History documentaries

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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 Days 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.

Russia: 1000 Years Of History

Discover Russia’s medieval origins; its bloody and brutal expansion before becoming the biggest country in the world. From the era before and after the Tsars to the rise of Putin, the character of Mother Russia is explored. This fascinating history documentary reveals the secrets behind holding the world’s largest country together and what the future for Russia might hold.

Take Me To Titanic

Image of someone exploring the Titanic underwater

A journey to visit the world’s most famous shipwreck sounds like a something from science fiction. But for the first time ever, a group of curious adventurers are taking a visit to the remains of the Titanic. This fascinating BBC documentary travels with the explorers as they view the spectacle that is the Titanic.

African Apocalypse

Image the silhouette of a head with a map and British soldier inside the silhouette

This critically acclaimed documentary film tells the story of British-Nigerian activist Femi Nylander’s journey across Africa in search of a colonial killer and to bring attention to the forgotten victims of colonial atrocity.

With a copy of Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness in hand, he seeks to discover the shocking reality of the book and the meaning and legacy of colonial horror in West Africa.