History documentaries

History genre page header
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.

The Last Day Of World War One

The Last Day of WW1

Though the First World War ended on November 11th, 1918, soldiers continued to be killed in battle for many hours after the armistice had been signed. Recounting the events of the days and hours leading up to that last morning, Michael Palin travels to battlefields in France and Belgium and tells the personal stories of the last soldiers to die in the war to end all wars.

How Mad Was King George?

King George

King George III was the longest-reigning king in British history. But his reputation brands him a foolish, incapable madman. As this history documentary reveals, this unfair assessment overshadows his achievements and qualities as a monarch. With new revelations from diaries and letters and interviews with experts, a very different side to this remarkable ruler emerges.

The Last Days Of Anne Boleyn

Image of Anne Boleyn

In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the wife of Henry VIII, became the first queen in Britain’s history to be executed. The brutal speed of her downfall and the astonishing nature of the charges against her – treason, adultery, even incest – make her story shocking even to this day. The truth behind her brutal death, and who was responsible, has been the subject of fiery debate across six centuries.

The Most Dangerous Man In Tudor England

Image of the most dangerous man in Tudor

He was a man whose life and legacy have been hidden from history, but whose impact on Christianity in Britain endures today. In this BBC history documentary, Melvyn Bragg explores the dramatic story of William Tyndale and his mission to translate the Bible into English. His radical work made him a profound threat to the authority of the church and set him on a fateful collision course with Henry VIII’s heretic hunters.

Scotland: Rome's Final Frontier

A Scottish man standing on a plot of land

The amazing story of how Scotland became the Roman Empire’s toughest military challenge.

At the height of its power, Rome ruled over millions of people from Syria to Spain. In 43AD Emperor Claudius’ forces invaded and conquered Britain, but there was one part of these barbarian lands that wasn’t so easy to reign- Scotland. In this fascinating history documentary Fraser Hunter explores some of the most extraordinary Roman sites to see how Scotland defied an onslaught of Roman imperial power for over a century.