The story of Napoleon

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?

Genius of the Ancient World

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.

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.

The Secrets of the Mary Rose

How the wreck of Henry VIII’s ship, The Mary Rose was discovered, excavated, and eventually raised from the seabed.

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The story of the Battle of Waterloo using unpublished accounts from Wellington's troops.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 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.

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

Who was the man behind Lawrence of Arabia and why does he inspire such devotion today?

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.

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.

Scotland: Rome's Final Frontier

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

Tutankhamun: Life, Death and Legacy

Tutankhamun: Life, Death and Legacy

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

Egypt

How three great explorers unlocked the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians.

100 Years of BBC News

How has BBC News and the world changed over 100 years?

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?

Magna Carta

David Starkey explores the origins of the Magna Carta

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

Italy's Invisible Cities

The hidden history of Venice, Naples and Florence

1945: The Savage Peace

Cruelty towards Germans began to escalate after World War II.

Who Were The Greeks?

Explore the brutal, brilliant and still influential Ancient Greeks

The Art of Gothic

Why were Brits in the 19th-century obsessed with art that was horrific, macabre and weird?

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?

Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us

A Bard’s tale. How Shakespeare united the intellectual and populist like no one else.

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.

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.

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.

Elton John: Uncensored

Elton John opens up to Graham Norton about his childhood, stardom and addiction battles.

A Life in Ten Pictures - Freddie Mercury

The life of Queen's Freddie Mercury told through photographs

Gauguin: The Full Story

Why was the life of influential artist Paul Gauguin mired in controversy and conflict?

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

Who was the man behind Lawrence of Arabia and why does he inspire such devotion today?

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is considered decadent, uncaring, and reprehensible. But is this fair?

Turkey: The Rise of Erdogan's Empire

How did Recep Tayyip Erdogan become the most powerful leader in Turkey’s recent history?

Arthur: King of the Britons

Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Europe’s Royals Revealed with Katty Kay

What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.

Daft Punk: Unchained

Just who are Daft Punk and how do they stay so successful while remaining so mysterious?

Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly

The astonishing story of one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s: Roberta Flack.

The Source Family

Meet Father Yod and his wild 1970s Hollywood commune, rock band and health restaurant.

Princess Anne: The Seven Loves of Her Life

The complex and at times scandalous love life of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter.

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Billie Jean King

In an exclusive interview the tennis legend opens up about her incredible life and career.

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Novak Djokovic

In this BBC interview, Tennis star Novak Djokovic discusses his incredible career and recent events including his decision not to have the Covid-19 vaccine in the height of the global pandemic.

Before They Were Royal

A fascinating look into the familiar faces of the lives of those who married into the British royal family. What was life like before they joined the British royal family? This compelling documentary series looks at the early lives of various royals, including Prince Philip and Camilla Parker-Bowles before fame and their acceptance into the monarchy.

Schindler: The Real Story

How did Oskar Schindler differ from the one seen in the famous film?

Princess Diana: A Life After Death

How Princess Diana's tragic death and legacy changed the British monarchy forever.

A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse

The story of Amy Winehouse told through 10 photos

Born To Be King

What will new British monarch King Charles III bring to the role?

Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique

Scandal and gossip stalked Princess Margaret on the luxurious island of Mustique.

A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon

Photographs help to reveal the true nature of music icon and Beatles star John Lennon.

When the Queen Spoke to the Nation

Exploring the Queen’s annual Christmas Day messages and other special addresses.

Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Pictures

The stories behind some of the most famous and era-defining pictures of Queen Elizabeth II.

A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A look back at the life of Queen Elizabeth II

A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali

Ten photographs show a different side of boxer Muhammad Ali

Surviving the Holocaust

A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur

The life of Tupac Shakur told through 10 photographs

Rembrandt

Did scandal and torment drive the artist to even greater creative glories?

Thatcher & Reagan

What was the attraction between these two world leaders and how did it change history?

Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens

Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II

My Years with the Queen

What’s it like to be close friends with Queen Elizabeth II? Lady Pamela Hicks reveals all.

Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal?

Henry Kissinger: canny political operator or a despicable war criminal?

The Queen Mother

The triumphs and pain that came to define the woman affectionately known as the Queen Mum.

Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing

How did a scandalous 19th-century countess help create the modern era of computing?

Confucius

The remarkable story of a great thinker who helped to form a nation and shape the world.

Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us

A Bard’s tale. How Shakespeare united the intellectual and populist like no one else.

Zelensky: The Making of a President

The transformation of Ukraine's President Zelensky from comic to respected world leader.

Gandhi

His reputation is uncontroversial. The reality couldn’t be more different.

In Louboutin's Shoes

Sole man. Inside the fashion world of footwear designer Christian Louboutin.

Joanna Lumley’s Britain

Explore Great Britain in this charming travel series

Reclaiming Amy

The friends and family of Amy Winehouse reveal the truth about the British music icon.

Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards

What drives the legendary shoe designer and self-confessed 'cobbler' Manolo Blahnik?

David Bowie: Finding Fame

How did humble David Jones become David Bowie - an icon that transformed music forever?

Vincent: The Full Story

What do we really know about Vincent van Gogh, arguably the world’s most famous artist?