| 21 |
Why Ships Crash (2022) #1396
FILM
Main
1 hour. BBC. On 23 March 2021, the Ever Given – one of the largest container ships ever built – ploughed into the sandy bank of the Suez Canal, blocking the entire waterway. It stopped all traffic in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world for almost a week, causing a ‘ship jam’ of over 300 vessels and delaying deliveries of billions of pounds of vital food, fuel and medical supplies. The disruption to the global supply chain lasted for months. How did such an advanced ship crash in one of the most closely monitored shipping lanes in the world? How did a team of engineers free the ship in just six days? And who or what is to blame? Using never-before seen footage, testimony from witnesses speaking for the very first time, and expert analysis, this documentary aims to uncover the inside story of the Ever Given accident. And with over 2,500 shipping incidents a year, the film also asks if this was just a freak accident or whether it reveals a serious weakness in the world’s critical supply chain. |
| 22 |
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (2022) #1403
TV DRAMA
Main
BBC. cbeebies. Children's bedtime story. The Duchess of Cambridge will become the latest famous face to settle down and read a children's book on Cbeebies Bedtime Stories, it has been announced. Kate, 40, will narrate one of her favourite children's books, The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Jill Tomlinson. |
| 23 |
The Gondoliers (2022) #1409
MUSIC
Main
150 mins. BBC. One of the finest of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas in a sumptuous production by Scottish Opera. Sunny, funny and with more 'tra-la-las' per square inch than any other opera in the canon, The Gondoliers is a joy from start to finish. This witty satire is jam-packed with unforgettable star roles, musical highlights and dancing, including numbers such as Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes, Regular Royal Queen and the Cachucha. The Gondoliers is a charming poke at the appeals and pitfalls of rulership, privilege and cronyism. Two happy-go-lucky Venetian gondoliers, Marco and Giuseppe, discover that one of them is, in fact, heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. True to their (adopted) republican roots, they set off together to rule in idealistic if somewhat chaotic style. Marco and Giuseppe have just chosen their brides, Gianetta and Tessa, when their lives are thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the grand inquisitor, Don Alhambra, who informs them that one of them has acquired the throne of the distant Kingdom of Barataria. The Duke of Plaza-Toro brings his daughter to meet Don Alhambra because she has been betrothed to the new monarch - whichever he is. No-one can identify which of the gondoliers is to be the king, so they both agree to go and rule jointly and according to their strict republican instincts. It’s a fine but exhausting ideal, as they find that ‘equality’ means they end up doing all the work themselves. The Duke of Plaza-Toro, bringing his daughter, arrives in the chaotic kingdom, and after vain attempts to teach the monarchs decorum and judgement, the confusion and incompetence is resolved, and the rightful monarch is in place. In a co-production by D’Oyly Carte Opera and State Opera South Australia, Stuart Maunder directs the production with fun, verve and taste, with Scottish Opera’s music director, Derek Clark, conducting one of Arthur Sullivan’s most attractive and affecting scores. The designs are by Dick Bird, drawing on views of Venice by Canaletto and creating colourful costumes full of style and wit. Isabel Baquero has devised an energetic and boisterous choreography that matches the joy of the production. |
| 24 |
The Gondoliers (2022) #1410
MUSIC
Special
150 mins. BBC. One of the finest of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas in a sumptuous production by Scottish Opera. Sunny, funny and with more 'tra-la-las' per square inch than any other opera in the canon, The Gondoliers is a joy from start to finish. This witty satire is jam-packed with unforgettable star roles, musical highlights and dancing, including numbers such as Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes, Regular Royal Queen and the Cachucha. The Gondoliers is a charming poke at the appeals and pitfalls of rulership, privilege and cronyism. Two happy-go-lucky Venetian gondoliers, Marco and Giuseppe, discover that one of them is, in fact, heir to the throne of a distant kingdom. True to their (adopted) republican roots, they set off together to rule in idealistic if somewhat chaotic style. Marco and Giuseppe have just chosen their brides, Gianetta and Tessa, when their lives are thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the grand inquisitor, Don Alhambra, who informs them that one of them has acquired the throne of the distant Kingdom of Barataria. The Duke of Plaza-Toro brings his daughter to meet Don Alhambra because she has been betrothed to the new monarch - whichever he is. No-one can identify which of the gondoliers is to be the king, so they both agree to go and rule jointly and according to their strict republican instincts. It’s a fine but exhausting ideal, as they find that ‘equality’ means they end up doing all the work themselves. The Duke of Plaza-Toro, bringing his daughter, arrives in the chaotic kingdom, and after vain attempts to teach the monarchs decorum and judgement, the confusion and incompetence is resolved, and the rightful monarch is in place. In a co-production by D’Oyly Carte Opera and State Opera South Australia, Stuart Maunder directs the production with fun, verve and taste, with Scottish Opera’s music director, Derek Clark, conducting one of Arthur Sullivan’s most attractive and affecting scores. The designs are by Dick Bird, drawing on views of Venice by Canaletto and creating colourful costumes full of style and wit. Isabel Baquero has devised an energetic and boisterous choreography that matches the joy of the production. 2 DVDs - Act I & Act II |
| 25 |
The Split (2022) #1417
TV DRAMA
Special
6x1 hour. BBC. 1/6 Hannah’s amicable divorce falters when she discovers Nathan has a new girlfriend. 2/6 Hannah’s relationship with Nathan unravels, whilst Rose struggles to cope with her grief. 3/6 Hannah is caught off guard by Christie’s return, and Rose has a clear-out. 4/6 Hannah allows herself to dream of a life with Christie. 5/6 Hannah sets off for her family camping trip, and Nina learns the truth about Tyler. 6/6 Hannah makes a decision that shapes everyone's futures. |
| 26 |
Art That Made Us (2022) #1419
DOCUMENTARY
Special
8x1 hour episodes. BBC. An epic story of creativity. How works of art from Britain's past have shaped us. Some are surprising, others familiar - but all are at the heart of dramatic moments of change. Art that Made Us is a landmark eight-part series for BBC Two. Through 1500 years and eight dramatic turning points, the series presents an alternative history of the British Isles, told through art. Leading British creatives, including Simon Armitage, Anthony Gormley, Lubaina Himid, Maxine Peake and Michael Sheen join cultural historians to explore key cultural works that define each age. 1/8 Lights in the Darkness. Contemporary artists encounter artworks from a period once known as the 'dark' ages. 2/8 Revolution of the Dead. Literature, music and art find creative renewal in the aftermath of the Black Death. 3/8 Queens, Feuds and Faith. The religious revolution of the 16th century creates radical and surprising works of art. 4/8 To Kill a King.A splintering of politics and religion under the Stuarts leads to more questioning art. 5/8 Consumers and Conscience. In the 18th century, an age of exploitation stirs a growing social conscience. 6/8 Rise of the Cities. The industrial revolution forces artists to respond to upheaval in life and the landscape. 7/8 Wars and Peace. The savagery of the world wars changes British art forever. 8/8 Brilliant Isles. New and more diverse voices emerge after the 1960s, enriching British art. |
| 27 |
Isla (2022) #1422
FILM
Main
1 hour. BBC. During lockdown in 2020 a retired headmaster is given a smart speaker (Isla) by his daughter. Soon there will be more voice-activated digital assistants than people. All are female-gendered. Roger needs company, and he doesn’t want a dog. When his daughter Erin buys him the latest Isla digital assistant, an unexpected relationship between man and technology emerges. But who's really in control? This thought-provoking, and at times troubling, dark comedy written by playwright Tim Price, has been adapted for television following its world premiere at Theatr Clwyd in North Wales. It was helmed by the theatre’s artistic director Tamara Harvey and stars Mark Lambert as retired teacher Roger, who is struggling with lockdown following the death of his wife. Lisa Zahra plays his concerned-but-busy daughter, who thinks a smart speaker is the perfect home help for her lonely dad, but never imagined it would lead to a visit from the police as well as surprising and sometimes upsetting revelations from his past. Expect laughs, technology-induced frustration and some strong language. |
| 28 |
Lucy Worsley Investigates (2022) #1426
DOCUMENTARY
Main
4x1 hour. BBC. Lucy Worsley investigates the mysteries of some of the most infamous and brutal chapters in British history, finding new witnesses and compelling evidence. What will she uncover? 1 The Witch Hunts We all think we know what we mean by a witch, but behind the clichés of pointy hats and broomsticks lies a terrifying history that’s been largely forgotten. Four hundred years ago, thousands of ordinary people, the vast majority of them women, were hunted down, tortured and killed in witch hunts across Scotland and England. Lucy Worsley investigates what lay behind these horrifying events. She begins her investigation in North Berwick, a seaside town not far from Edinburgh, where the witch hunting craze began. The story goes that, in 1590, a coven of witches gathered here to cast a spell to try to kill the King of Scotland, James VI. Using an account from the time called Newes from Scotland and other first-hand sources, Lucy uncovers a web of political intrigue that led to a woman called Agnes Sampson, a faith healer and midwife, being investigated. She was accused of witchcraft and interrogated at Holyrood Castle by King James himself before being tortured and executed. Agnes was caught in a perfect storm: hardline Protestant reformers wanting to make Scotland devout, a king out to prove himself a righteous leader, and a new ideology which claimed the Devil was actively recruiting women as witches. Under torture, Agnes gave the names of her supposed accomplices, some 59 other innocent people, resulting in the first successful large-scale witch hunt in Scotland. Its brutal success made it the model for trials rolled out across Scotland and England for the next hundred years. 2 The Black Death How did the Black Death change Britain? Lucy Worsley examines the latest science and explores how the huge death toll affected religious beliefs, class structure, work and women. 3 Princes in the Tower What really happened to the princes in the tower? Lucy Worsley uncovers the story of the two boys whose disappearance in 1483 has led to centuries of mystery and speculation. 4 Madness of King George How did George’s mental illness change Britain? Lucy Worsley uncovers Royal papers and explores how the attempt on his life by a mentally ill subject changed psychiatry forever. |
| 29 |
My Government and I (2022) #1444
DOCUMENTARY
Main
1 Hour. BBC. Once a week, the prime minister had a private audience with Her Majesty the Queen, just as Sir Winston Churchill did at the start of her reign. With the help of her surviving prime ministers, William Shawcross examines this critical relationship at the heart of our constitutional system. Featuring interviews with Baroness Thatcher, Lord Callaghan, Sir Edward Heath, Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Theresa May and Boris Johnson. |
| 30 |
Stradivarius and Me (2022) #1447
DOCUMENTARY
Special
The name of 17th-century violin maker Antonio Stradivari - or Stradivarius as he is usually known - is one that sends shivers down the spine of music lovers the world over. During his lifetime Stradivari made over 1,000 instruments, about 650 of which still survive. Their sound is legendary and for any violinist the opportunity to play one is a great privilege. Clemency Burton-Hill indulges in her lifelong passion for the instrument as she explores the mysterious life and lasting influence of Stradivari - through four special violins on display at this summer's Stradivarius exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. She is joined by 2002 Young Musician of the Year winner Jennifer Pike to put some of the violins in the exhibition through their paces. |
| 31 |
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) #1456
FILM
Main
32mins. BBC. Follows a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse, as they create an unexpected friendship and travel together in the boy's search for home. |
| 32 |
This New Noise (2022) #1458
MUSIC
Main
1 hour. BBC Proms. Prom 58: Public Service Broadcasting – This New Noise BBC Proms2022 Live at the BBC Proms: Retro-futurist rockers Public Service Broadcasting celebrate 100 glorious years of BBC Radio with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jules Buckley. Presented by Elizabeth Alker, live from the Royal Albert Hall, London. Public Service Broadcasting: This New Noise (BBC commission: world premiere) Public Service Broadcasting BBC Symphony Orchestra Jules Buckley (conductor) Archive footage, soundscapes, dancing astronauts and a flashing, blinking Sputnik right here in the Royal Albert Hall – when cult ‘retro-futurists’ Public Service Broadcasting brought The Race to Space to the Proms in 2019, it’s safe to say that the results were out of this world. So in the year that the BBC celebrates a century of – well, public-service broadcasting – it makes perfect sense to invite them back with This New Noise: a joyously eclectic, album-length celebration of 100 years of BBC Radio, backed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and delivered with all the wit and showmanship of a band on an ongoing mission to ‘teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future’. 1. Ripples in the Ether (Towards the Infinite) 2. This New Noise 3. An Unusual Man 4. A Cello Sings in Daventry [ft. Seth Lakeman] 5. Broadcasting House 6. The Microphone (The Fleet is Lit Up) 7. A Candle Which Will Not Be Put Out 8. What of the Future? (In Touch with the Infinite) |
| 33 |
An Irish Goodbye (2022) #1470
FILM
Main
An Irish Goodbye: Directed by Tom Berkeley, Ross White. With Michelle Fairley, Paddy Jenkins, James Martin, Seamus O'Hara. In rural Northern Ireland, a pair of estranged brothers reunite following their mother's untimely death. 22 mins. BBC. Oscar winning short film. |
| 34 |
The Lost King (2022) #1484
FILM
Main
The Lost King: Directed by Stephen Frears. With Sally Hawkins, Shonagh Price, Helen Katamba, Lewis Macleod. An amateur historian defies the stodgy academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III's remains, which were lost for over 500 years. |
| 35 |
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) #1501
FILM
Disk
1h 54m Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them. |
| 36 |
Fisherman's Friends: One and All (2022) #1561
FILM
Disk
1h 51m Following the success of their first album, the Fisherman's Friends struggle to adjust to their new-found fame and work towards a second album. |
| 37 |
The Matrix Resurrections (2021) #1431
FILM
Main
The Matrix Resurrections: Directed by Lana Wachowski. With Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff. Return to a world of two realities: one, everyday life; the other, what lies behind it. To find out if his reality is a construct, to truly know himself, Mr. Anderson will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more |
| 38 |
9/11: Inside the President's War Room (2021) #1374
DOCUMENTARY
Main
90mins. BBC. Twenty years ago, at 9.03am on 11 September 2001, the second of four hijacked planes hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. America was under attack. President George W Bush was sitting in front of seven-year-olds in a classroom in Florida. Members of the president’s security detail thought the next plane could be aimed at them. A first draft of history and a claustrophobic clock-ticking thriller, this film tells the story of the presidency on arguably the most consequential day in recent history. How should a government deal with a large scale terrorist attack that used four commercial aircraft as missiles? How would they cope with losing their friends? And how could they respond? As the clock ticks, the administration make the greatest decisions of their lives: should they order fighter jets to shoot on American civilians? Should the president declare war or calm a battered nation? How would the leadership of the most powerful nation on earth grapple with the national and international implications? This documentary tells the definitive story of the Bush administration through 12 hours of that momentous day, with first-hand testimony from President Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and other senior staff who had their hands on the levers of power. The events of that day led to two decades of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq. As America and its allies now withdraw from Afghanistan and the Taliban resume control, this is the story of how it all began. |
| 39 |
BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020 (2021) #1363
MUSIC
Main
2 hours. BBC. Recorded Sunday May 2nd 2021 following COVID delay. The long-awaited grand final of BBC Young Musician 2020, delayed for a full year, will see three exceptional musicians compete for one of music’s most coveted titles. The finalists have had to wait for their moment in the spotlight, but it’s certain that the brilliance of the music-making will be even more special as the twenty-second edition of the contest reaches its much anticipated conclusion. The grand final takes place at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, where each finalist will perform a full concerto with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and celebrated British conductor Mark Wigglesworth. Presenters Anna Lapwood, Josie d’Arby and Jess Gillam – herself a finalist in 2016 – are on hand to guide you through proceedings. Joining Anna with expert analysis is the 1980 winner of the title, oboist and conductor Nicholas Daniel. A judging panel featuring some of the UK’s leading musical figures is tasked with making what is always a difficult decision. They are clarinettist and composer Mark Simpson, winner of BBC Young Musician in 2006, British-Iranian experimental composer, turntablist and artist Shiva Feshareki, principal conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ryan Bancroft, award-winning composer and performer Errollyn Wallen, MBE, and returning to chair the jury, the chief executive of performance venue Saffron Hall, Angela Dixon. As well as the performances by the three finalists, we will also see a return to the competition for a very special performance by the 2018 winner, pianist Lauren Zhang. Who will follow in her footsteps? All will be revealed at the end of what promises to be a thrilling finale to BBC Young Musician 2020. |
| 40 |
Imagine: Tom Stoppard: A Charmed Life (2021) #1377
DOCUMENTARY
Main
90 mins. BBC. Tom Stoppard is perhaps the world’s leading, funniest and cleverest playwright. Ever since he hit the ground running in the 1960s with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, there has always been a streak of melancholy beneath the sparkling surface of his work. Now with his latest play, Leopoldstadt, he comes full circle and faces up to the pain and loss in his past. In this programme, he tells Alan Yentob his extraordinary story. |
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