History documentaries
The Thirties in Color
The 1930s were a decade which erupted into color as photographic technology came of age and new, innovative processes brought color photography to the market. Rare, private, and commercial film and photographic archives give poignant and surprising insights into the era and reflects the culture, travel habits and spirit of adventure associated with this transformative time.
Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes
Join host Bettany Hughes as she uncovers more extraordinary treasures from the ancient world. With unprecedented access to new discoveries and using state of the art technology, Bettany unearths incredible stories from the past. She visits one of the world’s best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in Bulgaria, newly discovered ancient mosiacs in Turkey and even a haunted castle in Albania.
The Windsor Castle Fire: The Untold Story
In 1992, the world’s oldest inhabited castle, Windsor Castle, suffered a catastrophic fire. Hundreds of priceless paintings and the Queen’s personal royal treasures were under threat. Using newly discovered footage and dramatic personal stories from the firefighters who fought the blaze, this fascinating history documentary provides a minute-by-minute account of the battle to save this iconic building.
Stephen Fry: Willem and Frieda - Defying the Nazis
Stephen Fry explores a remarkable story of forgery, sabotage and audacity by the Dutch Resistance that saved thousands of Jews from Hitler’s death camps. Artist Willem Arondeus and musician Frieda Belinfante helped to create fake documentation to fool the Nazi authorities. How has it remained hidden for so long and did the sexuality of the couple lead to their story being forgotten?
Kidnapped: A Georgian Adventure
In 1728, 12-year-old James Annesley was snatched from the streets of Dublin, Ireland and sold into slavery in America. He was the victim of a wicked uncle hell-bent on stealing his massive inheritance. Historian Dan Cruickshank traces James’s astonishing journey from the top table of 18th century society to its murky depths. The story helped inspire Robert Louis Stevenson’s revered book Kidnapped.