Arts & Literature
Art That Made Us
This ambitious series reveals how art has shaped the diverse story of the British Isles. From warrior tales of medieval Welsh resistance through to Stormzy’s iconic Glastonbury headline show, the entire history of the nation is explored through its artworks and the creative minds behind them. Contemporary artists revisit pieces from the past and find inspiration for their own creative pursuits.
Civilizations
A groundbreaking investigation into the extraordinary role of art and artists in the development of human culture. Leading historians look at how creativity helped form and protect empires and religions and why it proved so powerfully persuasive, so controversial and so intoxicating in shaping great nations. The series also explores why we continue to invest so much time, effort and money in art.
In Search of the Brontës
This is the extraordinary story of the world’s most famous literary sisters. This fascinating two-part dramatization follows Charlotte, Anne and Emily Brontë from the hopes and ambitions of childhood to the triumphs and traumas of their adult lives. Based on their letters and new research, Patricia Routledge narrates the true Brontë family history, touched by genius but blighted by tragedy.
Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors
Lucy Worsley explores the homes in which Jane Austen lived and stayed, to discover just how much they shaped Jane’s life and novels. On a journey that takes her across England, Lucy visits properties that still exist, from grand stately homes to seaside holiday apartments, and brings to life those that have disappeared. The result is a revealing insight into one of the world’s best-loved authors.
Great Scots: The Writers Who Shaped a Nation
What does it mean to be Scottish? Andrew Marr believes that if you really want to get to the heart of identity, you have to turn to its greatest writers: James Boswell, Sir Walter Scott and Hugh MacDiarmid. Across three turbulent centuries, these writers were to shape the way the world looked at Scotland. Andrew reveals the lives of these creative geniuses and their impact on the nation.