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.
Watch Russia: 1000 Years Of History and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.
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Mariupol: The People's Story
The people of Mariupol share powerful, shocking stories of bravery and loss in a war zone.
Putin vs The West
The inside story on how Western leaders have struggled to deal with Putin over the years.
Hong Kong's Fight for Freedom
Under attack from the authorities, four young Hongkongers resort to violence to defend their way of life.
The Hunt for Bin Laden
How was Osama Bin Laden able to evade capture despite the intense efforts to find him?
Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World
Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.
Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World
Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.
Citizen Quinn: Bankrupt Billionaire
The remarkable rise and fall of the biggest single loser in the 2008 financial crisis.
Is China Watching You?
Should we be worried about booming sales of Chinese-built surveillance equipment?
Gay Under The Taliban
The story of young, terrified LGBTQ people trapped in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Inside Taiwan: Standing Up To China
Could China's plans regarding Taiwan put the rest of the world in extreme danger?
Border Country
What are borders, why are they created and how do they affect nations and individuals?
Boxing Day Tsunami
On Boxing Day, A tsunami hit Thailand leaving unimaginable wreckage for its victims.
India's Partition: The Forgotten Story
In 1947, India was divided in two leading to violence and death. Why did it happen?
The Shamima Begum Story: The Girl Who Joined ISIS
The story of notorious ISIS bride Shamima Begum told in her own words for the first time.
India: the Modi Question
Investigating tensions between the Indian Prime Minister and the country’s Muslim minority
The World's Biggest Bomb
Why did American then Soviet scientists race to explode the biggest bomb of all time?
The Amol Rajan Interviews: Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic discusses his incredible career and events during the pandemic
The Hunt for Russia's Superyachts
A game of cat and mouse between superyacht hunters and Russia's superrich oligarchs.
Disaster Deniers: Hunting the Trolls
Why would anybody target survivors of terrorism and tragedy with online abuse?
Tareena: Return From ISIS
The extraordinary story of Tareena Shakil, the first British woman to be jailed when returning from ISIS.
Mad Dog: Inside the Secret World of Muammar Gaddafi
Regime of terror: a horrifying portrait of Libya’s leader from the insiders who made him.
Afghanistan: The British Lion’s Last Roar?
Why did the British army’s attempts at defeating the Taliban go so disastrously wrong?
What If Putin Goes Nuclear?
As Putin put Russia's nuclear forces on high alert, could he really push the button?
Putin's War in Ukraine
Exploring the invasion of Ukraine, Putin's motives and the world's response.
Prince Andrew and The Epstein Scandal – The Newsnight Interview
In this candid interview, Andrew reveals his connection to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
The Man Putin Couldn't Kill
Did Putin really try to kill a political rival with a plot involving poisoned underpants?
The Prince and The Epstein Scandal
As Prince Andrew steps back from the public eye, the victims of Jeffrey Epstein speak out
North Korea: Voices from the Secret State
The real lives of people trapped in the world’s most secretive state
The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty
A story of succession. Rupert Murdoch and the sibling rivalry to inherit his empire.
BBC Select free trial
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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.
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.
Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures
Ab Fab legend Joanna Lumley takes viewers behind the scenes of her epic travels.
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?
History documentaries
From the dawn of civilization to the emergence of modern-day superpowers, BBC Select hosts a wide-ranging collection of world history documentaries.
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?
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.
Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World
Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.
JFK: The Home Movie that Changed the World
The little-known history of the actual 8mm film that captured the assassination of JFK.
Titanic's Tragic Twin: The Britannic Disaster
A look at how and why Titanic’s sister ship Britannic suffered a similar tragic fate.
Royal Antiques Revived
Remarkable royal items with curious pasts are restored using traditional techniques
Greeks of the Sea
With incredible wildlife and amazing seafood, Greece’s seas are truly blessed by the gods.
The Assassination of JFK
A unique retelling of the tragic death of JFK featuring expert testimony and new theories.
Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World
Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.
The Victorian Way of Death
From body-snatchers to overflowing graveyards, death in Victorian Britain is unearthed.
Royal Autopsy with Alice Roberts
Professor Alice Roberts explores the death of famous royals using 'as real' autopsies.
The Man Who Destroyed Oscar Wilde
The epic story of the famous playwright’s downfall at the hands of an old friend.
Britain's Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates and Rogues
Explore the fascinating world of British outlaws, rogues, pirates and highwaymen.
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 Battle of Britain
Britain's war against Germany seemed lost. The Battle of Britain was their last chance.
The Story of the Jews
Historian Simon Schama explores the Jewish story from ancient times to the present day.
The Warrior Queen: Boudica
Betrayed and humiliated, Boudica took on the invading Roman army and almost defeated them.
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.
Woman standing facing the right with British flags in the background
The Stuarts
The Stuart monarchs are considered merciless tyrants, but they also forged modern Britain.
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 Rebel Queen: Eleanor of Aquitaine
The astonishing monarch who was queen of both France and England
Julius Caesar's Greatest Battle
Exploring a crucial battle during Julius Caesar's bloody campaign to conquer Gaul.
The Queen Who Would Be King
The story of Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut who did the unthinkable and declared herself king.
The Men and the Machines that Beat Hitler
The story of 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 Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I
Elizabeth ruled a divided nation but became one of the most powerful leaders in history.
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.
Border Country
What are borders, why are they created and how do they affect nations and individuals?
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.
Titanic and Me
Len Goodman discovers how the impact of the Titanic disaster is still felt today.
Last Battle Of The Vikings
How did the Norsemen and their presence shape the identity and culture of Scotland?
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?
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 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.
Belsen: The Untold Story
Using survivor testimony and archive footage, the story of the infamous camp is told.
Scotland: Rome's Final Frontier
The amazing story of how Scotland became the Roman Empire's toughest military challenge.
Rome: What Lies Beneath
Discover what the glory of the Roman Empire was really like using space-age technology
Woman standing facing the right with British flags in the background
The Stuarts
The Stuart monarchs are considered merciless tyrants, but they also forged modern Britain.
Image of the profile view of a pharoh
Tutankhamun: Life, Death and Legacy
Tutankhamun: Life, Death and Legacy
Image of a court in session.
Nuremburg: The Nazi Trials
Exploring one of history’s most important trials that brought Nazis to justice
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?
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
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
Get underneath the skin of the playwright to understand why his stories are so relevant today
Ancient Worlds
An epic quest through the birth of civili`ation and the development of humanity
Ancient Treasures with Bettany Hughes
Bettany Hughes discovers new archaeological finds in Europe and the Middle East.
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.
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