The story of Volodymyr Zelensky
In just over three years, Volodymyr Zelensky has gone from Ukraine’s best-known comedian to one of the world’s most recognizable leaders. He’s rallied his country in its fight for survival against Russia and has gained global respect and admiration.
This in-depth documentary tells the fascinating story of the Ukrainian president’s transformation. The BBC’s former Ukraine correspondent Jonah Fisher who followed Zelensky closely during his rise to power, explores one of the world’s most incredible political journeys.
Watch Zelensky: The Making of a President and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.
More documentaries you might like...
Elton John: Uncensored
Elton John opens up to Graham Norton about his childhood, stardom and addiction battles.
A Life in Ten Pictures - Freddie Mercury
The life of Queen's Freddie Mercury told through photographs
Arthur: King of the Britons
Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?
The Real Mo Farah
Sir Mo Farah reveals the shocking truth about his childhood and journey to Olympic golds.
Louis Theroux Interviews... Katherine Ryan
Louis meets controversial, outspoken comedian, actor and writer Katherine Ryan.
Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World
Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.
Idris Elba: Mandela, My Dad and Me
Idris Elba returns to Africa to record an album inspired by Mandela and his late father.
A Life In Ten Pictures: Bruce Lee
Can 10 unique images reveal anything about the hidden character of kung-fu icon Bruce Lee?
A Life In Ten Pictures: Nelson Mandela
The character and motivations of this iconic global figure are explored via photographs.
A Life In Ten Pictures: Ella Fitzgerald
The story of the "First Lady of Song" told through ten photographs
A Life In Ten Pictures: Carrie Fisher
The story of the iconic actress and writer told through ten iconic photos
Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World
Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.
A Life In Ten Pictures
Return of the series examining the lives of extraordinary people through ten photographs.
The Man Who Destroyed Oscar Wilde
The epic story of the famous playwright’s downfall at the hands of an old friend.
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?
Arthur: King of the Britons
Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?
Hitler: A Life In Pictures
Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.
Turkey: The Rise of Erdogan's Empire
How did Recep Tayyip Erdogan become the most powerful leader in Turkey’s recent history?
Europe’s Royals Revealed with Katty Kay
What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.
Daft Punk: Unchained
Just who are Daft Punk and how do they stay so successful while remaining so mysterious?
Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly
The astonishing story of one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s: Roberta Flack.
Princess Anne: The Seven Loves of Her Life
The complex and at times scandalous love life of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter.
Before They Were Royal
The story of Prince Philip, Camilla Parker-Bowles and more before they became royal
Schindler: The Real Story
How did Oskar Schindler differ from the one seen in the famous film?
Princess Diana: A Life After Death
How Princess Diana's tragic death and legacy changed the British monarchy forever.
Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique
Scandal and gossip stalked Princess Margaret on the luxurious island of Mustique.
A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon
Photographs help to reveal the true nature of music icon and Beatles star John Lennon.
Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Pictures
The stories behind some of the most famous and era-defining pictures of Queen Elizabeth II.
A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali
Ten photographs show a different side of boxer Muhammad Ali
Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens
Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II
The Queen Mother
The triumphs and pain that came to define the woman affectionately known as the Queen Mum.
Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing
How did a scandalous 19th-century countess help create the modern era of computing?
Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us
Get underneath the skin of the playwright to understand why his stories are so relevant today
Reclaiming Amy
The friends and family of Amy Winehouse reveal the truth about the British music icon.
David Bowie: Finding Fame
How did humble David Jones become David Bowie - an icon that transformed music forever?
Military & War
Waterloo's Warriors
The story of the Battle of Waterloo using unpublished accounts from Wellington's troops.
Julius Caesar's Greatest Battle
Exploring a crucial battle during Julius Caesar's bloody campaign to conquer Gaul.
The Men and the Machines that Beat Hitler
The story of the Fifth Royal Tank Regiment who fought during World War II
The Mysteries Of The Medieval Ship
A unique medieval ship is discovered in a Welsh river. But what secrets does it hold?
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?
I Was There: The Great War Interviews
Gripping, never-before-seen interviews with eyewitnesses of the First World War.
The Last Day Of World War One
Michael Palin tells the shocking true story of the last soldiers to die in World War I.
Ukraine: The People's Fight
Two months on the Ukrainian frontline battling alongside volunteer special forces.
Mariupol: The People's Story
The people of Mariupol share powerful, shocking stories of bravery and loss in a war zone.
Russia: 1000 Years Of History
An exploration of Russia's beginnings to its position as the biggest country in the world.
The World's Biggest Bomb
Why did American then Soviet scientists race to explode the biggest bomb of all time?
Ukraine: Lessons From the Battlefield
Understanding how the conflict in Ukraine may reshape both history and future conflict.
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 History, Politics, and Science of Psychedelics
Could psychedelic substances be used to treat a whole host of medical issues?
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
An intimate portrait of King Charles told in his own words with rare archive footage.
Rebellion: The Stuarts In Exile
How much threat did the deposed Stuart dynasty pose to the developing British state?
Charles III: Will the King Change the Monarchy?
Will King Charles III adapt the British monarchy to suit modern times?
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.
Ukraine: The People's Fight
Two months on the Ukrainian frontline battling alongside volunteer special forces.
Putin vs The West
The inside story on how Western leaders have struggled to deal with Putin over the years.
Mariupol: The People's Story
The people of Mariupol share powerful, shocking stories of bravery and loss in a war zone.
A Murder In Washington
An investigation into Seth Rich, a young staffer working for the Democrats, who was shot.
India: the Modi Question
Investigating tensions between the Indian Prime Minister and the country’s Muslim minority
Henry VIII's Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell
Was Thomas Cromwell a corrupt, ambitious politician or has history unfairly maligned him?
Hong Kong's Fight for Freedom
Under attack from the authorities, four young Hongkongers resort to violence to defend their way of life.
BBC at War
This enthralling series asks, how much did World War II shape the personality of the BBC?
Could Hitler Have Been Stopped?
Leading historians debate whether Adolf Hitler and the Nazis could have been stopped.
Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace
Why was Winston Churchill ousted from power after World War II?
KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy?
What drives people to join America's infamous white supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan?
Ukraine: Lessons From the Battlefield
Understanding how the conflict in Ukraine may reshape both history and future conflict.
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.
Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists
Louis Theroux gets close to the extreme end of the West Bank’s Jewish settler movement.
Trump Takes on the World
Donald Trump's top advisers lift the lid on the critical moments of his foreign policy.
The Cult of Conspiracy: QAnon
Who are QAnon and what effect are they having on US democracy?
The Man Putin Couldn't Kill
Did Putin really try to kill a political rival with a plot involving poisoned underpants?
Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History
From slavery to settlement, award-winning historian David Olusoga explores the history of black Britain.
The Trump Show
Protests, impeachment, and a pandemic: A front row seat to Trump’s unpredictable Presidency.
American History's Biggest Fibs
American history is fake, fact? Historian Lucy Worlsey delves deeper into US mythology.
BBC Select Email Newsletter
Sign up to be the first to know about new shows on BBC Select, the latest collection of documentaries and other content from BBC Studios we think you’ll enjoy.