Joanna Lumley takes us behind the scenes of her epic travels

Actress and Ab Fab star Joanna Lumley has clocked up masses of air miles jetting around the world during her celebrated travel documentaries. But not every moment makes it into the final cut.
In this series, Joanna takes us behind the scenes and shares unseen footage (and the occasional blooper) from her epic global adventures, starting in Japan and spanning right through to Cuba.
Watch Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.
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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.

The Silk Road
The world's first superhighway that carried goods and ideas between Europe and China.

Greeks of the Sea
With incredible wildlife and amazing seafood, Greece’s seas are truly blessed by the gods.

Joanna Lumely's Spice Trail Adventure
An epic, exotic quest through the world's greatest spice locations

Without Limits: Australia
British and Australian veterans embark on a dramatic journey across Western Australia.

Griff's Great Kiwi Road Trip
Comedian Griff Rhys Jones sets out to encounter all the splendor of New Zealand.

Griff's Great Australian Rail Trip
Comedian Griff Rhys Jones travels across Australia to find the heart of the nation.

John Bishop's Australia
Comedian John Bishop embarks on an Australian adventure, cycling from Sydney to Cairns.

The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan heads to some of the world's least likely tourist hotspots.

Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow
Historian Dan Snow undertakes a perilous journey down the dangerous Colorado River.

Bettany Hughes' Grand Tour: From Paris to Rome
Bettany Hughes explores the culinary and cultural highlights of Paris, Rome and beyond.

Border Country
What are borders, why are they created and how do they affect nations and individuals?

South Korea with Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong explores one of the most dynamic nations on earth: South Korea.

Iceland With Alexander Armstrong
Travel to the Land of Fire and Ice to learn more about its unique nature and culture.

George Clarke's Remarkable Renovations
George Clarke meets the people breathing new life into unused and unloved buildings.

Iceland With Alexander Armstrong
Travel to the Land of Fire and Ice to learn more about its unique nature and culture.

The World's Most Secret Hotels
Discover spectacular hidden gems as we explore the world's most remote luxury hotels.

The World's Most Secret Hotels
Discover spectacular hidden gems in this travel show dedicated to 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?

Christmas in New York: Inside the Plaza
Tis the season to be swanky as the luxurious Plaza hotel gets ready for Christmas.

Christmas in London
Ever wondered what Christmas is like in one of the world's most glamorous capitals?

Secrets Of Royal Travel
The unseen luxury and decadence within the royal family’s planes and trains.

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

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?

Cuba With Simon Reeve
Cubans reveal what life is like in the communist state as it flirts with capitalism.

Joanna Lumley’s Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti
Ab Fab superstar Joanna Lumley soaks up the sun, sights and sensations of Cuba and Haiti.

The World’s Most Luxurious Holidays
Need a getaway? Discover the most exclusive holiday hotspots where the mega-rich unwind.

Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure
From China, Mongolia and Russia with love: Join Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure

The Persians: A History of Iran
How was the world's first empire born and what led to its ultimate destruction?

Africa with Ade Adepitan
It's Africa, but not as you know it. Ade Adepitan explores a constantly evolving land.

Secret Cities
How much can the artistic history of a great city tell us about its character?

Archaeology: A Secret History
Better living through archeology. How can our past make sense of our present?

Kolkata with Sue Perkins
What’s life like in an Indian megacity? The Great British Baking Show host finds out.

Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby
How does a hotel become extraordinary? Our food critic and chef duo meet the pioneers.

Joanna Lumley's Japan
A fantastic voyage around Japan with British national treasure Joanna Lumley.
Culture

The Real History of Science Fiction
The genre's greatest pioneers and visionaries reveal the definitive history of Sci-Fi.

Sri Lanka with Alexander Armstrong
Comedian Alexander Armstrong heads to Sri Lanka to discover its fascinating culture.

The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain
The Hairy Bikers unearth hundreds of years of history hidden in Britain's boozers.

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.

Curse of the Ancients with Alice Roberts
A look back at cataclysmic events in ancient history that still have relevance today

World's Most Luxurious
Prepare to be dazzled as the world’s finest homes, hotels and transportation are explored.

Invasion
The remarkable history of 'invasion' in the British Isles spanning thousands of years.

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

South Korea with Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong explores one of the most dynamic nations on earth: South Korea.

Titanic and Me
After more than a century the impact of the Titanic disaster is still felt today.

Iceland With Alexander Armstrong
Travel to the Land of Fire and Ice to learn more about its unique nature and culture.

India's Partition The Forgotten Story
In 1947, India was divided in two leading to violence and death. Why did it happen?

India's Partition: The Forgotten Story
In 1947, India was divided in two leading to violence and death. Why did it happen?

The Art Of Japanese Life
The mysterious and remarkable art and culture of Japan is explored and explained.

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.

Russia: 1000 Years Of History
An exploration of Russia's beginnings to its position as the biggest country in the world.

The Last Aztec
Author DBC Pierre takes a road trip across Mexico to seek the true soul of the Aztecs.

African Apocalypse
The atrocities committed by a rogue French officer in Africa are still being felt today.

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

The World's Most Secret Hotels
Discover spectacular hidden gems in this travel show dedicated to the world’s most remote luxury hotels.

Rome: What Lies Beneath
Discover what the glory of the Roman Empire was really like using space-age technology

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.

Black Power: America's Armed Resistance
What is the Black Liberation Movement trying to achieve and what tactics do they use?

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.

Treasures of the Indus
Ancient treasures are used to chart the fascinating history of India and Pakistan.

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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