A visit to Smithfield Market, Covent Garden and Billingsgate, at their busiest time, the early morning.
Social & External
The Channel Tunnel linking Britain with France is one of the seven wonders of the modern world but what did it take to build the longest undersea tunnel ever constructed? We hear from the men and women, who built this engineering marvel. Massive tunnel boring machines gnawed their way through rock and chalk, digging not one tunnel but three; two rail tunnels and a service tunnel. This was a project that would be privately financed; not a penny of public money would be spent on the tunnel. Business would have to put up all the money and take all the risks. This was also a project that was blighted by flood, fire, tragic loss of life and financial bust ups. Today, it stands as an engineering triumph and a testament to what can be achieved when two nations, Britain and France put aside their historic differences and work together.
The Rock Touring Around Great Britain is a performance piece by Chinese artist He Yunchang that involved a walking circumambulation of Great Britain from September 23, 2006 to June 14, 2007. Starting from the hamlet of Rock, Northumberland, the artist walked to the nearby town of Boulmer where he selected a rock which he then carried counterclockwise until he returned it to the precise location from which it was taken. As the artist commented, the work was primarily "an attempt to represent the iron will of an individual and the living conditions of his being with simple and pure methods."
Deng Xiaoping's economic and political opening in China. Margaret Thatcher's extreme economic measures in the United Kingdom. Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic Revolution in Iran. Pope John Paul II's visit to Poland. Saddam Hussein's rise to power in Iraq. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The nuclear accident at the Harrisburg power plant and the birth of ecological activism. The year 1979, the beginning of the future.
One of the most recognizable voices in all of modern day music, Dua Lipa quickly rose to fame. Her catchy tunes and sultry vocals make her music appeal to a global audience.
As Prince Charles, the longest serving heir apparent, ascends the throne as King, those who know him well, who have worked for and with him, discuss what he has achieved as Prince of Wales and what he will bring to the role as the new Monarch.
A huge new global protest movement is changing public attitudes to climate change. Reporter Ben Zand gains access to the most high-profile activist group, Extinction Rebellion.
Miami, New Orleans and New York City completely under water it’s a very real possibility if sea levels continue to rise. In Earth Under Water we’ll see these events unfold as leading experts forecast how mankind will be impacted if global warming continues. They’ll break down the science behind these predictions and explore ways humanity could adapt, including engineering vast dams near San Francisco, or building floating cities outside of New York.
A strange story from Somerset, England about a filmmaking farmer and the inspiring legacy of his long-lost home movies.
John Pilger unearths the hidden agenda behind the NHS crisis.
Ten years on, The Day Will and Kate Got Married celebrates that momentous day through the memories of family, friends and insiders who played a part in it, including Kate’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, speaking exclusively in his first ever TV interview, former Metropolitan Police commander Bob Broadhurst who was in charge of security on the day, royal historian Robert Lacey, plus the dress’s embroider, the cake-maker, choristers and Middleton family friends and neighbours.
Queen Elizabeth has worked with 14 Prime Ministers, including holding confidential weekly meetings. It is not known whether she has influenced her Prime Ministers, or what happens when they clash.
A documentary about Spitting Image (1984) and the impact it had, including clips of the most memorable moments and contributions from many of the cast, crew and some of celebrities portrayed on the show.
In What Makes a Woman, Munroe Bergdorf sets out to explore the changing world of gender and identity by way of her very own, very personal journey. Showing her in quiet, intimate, and extremely vulnerable moments. An honest insight into gender identity, Bergdorf prepares for a life-changing facial surgery, helping her finally picture herself as a woman.
An exploration of the Met’s investigation into Sarah’s murder, how this devastating crime unfolded and its impact. Told by those closely involved in the case from the outset, many of whom are speaking on camera for the first time, including the Senior Investigating Officer, the Prosecuting Barrister and Sarah’s local MP.
The Family is a 1974 BBC television series made by producer Paul Watson, and directed by Franc Roddam. It is a fly-on-the-wall documentary series, seen by many as the precursor to reality television. It is similar to an American documentary which had aired the previous year, called An American Family. The series follows the Reading-based working class Wilkins family of six, headed by Margaret and Terry, through their daily lives, warts and all.
A look at the feud between graffiti artists King Robbo and Banksy.
Moving to Mars charts the epic journey made by two Burmese families from a vast refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border to their new homes in the UK. At times hilarious, at times emotional, their travels provide a fascinating and unique insight not only into the effects of migration, but also into one of the most important current political crises - Burma.
The case of Yeates, found murdered on Christmas Day 2010 in Bristol, became a stark example of media frenzy gone wrong. Her innocent landlord, Christopher Jefferies, was wrongly accused, before a Dutch national was ultimately jailed.
In April 2019, Extinction Rebellion blocks strategic traffic points in London for days, leading to the arrest of hundreds of nonviolent protesters. Rebellion works, responds international climate lawyer Farhana Yamin, seeming almost surprised when the government agrees to their demand to declare a climate emergency.
David Jones investigates how 1960s council housing came to be built so poorly that thousands later needed to be demolished.
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