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*.

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Elton John Interview BBC

Elton John: Uncensored

Elton John opens up to Graham Norton about his childhood, stardom and addiction battles.

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A Life in Ten Pictures - Freddie Mercury

The life of Queen's Freddie Mercury told through photographs

Stream Gauguin: The Full Story on BBC Select

Gauguin: The Full Story

Why was the life of influential artist Paul Gauguin mired in controversy and conflict?

Dynasties The Families That changed the World

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.

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Idris Elba: Mandela, My Dad and Me

Idris Elba returns to Africa to record an album inspired by Mandela and his late father.

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A Life In Ten Pictures: Bruce Lee

Can 10 unique images reveal anything about the hidden character of kung-fu icon Bruce Lee?

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A Life In Ten Pictures: Nelson Mandela

The character and motivations of this iconic global figure are explored via photographs.

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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

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur

The life of Tupac Shakur told through 10 photographs

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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 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

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

Marie Antoinette is considered decadent, uncaring, and reprehensible. But is this fair?

Arthur: King of the Britons

Arthur: King of the Britons

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

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

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?

Europe’s Royals Revealed

Europe’s Royals Revealed with Katty Kay

What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.

Europe’s Royals Revealed

Europe’s Royals Revealed with Katty Kay

What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.

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Daft Punk: Unchained

Just who are Daft Punk and how do they stay so successful while remaining so mysterious?

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Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly

The astonishing story of one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s: Roberta Flack.

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The Source Family

Meet Father Yod and his wild 1970s Hollywood commune, rock band and health restaurant.

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The Source Family

The story of Father Yod and his wild 1970s utopian living experiment.

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Princess Anne: The Seven Loves of Her Life

The complex and at times scandalous love life of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter.

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Billie Jean King

The tennis legend opens up about her incredible life and career

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic discusses his incredible career and events during the pandemic

Before They Were Royals

Before They Were Royal

The story of Prince Philip, Camilla Parker-Bowles and more before they became royal

Watch Schindler: The Real Story on BBC Select

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.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse

The story of Amy Winehouse told through 10 photos

King Charles III: Born to be King

Born To Be King

What will new British monarch King Charles III bring to the role?

Watch Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique with BBC Select

Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique

Scandal and gossip stalked Princess Margaret on the luxurious island of Mustique.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon

Photographs help to reveal the true nature of music icon and Beatles star John Lennon.

BBC When The Queen Spoke to the Nation

When the Queen Spoke to the Nation

Exploring the Queen’s annual Christmas Day messages and other special addresses.

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Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Pictures

The stories behind some of the most famous and era-defining pictures of Queen Elizabeth II.

Watch A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A look back at the life of Queen Elizabeth II

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali

Ten photographs show a different side of boxer Muhammad Ali

Surviving the Holocaust

Surviving the Holocaust

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur

The life of Tupac Shakur told through 10 photographs

Watch Napoleon with BBC Select

Napoleon

The story of Napoleon

Stream Rembrandt on BBC Select

Rembrandt

Did scandal and torment drive the artist to even greater creative glories?

Thatcher and Reagan Documentary

Thatcher & Reagan

What was the attraction between these two world leaders and how did it change history?

Watch Elizabeth I & II: Golden Queens on BBC Select

Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens

Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II

The Duke In His Words Documentary

The Duke in his Own Words

This reflective film remembers The Duke of Edinburgh

My Years with the Queen

What’s it like to be close friends with Queen Elizabeth II? Lady Pamela Hicks reveals all.

Stream Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal? on BBC Select

Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal?

Henry Kissinger: canny political operator or a despicable war criminal?

Watch The Queen Mother on BBC Select

The Queen Mother

The triumphs and pain that came to define the woman affectionately known as the Queen Mum.

Watch Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing on BBC Select

Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing

How did a scandalous 19th-century countess help create the modern era of computing?

Stream Confucius on BBC Select

Confucius

The remarkable story of a great thinker who helped to form a nation and shape the world.

Watch Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us on BBC Select

Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us

Get underneath the skin of the playwright to understand why his stories are so relevant today

Watch Gandhi on BBC Select

Gandhi

His reputation is uncontroversial. The reality couldn’t be more different.

Watch In Louboutin’s Shoes on BBC Select

In Louboutin's Shoes

Sole man. Inside the fashion world of footwear designer Christian Louboutin.

Watch Joanna Lumley's Britain on BBC Select

Joanna Lumley’s Britain

Explore Great Britain in this charming travel series

Stream Reclaiming Amy on BBC Select

Reclaiming Amy

The friends and family of Amy Winehouse reveal the truth about the British music icon.

Watch Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards on BBC Select

Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards

What drives the legendary shoe designer and self-confessed 'cobbler' Manolo Blahnik?

Watch David Bowie Finding Fame on BBC Select

David Bowie: Finding Fame

How did humble David Jones become David Bowie - an icon that transformed music forever?

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Vincent: The Full Story

What do we really know about Vincent van Gogh, arguably the world’s most famous artist?

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Military & War

Waterloo's Warriors

Waterloo's Warriors

The story of the Battle of Waterloo using unpublished accounts from Wellington's troops.

Julius Caesar's Greatest Battle

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 Men and the Machines that Beat Hitler

The story of the Fifth Royal Tank Regiment who fought during World War II

Mysteries of the medieval ship

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

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

Nelson: Britain's Great Naval Hero

The scandals, secrets, and strategies of one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes: Nelson.

nazis a warning from history

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 WW1

The Last Day Of World War One

Michael Palin tells the shocking true story of the last soldiers to die in World War I.

Russia: 1000 Years Of History

An exploration of Russia's beginnings to its position as the biggest country in the world.

Ukraine: The People's Fight

Two months on the Ukrainian frontline battling alongside volunteer special forces.

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.

Russia: 1000 Years Of History

An exploration of Russia's beginnings to its position as the biggest country in the world.

Man in a gas mask carrying the Ukrainian flag

Mariupol: The People's Story

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

Collage image of the US flag and the USSR symbol in the shape of a missile

The World's Biggest Bomb

Why did American then Soviet scientists race to explode the biggest bomb of all time?

Collage image of the US flag and the USSR symbol in the shape of a missile

The World's Biggest Bomb

Why did American then Soviet scientists race to explode the biggest bomb of all time?

War Crimes in Ukraine BBC

War in Ukraine: The Missing Men of Mucha

A powerful account of love in the face of terror

Leaving Afghanistan BBC

Leaving Afghanistan

Exploring attempts to end the war in Afghanistan

Ukraine Lessons from the Battlefield BBC

Ukraine: Lessons From the Battlefield

Understanding how the conflict in Ukraine may reshape both history and future conflict.

Stream The Hunt for Bin Laden on BBC Select

The Hunt for Bin Laden

How was Osama Bin Laden able to evade capture despite the intense efforts to find him?

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.

Thatcher and Reagan Documentary

Thatcher & Reagan

What was the attraction between these two world leaders and how did it change history?

Stream Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal? on BBC Select

Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal?

Henry Kissinger: canny political operator or a despicable war criminal?

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.

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.

Charles III: Will the King Change the Monarchy?

Charles III: Will the King Change the Monarchy?

Will the new king of the UK change the monarchy to help it survive in the modern world?

Rebellion: The Stuarts in Exile

Rebellion: The Stuarts In Exile

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

Rebellion: The Stuarts in Exile

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?

Charles III: Will the King Change the Monarchy?

Will King Charles III adapt the British monarchy to suit modern times?

Edward VII: Prince of Pleasure

Edward VII: Prince of Pleasure

Unravelling the mystery of King Edward VII to understand how his legacy is still relevant today.

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.

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.

Born to be the king

Born To Be The King

What does the future hold for the heir to the British throne, Prince George?

Boxing Day Tsunami

Boxing Day Tsunami

On Boxing Day, A tsunami hit Thailand leaving unimaginable wreckage for its victims.

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 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.

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.

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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.

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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

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Henry VIII's Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell

Was Thomas Cromwell a corrupt, ambitious politician or has history unfairly maligned him?

The Amol Rajan Interviews: Billie Jean King

The tennis legend opens up about her incredible life and career

The Stuarts

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.

Storming the Capitol: The Inside Story

Watch Hong Kong's Fight for Freedom on BBC Select

Hong Kong's Fight for Freedom

Under attack from the authorities, four young Hongkongers resort to violence to defend their way of life.

Magna Carta

David Starkey explores the origins of the Magna Carta

Watch Churchill's First World War on BBC Select

Churchill's First World War

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's extraordinary experiences during World War I.

Trump The Comeback Documentary

Trump: The Comeback?

Could Donald Trump return to the White House in 2024?

BBC When The Queen Spoke to the Nation

When the Queen Spoke to the Nation

Exploring the Queen’s annual Christmas Day messages and other special addresses.

Leaving Afghanistan BBC

Leaving Afghanistan

Exploring attempts to end the war in Afghanistan

Stream BBC at War on BBC Select

BBC at War

This enthralling series asks, how much did World War II shape the personality of the BBC?

Stream Could Hitler Have Been Stopped? on BBC Select

Could Hitler Have Been Stopped?

Leading historians debate whether Adolf Hitler and the Nazis could have been stopped.

Stream Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace on BBC Select

Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace

Why was Winston Churchill ousted from power after World War II?

Watch KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy? on BBC Select

KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy?

What drives people to join America's infamous white supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan?

The Whistleblowers: Inside the UN

Does the United Nations punish whistleblowers and protect abusers to cover up the truth?

Ukraine Lessons from the Battlefield BBC

Ukraine: Lessons From the Battlefield

Understanding how the conflict in Ukraine may reshape both history and future conflict.

Watch Vladimir Putin's Russia on BBC Select

Putin's Russia

Votes for Vladimir. Meeting Putin’s biggest fans.

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

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.

Watch Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists on BBC Select

Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists

Louis Theroux gets close to the extreme end of the West Bank’s Jewish settler movement.

Watch Gandhi on BBC Select

Gandhi

His reputation is uncontroversial. The reality couldn’t be more different.

Watch Louis Theroux: The Return Of America’s Most Hated Family on BBC Select

Louis Theroux: The Return Of America’s Most Hated Family

Revisiting the Westboro Baptist Church and the Phelps family once again

Watch Trump Takes on the World on BBC Select

Trump Takes on the World

Donald Trump's top advisers lift the lid on the critical moments of his foreign policy.

Watch The Cult of Consiracy: QAnon documentary on BBC Select

The Cult of Conspiracy: QAnon

Who are QAnon and what effect are they having on US democracy?

Watch The Man Putin Couldn't Kill documentary on BBC Select

The Man Putin Couldn't Kill

Did Putin really try to kill a political rival with a plot involving poisoned underpants?

Stream Nixon - In the Den on BBC Select

Nixon in the Den

Was President Nixon a visionary on China? Davin Reynolds investigates in Nixon in the Den

Watch China: A New World Order on BBC Select

China: A New World Order

President Xi Jinping’s extraordinary first years ruling China.

Stream Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History on BBC Select

Africa and Britain: A Forgotten History

From slavery to settlement, award-winning historian David Olusoga explores the history of black Britain.

Stream Are You Scared Yet, Human? on BBC Select

Are You Scared Yet, Human?

Should we worry about the effect that Artificial Intelligence could have on our lives?

Stream The Trump Show on BBC Select

The Trump Show

Protests, impeachment, and a pandemic: A front row seat to Trump’s unpredictable Presidency.

Stream American History's Biggest Fibs on BBC Select

American History's Biggest Fibs

American history is fake, fact? Historian Lucy Worlsey delves deeper into US mythology.