Trending documentaries

Need inspiration for which documentary to watch? See what's on BBC Select, from trending shows about the latest news stories to classic BBC documentaries about history, British royalty, nature and more. All available to stream in the US and Canada.

A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication

A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication

This is the true tale of the biggest scandal ever to engulf the British Royal Family – a  forbidden love affair which had a devastating impact. This BBC Select Original Documentary series recounts the story behind the ten days leading to Edward VIII abdicating his throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. It would change the royals, the press and British history forever.

Queens That Changed The World

Queens that changed the world

So much of history is dominated by men. But some queens wielded extraordinary power, and ruled in ways that far surpassed their male counterparts. This illuminating history documentary series looks at queens such as Victoria, Elizabeth I, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Hatshepsut. It investigates what drove these women, how they asserted their authority and what they did to stay in power.

Find out which queen you most resemble from Queens That Changed The World here.

Eden: Untamed Planet

Eden: Untamed Planet

Venture to the far corners of the planet and discover the secrets of Earth’s few remaining untouched lands. This ground-breaking BBC nature documentary, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, journeys from the Namib Desert to Alaska, revealing places isolated from the rest of the world and protected from the most damaging effects of human interference. In these lands, life exists as nature intended.

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.

Beyond Human: Artificial Intelligence and Us

Beyond Human

Machines are getting smarter. Much smarter. As they grow in power, could they pose an existential threat to the human race? Some of the minds behind the development of Artificial Intelligence think it could happen. This fascinating science documentary talks to AI experts about their hopes and fears and researchers developing tech that allows computers to read our emotions and even our minds.