Regime of terror: a horrifying portrait of Libya’s leader from the insiders who made him.

Watch Mad Dog: Inside the Secret World of Muammar Gaddafi on BBC Select

His oil income was a billion dollars a week, and he used torture and murder to silence the opposition. Is this why Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi was called a ‘mad dog’ by Ronald Reagan?

No other dictator so cannily threatened to turn Western powers to cowed appeasers. This dense, powerful documentary interviews those he bereaved, the ones who tried to stop him – and the people who assisted his tyranny.

Watch Mad Dog: Inside the Secret World of Muammar Gaddafi and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

More documentaries you might like...

Subscribe to BBC Select for hundreds of hours of thought - provoking, award-winning and critically-acclaimed documentaries from the BBC and beyond.

Image of Ukraine flag colors and buildings in Mariupol

Mariupol: The People's Story

The people of Mariupol share powerful, shocking stories of bravery and loss in a war zone.

Image of Putin wearing sun glasses reflecting the British and US flags

Putin vs The West

The inside story on how Western leaders have struggled to deal with Putin over the years.

Stream House of Saud on BBC Select

House of Saud

Meet the prince pledging to change the world in the House of Saud

India: the Modi Question

Investigating tensions between the Indian Prime Minister and the country’s Muslim minority

Inside Taiwan: Standing Up To China

Inside Taiwan: Standing Up To China

Could China's plans regarding Taiwan put the rest of the world in extreme danger?

Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to October 7th

Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to October 7th

The definitive story of the political failings that led to the deadly attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023 and the conflict that followed.

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland

The untold stories of people caught up in the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland.

The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson

The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson

From scandal, cunning and betrayal to a disgraced downfall, how Boris Johnson's controversial career has shaped the future and character of Britain.

Politics documentaries

From accounts of the 20th century's pivotal political events to biographies of modern political figures, BBC Select brings you documentaries about the politics that shape our world.

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 good drug

The Good Drug? The History, Politics, and Science of Psychedelics

Could psychedelic substances be used to treat a whole host of medical issues?

Turkey: Rise of Erdogans Empire

Turkey: The Rise of Erdogan's Empire

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

Charles R: The Making of a Monarch

Charles R: The Making of a Monarch

An intimate portrait of King Charles told in his own words with rare archive footage.

Rebellion: The Stuarts in Exile

Rebellion: The Stuarts In Exile

How much threat did the deposed Stuart dynasty pose to the developing British state?

King George & Queen Mary The Royals Who rescued the Monarchy

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 Last Days Of Anne Boleyn

What led to the dramatic downfall and violent execution of Queen Anne Boleyn in 1536?

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.

BBC Select Free Trial

BBC Select is available on Amazon Prime Video Channels, the Apple TV app and The Roku Channel for only $5.99 a month. Start a 7-day free trial and watch a range of acclaimed documentaries from the BBC and beyond. Restrictions apply*.