells and dangerous marine life that inhabit his local waters. Trevor is self-trained but South Africa has always cautioned against the sport, and for good reason. But something incredible happens to this six-feet-plus man as he enters the water. We’ll watch as nerve receptors in his heart trigger oxygen-saving responses in his body, slowing his heart down by 50 per cent. Blood vessels constrict, his spleen shunts red blood cells into his bloodstream to prepare for a lack of oxygen and a litre of blood floods into the chest. His body turns into a deep diving machine. With CGI we’ll find out how Trevor’s extraordinary body uses subconscious techniques passed down genetically from generation to generation to cope in extreme conditions, and bring to life some of these incredible physiological transformations. And then there’s the beauty of the underground world off the coast of South Africa – deep blue and full of amazing marine wildlife.
The Australian bush is a battleground for a war between man and dingo. Farmer and dog trainer Dave Graham (‘Farmer Dave’ of Big Brother fame) is hunting for solutions to the dilemma surrounding Australia’s native canine, the dingo. A secretive and stealthy predator, dingoes are responsible for devastating livestock losses. Farmers, in defence of their livelihoods, have long retaliated with culling. It’s a battle for survival, and it’s escalating. But is the dingo really a villain? New research shows that the dingo may play a pivotal role in protecting Australian ecosystems. Sadly, this research also shows that the pure dingo is on the brink of extinction, making way to the crossbred "wild dogs" who pose a much greater threat. Featuring stunning behavioural photography and a wide cast of passionate stakeholders, this documentary is a must see for both dog lovers and working farmers as it attempts to unravel the complex emotional debate around living in harmony with our native dingo.
Hummingbirds have become the greatest aerial acrobats on earth. They can hover, fly backwards and even fly backwards and upside down simultaneously. Plants have “created” hummingbirds as their messengers, carrying pollen from flower to flower. The smallest warm-blooded creatures on the planet, hummingbirds also have the highest metabolism of any vertebrate. The film explores the evolution of the birds, as they are shaped by their role as go-betweens for plants. These glittering birds live on the edge of what is possible, even going into a kind of hibernation each night, and all because of plants.
The 1960s were the golden age of jet air travel. Pilots looked like matinee idols, air stewardesses looked like Jean Shrimpton and passengers were served seven-course meals in economy. Every child wanted to work on an airline growing up, and the new age of air travel seemed to encapsulate the optimism, the glamour and the new consumerism of the decade. Now in this documentary, part of Yesterday’s Spirit Of The Sixties season, relives this glamorous age through the testimonies and personal archive of the men and women who pioneered the jet set lifestyle. During the austerity of the post war years, air travel was still very much the domain of the wealthy and those who worked in the colonies. But the invention of the jet engine coincided with everything the 60s stood for – increased leisure time, the cult of celebrity, fashion, food and fun. Suddenly starlets and movie stars, politicians and upwardly mobile families were taking to the skies, but the era also saw the emergence of a whole new breed of woman: the air stewardess. Seen as a glamorous free spirit who looked like a Biba model, she was as reassuring as Florence Nightingale and spoke like a Lucie Clayton graduate. But what was it really like to work in the industry? I Was A Jet Set Stewardess finds out the truth behind the glamour, the cool and the air miles.
Made to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, this documentary looks at her relationship with her twelve prime ministers, from Sir Winston Churchill to David Cameron.
For over a thousand years, the Samurai have been celebrated as an aristocratic warrior class. Exceptionally skilled and loyal until death, their very name has become a byword for honour and dignity. Now, for the first time on television, we reveal the unknown dark side of the Samurai - a fascinating tale of greed, treachery, extreme cruelty and violent death.
The Atacama desert in Chile is the driest place on earth. Here, in one of the most inhospitable regions on our planet the biggest space observatory ever constructed by man has been built. ALMA – the Atacama Large Millimeter Array – takes space observation to new heights.
This documentary reveals the story of Peter Samuel Cook, who became known as the Cambridge Rapist. His reign of terror started in October 1974 when he began stalking and assaulting the young female students of Cambridge. The manhunt for the rapist became the biggest in Europe, but it seemed impossible for the police to catch him. At one point, there were undercover police on virtually every corner of every street in Cambridge waiting for his next attack- but still, he managed to drift into the city undetected to carry out his evil acts virtually at will. The attacks lasted eight months, and sent a wave of mass panic and hysteria through the city. Women were scared to walk alone, and virtually every young man was under suspicion. The reason why the police took so long to catch him? Peter Cook was a transvestite and hermaphrodite, who would nonchalantly cycle past police guarding the female student digs, dressed as a woman before committing his assaults and escaping undetected. This documentary unearths the truth behind the investigation and tells how one of Britain’s most notorious criminals was finally caught and brought to justice.
Highly anticipated special, 'Jodie Marsh: Bodybuilder' gives viewers a unique insight into the extraordinary world of female bodybuilding through the eyes of glamour model Jodie Marsh, as she goes from Men's Magazine pin-up to ripped bodybuilding champion.
The arrival in Britain of the aircraft and crews of the US air force the largest air force in the world - had a profound effect on the military and social history of World War Two. Presented by renowned actor Michael Brandon, this revealing documentary provides a powerful record of a momentous period in American and British history. The memories and experiences of the local population and surviving US airmen provide the key to understanding the courage of men plucked from home and plunged into the terror of combat in the air.
Roger Graef will lead the 90-minute special in the director's seat, filming members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with whom he has had a close relationship since the 1970s. "With an unprecedented level of access and backstage material, this documentary captures the most anticipated comeback show in comedy history," Graef said. There will also be rarely seen footage from their earliest stage shows in 1971 and 'Live at the Hollywood Bowl' in 1980.
Learn more about the Nazis' development of the deadly V2 rocket during World War II. This compelling docudrama juggles the narratives of key players in Germany, England and America.
In the summer of 1944, 168 airmen from the US, England, Canada and other Allied countries were captured in Paris by the German Gestapo and sent to the infamous 'Koncentration Lager Buchenwald' in Germany. Falsely accused of being "terrorists and saboteurs," the airmen faced a terrifying fight for survival and a race against time to escape their execution. A controversial moment in history that their home countries tried to hush-up, Lost Airmen of Buchenwald tells this harrowing story through interviews with seven surviving members of the group, including their heroic commanding officer. The film follows them from their days hiding with the French Resistance to the darkest corners of the Holocaust, where they struggled to survive as Germany collapsed under the weight of the advancing Russian and Allied armies.
Learn how the 1936 Berlin Olympics was turned into a propaganda event for Nazi Germany. However, a boycott by other nations and a certain Jesse Owens threatened to ruin their plans.
April 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. But what is the Bard's lasting legacy? Actor John Nettles reflects on the legendary playwright's life.
Geoffrey Malins was history's first war cinematographer. Hear how the graphic film he shot during the Battle of the Somme drew over 20 million viewers - but also caused controversy.
Was Welshman Rhys ap Thomas responsible for the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485? A tale of betrayal and lust for power emerges in this one-off documentary.
The Oscar-winning movie The King's Speech dramatised George VI's struggle to overcome his stammer. Hear the stirring true story of King George VI's struggle to overcome his stammer, and the parts played in his battle with his disability by his speech therapist Lionel Logue, his brother, father and wife.
In 1955, on the home straight early in the Le Mans 24-Hour race, future British world champion Mike Hawthorn made a rash mistake causing Pierre Levegh's Mercedes 300 SLR to smash into the crowd, killing 83 people and injuring 120 more. It remains the worst disaster in motor racing history and he story was quickly engulfed by conspiracy theory, blame and scandal. Was the uncharacteristically large explosion caused by Mercedes gambling on untried technologies? Have the French authorities been covering up the truth ever since? Or was Hawthorn, who ended up winning the race, simply guilty of reckless driving?
In the 1980s rallying was more popular than Formula 1 and deregulation opened the way for the most exciting cars ever to hit the motorsport scene. For four wild and crazy years, manufacturers scrambled to build ever more powerful cars to be driven by fearless mavericks who could handle the extreme power. The sport was heading out of control and the unregulated mayhem ended abruptly in 1986 after a series of horrific tragedies. This is the story of when fans, ambition, politics and cars collided.
One of the new, eager, racing fanatics leading Britain's charge to the top of the motorsport world was the charismatic, handsome and debonair Mike Hawthorn. Racing for iconic names such as Jaguar and Ferrari, and sporting his trademark bow tie, shock of wavy blonde hair and with his flamboyant driving style, Hawthorn captured the imagination of motorsport fans across the country. As fast as he raced on the track, Hawthorn lived just as fast off it with his social antics becoming the stuff of legend and there was always a woman or two under his arm.
The late, great Graham Hill is the only man to have won the F1 World Championship, Indy 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Those who knew him best recall a sporting legend and bon vivant.
He was the drivers' driver: a two-time F1 world champion revered by his racing rivals. Friends, family and colleagues pay tribute to Jim Clark, whose story had a tragic end in 1968.
The name John Surtees will forever be etched in the annals of Motor Racing. One of the most gifted and versatile racers of all time, he was the first man to win world championships on both two wheels and four, an incredible feat that remains unparalleled today.
Compelling documentary shining a spotlight on Sir Jackie Stewart, one of Britain's all-time greatest sporting personalities - winner of three Formula 1 world championships and 27 Grand Prix, and ranked as one of the ten greatest racing drivers of all time.
This brand new and exclusive documentary explores the legacy of one of the most notorious British sitcoms of all time. Launching alternative comedy onto our screens, the show made household names of its performers and writers and proved to be a huge influence, despite the BBC reportedly being baffled by what they'd commissioned back in 1982. Never before had a flagship comedy show contained so much violence, depravity and anarchy - it was a a shot across the bow to mainstream comedians that things would never be the same again.
The Young Ones' 20 Greatest Moments counts down the finest scenes from the hit alternative comedy sitcom, as selected by comedians and industry experts. The programme features new interviews with the show's cast, crew, and comedian fans.
Documentary shedding light on Britain's thriving sex-toy industry, which is estimated to be worth £250million. The film goes behind the scenes at Lovehoney, one of the nation's leading online erotic retailers, to discover how founders Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst set up a 70-strong team to provide people around the UK with everything from sexy lingerie to adult toys, literature and games. Cameras follow the work of several staff members, including Annabelle Knight, who presents the company's online videos.
Documentary telling the story of Tipperary-born businessman and Conservative cabinet minister Brendan Bracken, who became Winston Churchill's right-hand man during the Second World War by opposing efforts to appease Adolf Hitler. The film considers the possibility of a biological connection between the two men.
Gold viewers voted to create a shortlist of their favourite all-time comedians. They are titans of comedy, their names becoming a by-word for joy and laughter. But, who made the cut? And when it comes to the crunch, who is the best of the best? A jury of comedy experts crown the nation's top funny person as: Britain's Greatest Comedian. With a rich history of comedy legends such as Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse, Victoria Wood, Eric Morecambe, Dawn French, Peter Kay and many, many more, the battle for the number one spot is going to be fierce. Gold's jury consists of Roy Hudd, Sally Phillips, Stephen Mangan, John Thomson, Darren Harriott, Ronni Ancona, David Quantick, Boyd Hilton and Nina Wadia.
In commemoration of the war efforts and the lives lost in the battle for freedom, this compelling documentary celebrates the approaching 75th Anniversary of freedom and peace in Europe. Archive footage from World War II is almost exclusively black and white, however, this film, with its full - colour archive, sits alongside newly recorded interviews with some of the dwindling numbers of those who lived through this momentous day.
Through exclusive interviews and a wealth of rarely seen footage, this film reveals the previously untold story of how four young men from Liverpool transformed the world for ever.
A jury of comedians, actors, writers, journalists and critics battle it out under the watchful gaze of judge Sally Phillips, as they attempt to agree on who is the country's greatest comedy characters.
Dawn French and Richard Curtis take viewers on a joyful stroll down memory lane as they look back at their favourite Dibley moments and reveal what went on behind the vestry curtain of the iconic sitcom.
Filmed on the set of their classic sketch show, much-loved duo French & Saunders discover and discuss all of the crucial and unforgettable female contributions to the pantheon of comic history across the globe. From the very first trailblazers, to the acts who inspired a young French and Saunders, all the way up to today's generation of publicly adored and critically lauded stars, French And Saunders: Funny Women is a warm, affectionate and illuminating celebration of women in comedy, presented as only French and Saunders could.
Hancock fan Jack Dee presents Hancock: Very Nearly An Armful. Taking its title from celebrated Hancock episode The Blood Donor, this two-hour retrospective features previously unseen scripts, scrapbooks and production files belonging to the lad himself, as well as personal items such as photos and letters.
A look back at the making of the beloved cult series, which first launched in 1983, featuring interviews with fans including Jack Whitehall, Ardal O'Hanlon and Nina Wadia.
Ian Lawman conducts exorcisms to clear homes, objects and individuals of evil entities. Ordained exorcist Ian Lawman embarks on his most personal and challenging case yet. He's not cleansing a home or spooky location, but a suspected possessed person directly
Adrian Edmondson gives a first-hand account of making the hit show, Bottom, with the late, great Rik Mayall, alongside contributions from a host of the show's cast, crew and famous fans.
