100 Years of BBC News
The BBC’s news operation is revered and respected across the world. Available globally, it’s considered a trusted and impartial source of information and has been there for all the big news stories.
As part of the BBC centenary celebrations, this fascinating documentary looks back at 100 years of BBC news. See how news gathering has changed across the decades and how the BBC has covered era-defining events.
Watch 100 Years of BBC News and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.
More documentaries you might like...
Henry VIII's Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell
Was Thomas Cromwell a corrupt, ambitious politician or has history unfairly maligned him?
How Mad Was King George?
King George III is remembered as a madman, but is this assessment unfair?
Harry Potter - A History of Magic
They’re the fastest-selling books in history. But what inspired the enchanting world of Harry Potter?
Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens
Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II
Armada: The Untold Story
The fierce naval conflict between England and Spain that changed the face of Europe.
Auschwitz: Nazis & The Final Solution
The story of the concentration camp told by those who were there
Archaeology: A Secret History
Better living through archeology. How can our past make sense of our present?
Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley
Hitler's Terrifying Battle of Britain Bombing. Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley, BBC's leading historian
Belsen: The Untold Story
Using survivor testimony and archive footage, the story of the infamous camp is told.
African Apocalypse
The atrocities committed by a rogue French officer in Africa are still being felt today.
Countdown to War
The story of the 3 days between the Nazis invading Poland and the beginning of World War II.
The Story of the Jews
Historian Simon Schama explores the Jewish story from ancient times to the present day.
The Rebel Queen: Eleanor of Aquitaine
The astonishing monarch who was queen of both France and England during her life.
The Warrior Queen: Boudica
Betrayed and humiliated, Boudica took on the invading Roman army and almost defeated them.
Waterloo's Warriors
The story of the Battle of Waterloo using unpublished accounts from Wellington's troops.
The Queen Of Empire: Victoria
Victoria oversaw an astonishing period of change as the British Empire ruled the world.
The First World War: The Peoples' Story
The story of World War I told by the ordinary people at the heart of the conflict.
The Queen Who Would Be King
The story of Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut who did the unthinkable and declared herself king.
Julius Caesar's Greatest Battle
Exploring a crucial battle during Julius Caesar's bloody campaign to conquer Gaul.
The Men and the Machines that Beat Hitler
The story of the men from the Fifth Royal Tank Regiment who fought during World War II.
Queens That Changed The World
A look at six powerful women who ruled their people and changed the course of history.
The Forgotten Queen: Anne
Modelling her reign on Elizabeth I, Anne was the first queen of a unified Great Britain.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is considered decadent, uncaring, and reprehensible. But is this fair?
The Somme 1916: From Both Sides Of The Wire
Historian Peter Barton explores the bloody battle that defined the First World War.
Nelson: Britain's Great Naval Hero
The scandals, secrets, and strategies of one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes: Nelson.
The Nazis: A Warning From History
How was it possible that the cultured nation at the heart of Europe ever allowed Hitler to come to power?
Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts
A look back at cataclysmic events in ancient history that still have relevance today.
Invasion
The remarkable history of 'invasion' in the British Isles spanning thousands of years.
Rebellion: The Stuarts In Exile
How much threat did the deposed Stuart dynasty pose to the developing British state?
Inside the Tower of London
Go behind closed doors to see how an iconic piece of British history is run today.
King George and Queen Mary: The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy
The pioneering reign of Elizabeth II's grandparents, King George and Queen Mary.
The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors
The story of the mighty Ottoman Empire and its role in shaping Europe and the wider world.
Last Battle Of The Vikings
How did the Norsemen and their presence shape the identity and culture of Scotland?
Philippa Gregory's The Real White Queen And Her Rivals
The women at the heart of the bloody War of the Roses that helped shape British history.
The Catacomb Mystery
Can the discovery of thousands of skeletons help unlock the secrets of the Roman Empire?
The Last Day Of World War One
Michael Palin tells the shocking true story of the last soldiers to die in World War I.
India's Partition The Forgotten Story
In 1947, India was divided in two leading to violence and death. Why did it happen?
The Last Days Of Anne Boleyn
What led to the dramatic downfall and violent execution of Queen Anne Boleyn in 1536?
The Most Dangerous Man In Tudor England
The dramatic story of William Tyndale and his mission to translate the Bible into English.
Renaissance Education: The Schooling Of Thomas More's Daughter
How the ideas that shaped Margaret More's education changed the cultural life of England.
Take Me To Titanic
This innovative documentary travels with the explorers down to the bottom of the ocean.
Woman standing facing the right with British flags in the background
The Stuarts
The Stuart monarchs are considered merciless tyrants, but they also forged modern Britain.
Rome: What Lies Beneath
Discover what the glory of the Roman Empire was really like using space-age technology
Jesus' Family Tree
The traditional view of Jesus and his family is far from an accurate representation.
The Bible: A History
What history's bestselling book can tell us about ourselves and our modern-day beliefs.
Antiques Roadshow
What treasures will be found as antique experts appraise the public’s heirlooms?
Christmas Carols with Lucy Worsley
From pagan fertility rituals to World War I, the story of Christmas carols is surprising.
The Normans
How the extraordinary ambition of the Normans transformed the history of Europe.
Return of the Black Death
Could 25 medieval skeletons help to eradicate the Bubonic plague?
Jungle Atlantis
An archaeological team in Cambodia discover an incredible, mysterious lost metropolis.
Rome's Invisible City
Venture beneath the streets of Rome to explore a hidden city seen by very few
The Hector: Canada's Mayflower
The horrific story of migrants who left Scotland in 1773 to settle in Nova Scotia
Nature And Us: A History Through Art
In the age of climate crisis, what can art teach us about our relationship with nature?
The Queen's Palaces
What secrets lurk within the walls of Buckingham Palace and other royal residences?
Treasures of the Indus
Ancient treasures are used to chart the fascinating history of India and Pakistan.
The Art of Gothic
Why were Brits in the 19th-century obsessed with art that was horrific, macabre and weird?
Magic Numbers
Brilliant mathematician Hannah Fry explores the mystery of math and the wonder of numbers.
The Silk Road
The world's first superhighway that carried goods and ideas between Europe and China.
The Wild West
What is the truth behind the iconic figures of the Wild West – and what is pure myth?
The High Art of the Low Countries
Size doesn’t matter. How one small region spawned the greatest artists of all time.
The Art of Spain
Territory, politics and religious conflict: the untold history of Spain’s cultural legacy.
Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us
A Bard’s tale. How Shakespeare united the intellectual and populist like no one else.
Mad Dog: Inside the Secret World of Muammar Gaddafi
Regime of terror: a horrifying portrait of Libya’s leader from the insiders who made him.
Ancient Worlds
Travel on an epic quest through the birth of civilization and the development of humanity.
Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes
How did our ancient ancestors, and the amazing treasures they left behind, shape the modern world?
The Crusades
Why were the Crusaders willing to endure pain, death and starvation in the name of God?
The Six Queens of Henry VIII
Rediscover the Queens who shaped a King & his legacy in The Six Queens of Henry VIII, BBC's new look at the King's infamous wives.
History of Mother Earth: Gaia Uncovered
In space, you can hear the Earth scream... History of Mother Earth: Gaia Uncovered
Nixon in the Den
Was President Nixon a visionary on China? Davin Reynolds investigates in Nixon in the Den
Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History
From slavery to settlement, award-winning historian David Olusoga explores the history of black Britain.
Rome: Empire Without Limit with Mary Beard
World renowned historian, Mary Beard, is back to shatter myths about the Roman Empire.
Russia 1917: Countdown to Revolution
Three men rise from obscurity to unleash a bloody revolution that changed history forever.
The Persians: A History of Iran
How was the world's first empire born and what led to its ultimate destruction?
Secret Cities
How much can the artistic history of a great city tell us about its character?
Racism: A History
Where did the notion of racism come from and how did such an abhorrent idea develop?
Filthy Cities
Dan Snow explores the murky histories of London, Paris and New York from the bottom up.
Queen Victoria and her Nine Children
How Queen Victoria's grief changed her as a mother and a monarch
Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream
The rise of one of the great cities and how it offers a window into power, faith and war.
The Birth of Empire: The East India Company
The world’s first megacorp. How Britain’s East India Company grew into an imperial power.
Royal Cousins at War
It makes The Crown look like Sesame Street. The bitter regal rivalries that led to war.
Genius of the Modern World
Emigres, recluses, enemies of the state. How Marx, Nietzsche and Freud changed the world.
American History's Biggest Fibs
American history is fake, fact? Historian Lucy Worlsey delves deeper into US mythology.
Suffragettes
The violence, valor and sacrifices made by the women fighting for their right to vote.
Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners
People as property: historian David Olusoga on the untold stories of British slavery.
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Cultural Exploration
The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain
The Hairy Bikers unearth hundreds of years of history hidden in Britain's boozers.
The Real Lawrence of Arabia
Who was the man behind Lawrence of Arabia and why does he inspire such devotion today?
Griff's Great Australian Rail Trip
Comedian Griff Rhys Jones travels across Australia to find the heart of the nation.
The Mysteries Of The Medieval Ship
A unique medieval ship is discovered in a Welsh river. But what secrets does it hold?
John Bishop's Australia
Comedian John Bishop embarks on an Australian adventure, cycling from Sydney to Cairns.
The Secret World Of Ice Cream
The ‘cold’ war fought by various global brands to dominate the UK ice cream scene.
The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan heads to some of the world's least likely tourist hotspots.
The Secret World Of Burgers
What goes into the perfect burger and how have they changed over the years?
Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow
Historian Dan Snow undertakes a perilous journey down the dangerous Colorado River.
Who Sank The Titanic?
Who was responsible for the decisions and actions that led to the sinking of the Titanic?
Bettany Hughes' Grand Tour: From Paris to Rome
Bettany Hughes explores the culinary and cultural highlights of Paris, Rome and beyond.
Arthur: King of the Britons
Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?
World's Most Luxurious
Prepare to be dazzled as the world’s finest homes, hotels and transportation are explored.
Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts
A look back at cataclysmic events in ancient history that still have relevance today.
Invasion
The remarkable history of 'invasion' in the British Isles spanning thousands of years.
South Korea with Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong explores one of the most dynamic nations on earth: South Korea.
Inside the Tower of London
Go behind closed doors to see how an iconic piece of British history is run today.
Iceland With Alexander Armstrong
Travel to the Land of Fire and Ice to learn more about its unique nature and culture.
The Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors
The story of the mighty Ottoman Empire and its role in shaping Europe and the wider world.
Titanic and Me
Len Goodman discovers how the impact of the Titanic disaster is still felt today.
The Art Of Japanese Life
The mysterious and remarkable art and culture of Japan is explored and explained.
India's Partition The Forgotten Story
In 1947, India was divided in two leading to violence and death. Why did it happen?
African Apocalypse
The atrocities committed by a rogue French officer in Africa are still being felt today.
Renaissance Education: The Schooling Of Thomas More's Daughter
How the ideas that shaped Margaret More's education changed the cultural life of England.
The World's Most Secret Hotels
Discover spectacular hidden gems as we explore the world's most remote luxury hotels.
Joanna Lumley: In The Land of the Northern Lights
Can Joanna Lumley fulfill a life-long dream and track down the elusive Northern Lights?
The Normans
How the extraordinary ambition of the Normans transformed the history of Europe.
Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures
Ab Fab legend Joanna Lumley takes viewers behind the scenes of her epic travels.
Black Power: America's Armed Resistance
What is the Black Liberation Movement trying to achieve and what tactics do they use?
The Platinum Jubilee Interview: Tina Brown
Writer Tina Brown speaks with Katty Kay about decades chronicling the British royal family
Joanna Lumley in the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon
Ab Fab's Joanna Lumley takes a personal odyssey to retrace her grandad's steps in Bhutan.
A Royal Guide to…
A revealing look into some of the more peculiar protocols followed by the Royal Family.
The Silk Road
The world's first superhighway that carried goods and ideas between Europe and China.
The Wild West
What is the truth behind the iconic figures of the Wild West – and what is pure myth?
Secrets of South America
What do money, sex, status and power mean to the young people of South America?
Secrets of China
Digging beneath the skin. What it’s really like to grow up in this secretive state?
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