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History documentaries

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BBC Select is the place to discover so much more about history. Stream a range of compelling BBC history documentaries that explore the people, places and events of the past that shaped our world. Whether it’s the Roman Empire, Nelson and Napoleon, Black history, the story of the Titanic or the Tudors, BBC Select brings acclaimed and award-winning history shows, and featuring experts including Bettany Hughes, Lucy Worsley, Simon Schama and David Olusoga.

Britain's Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates and Rogues

Britain's Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates and Rogues

Few figures in British history have captured the popular imagination as much as the outlaw. From gentleman highwaymen, via swashbuckling pirates to elusive urban thieves and rogues, the brazen escapades and the flamboyance of the outlaw made them the antiheroes of their time. In this compelling history documentary, historian Dr. Sam Willis brings the great age of the British outlaw vividly to life.

Lucy Worsley Investigates

Lucy Worsley Investigates

Witch trials. Murdered princes. The Black Death. Uncover the shocking truth behind history’s most infamous mysteries and find out what they say about our changing society. Historian Lucy Worsley finds lost records, re-examines crime scenes and calls on experts to reframe each case in this remarkable history documentary. As she digs deeper, new light is shed on history’s most notorious moments.

The Secrets of the Mary Rose

The Secret World Of Cereal

The Mary Rose was Henry VIII’s favorite warship and flagship of his fleet. It was lost in 1545 but thanks to one of the greatest maritime archaeology projects in British history it was discovered again, excavated, and raised from the seabed in the 1980s. Using 40 years of archive footage, historian Dan Snow charts the incredible story of the Mary Rose.

The Battle of Britain

The Battle of the Britain

This fascinating history documentary tells the story of ‘The Battle of Britain’, a fight for survival that would change the course of World War II. By June 1940, Britain stood alone. France had surrendered; the Allies faced a humiliating retreat from the beaches of Dunkirk. Hitler had succeeded in conquering the rest of Europe. This pivotal battle, fought in the skies, was Britain’s last chance.

The Story of the Jews

The Story of the Jews

Acclaimed historian Simon Schama looks at the impact of the Jews and those moments when the Jewish experience has changed the fate of the world. This ground-breaking five-part BBC history documentary travels the globe from New York to Odessa, Berlin to Jerusalem, to tell ancient and modern stories that illuminate the passions and perplexities of the Jewish people today.