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Bradford 2025 Launch (2025) #1578
DOCUMENTARY
Main,Disk
Friday 10th January 2025. Launch of Bradford City of Culture. Coverage on: 1 BBC News at Six - National 2 BBC Look North - Regional 3 ITV Calendar - Regional |
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The Zelensky Story (2024) #1560
DOCUMENTARY
Main,Disk
3x1 hour episodes. BBC. With unique access to Volodymyr Zelensky and Olena Zelenska, this episode charts Zelensky’s extraordinary journey from aspiring comedian to president of his country. Ep 1: The Comedian and the Dictator. Opening with the collapse of the Soviet Union – an event which had a profound effect on Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in very different ways – to the Maidan Revolution sparking a political awakening in Zelensky, this episode explores his role as the Ukrainian president in the hit TV show Servant of the People and his decision to run for president in real life. Ep 2: President in the Real World. After the high of his election victory, Zelensky is forced to face political reality. Using in-depth interviews with Zelensky, his wife Olena Zelenska and their closest advisors, this episode puts viewers inside the room as Zelensky grapples with what it means to be the leader of a country. From Zelensky’s infamous phone call with Donald Trump to his only meeting with Vladimir Putin in Paris, the former comedian has a brutal initiation into the ruthless world of power politics. As Putin becomes increasingly belligerent and the drumbeat of war grows louder, Zelensky is under a huge amount of pressure. Is Ukraine prepared for war? Is Zelensky up to the job? Ep 3: War Leader. Opening in the first hours of the Russian invasion, this final episode follows explores how Zelensky used the skills he’d honed as an entertainer to galvanise people, as well as taking viewers inside Ukraine’s peace negotiations with Russia. And the Zelenskys reveal what happened in the first hours of the Russian invasion, and open up about the realities of living through war and the difficulty of making life and death decisions. |
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Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator (2023) #1521
DOCUMENTARY
Main,Disk
3x1 hour episodes. BBC. Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator BBC 2023 He came. He saw. He conquered. The tale of an ambitious power-grab that turned to tyranny. How Julius Caesar dismantled five centuries of ancient Roman democracy in just 16 years. 1 High Priest Caesar seeks to become consul, the highest political position in Rome. To do so, he enters into dangerous alliances and bends the rules of the republic, courting the popular vote, exploiting division and using bribery and intimidation to get his own way. But his unconventional approach to politics and disregard for established customs sets him at odds with the conservative elite within the senate. And one man – Cato – is hellbent on bringing him down. 2 Veni Vidi Vici Caesar has brokered an uneasy alliance with the two other most powerful men in the republic – Pompey and Crassus. Between them, they dominate the political system, and Caesar appears untouchable. He leaves Rome to take the governorship of Gaul – modern-day France – to conquer its people and win yet greater power and prestige. But events beyond his control threaten to unravel his plans and leave him isolated. Pushed into a corner, he makes a decision that will change the course of the republic forever. 3 Ides of March As Caesar takes control of Rome and consolidates his grip over the republic, he awards himself ever-greater powers. Appointed dictator for one year to restore peace, he soon extends this to ten years... then dictator for life. Caesar has become untouchable, and Rome is now – in the modern sense of the word – a dictatorship. Caesar’s ambition has turned to tyranny. A handful of senators, including some of his closest allies, plot to end his rule in the only way they can: by taking his life. But will that be enough to save the republic? |
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Remembering Harry Gration (2022) #1428
DOCUMENTARY
Main
30mins. BBC Look North - 27th June 2022. On the Monday following Friday's announcement of Harry's death the programme reflects.... |
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BBC Look North 2022-06-27 Remembering Harry (2022) #1434
DOCUMENTARY
Main
30 mins BBC Look North - Remembering Harry. Look North on the Monday (27/6/2022) following the announcement of his death the previous Friday. |
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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. |
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A Slow Odyssey: The Great Wall of China (2019) #1171
DOCUMENTARY
Main
90mins. BBC. Slow television. A spectacular aerial journey flying over the world’s longest man-made monument, the Great Wall of China. In classic slow-TV style - without commentary and using authentic location sound - fly 2,500 kilometres along the 2,300-year-old wall, from the Yellow Sea in the crowded east, near Beijing, to the remote Gobi Desert in the west. This epic adventure explores 20 location highlights of the UNESCO-world-heritage site, built by the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644, starting at Old Dragon’s Head on the east coast and ending at the extraordinary Jaiyuguan Fortress - once the gateway into China from the ancient Silk Road trading route. With the help of informative captions, witness the classic stone, crenellated walls, ramparts and watchtowers, which rise and fall over the high mountain ranges for the first 500 kilometres of the Great Wall, north of Beijing. Highlights include the famous tourist wall of Badaling, which has seen visits from 500 heads of state, including the Queen and US Presidents Nixon and Obama. It was the first section of the Great Wall to open to tourists in 1957. The middle section explores the rarely seen rammed-earth mud wall, built in provinces with few stone or brick resources, which is much more fragile. More than a third of the entire Great Wall has been destroyed by nature, war and progress over the last three centuries. There is a significant meeting of two Chinese icons as the Great Wall crosses the great Yellow River, known as the cradle of Chinese civilisation. In the final third of the journey, the wall stretches off across desolate floodplains as it starts to border the remote western Gobi Desert. Flying high above one of the last remaining ancient walled towns, its name becomes obvious - Yongtai or ‘Turtle Town’ – as its 17th-century walls and watchtowers resemble the shape of a turtle. The final dramatic climax comes at the Qilian Gorge, 80 metres above a roaring river, with the snow-capped mountains of the Tibetan plateau in the distance. The end tower is just a few kilometres from the impressive double-walled Jaiyuguan Fortress, whose three gigantic temple towers dominate the landscape, brandishing the words: ‘The First and Greatest Pass under Heaven’. This was the intimidating welcome to all new arrivals entering China from the west along the Silk Road. A Slow Odyssey is a TV first, showing The Great Wall as it has never been seen before – entirely from the air. |
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Brexit Behind Closed Doors (2019) #1195
DOCUMENTARY
Main
2x1 hour. BBC. The gripping untold story of the Brexit negotiations... from the other side. For two years, Belgian film-maker, Lode Desmet, has had exclusive access to the Brexit co ordinator of the European parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, and his close knit team. This revelatory fly-on-the-wall film captures the off-the-record conversations and arguments of the European negotiators as they devise their strategy for dealing with the British. Episode one watches as the Europeans’ respect for a formidable negotiating opponent turns into frustration and incredulity as the British fail to present a united front. At moments funny and tragic, it ends with the debacle in December 2017 when Theresa May flies in to Brussels to finalise details of a deal and is publically humiliated by her coalition partner, Arlene Foster of the DUP, who refuses to support the deal. Episode two follows the rollercoaster events from December 2017 to the present day. Europe watches on incredulously as divisions in the British parliament and cabinet become more bitter and leave the talks paralysed. Eighteen months after the referendum, Britain still does not know what it wants and spends more time discussing internally than negotiating with Europe. Respect for Britain turns to irritation and finally ridicule. |
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Our Classical Century (2019) #1198
DOCUMENTARY-MUSIC
Special
4x1hour. BBC. Our Classical Century Episode 1, 1981-1936 Wednesday 12th June at 02:00 Presented by Lenny Henry and Suzy Klein Our Classical Century Episode 2, 1936-1953 Thursday 13th June at at 02:00 Presented by John Simpson and Suzy Klein Our Classical Century Episode 3, 1953-1971 Friday 14th June at 03:00 Presented by Joan Bakewell and Suzy Klein Our Classical Century Episode 4, 1980s-Present Thursday 13th June at 21:00 Presented by Alexandra Burke and Suzy Klein |
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We Are Bradford (2019) #1207
DOCUMENTARY
Main
30mins. BBC. News Channel Friday 22nd March 2019. Highlights from a series of programmes looking at community groups in Bradford. |
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Pinocchio (2019) #1364
FILM
Main
Directed by Matteo Garrone. With Federico Ielapi, Roberto Benigni, Rocco Papaleo, Massimo Ceccherini. Old woodcarver Geppetto's puppet creation, Pinocchio, magically comes to life with dreams of becoming a real boy. Easily led astray, Pinocchio tumbles from one misadventure to another as he is tricked, kidnapped and chased by bandits. Literary Analysis Some literary analysts have described Pinocchio as an epic hero. Like many Western literary heroes, such as Odysseus, Pinocchio descends into hell; he also experiences rebirth through metamorphosis, a common motif in fantasy literature. Before writing Pinocchio, Collodi wrote a number of didactic children's stories for the then-recently unified Italy, including a series about an unruly boy who undergoes humiliating experiences while traveling the country, titled Viaggio per l'Italia di Giannettino ('Little Johnny's voyage through Italy'). Throughout Pinocchio, Collodi chastises Pinocchio for his lack of moral fiber and his persistent rejection of responsibility and desire for fun. The structure of the story of Pinocchio follows that of the folktales of peasants who venture out into the world but are naïvely unprepared for what they find, and get into ridiculous situations. At the time of the writing of the book (1883), this was a serious problem, arising partly from the industrialization of Italy, which led to a growing need for reliable labour in the cities; the problem was exacerbated by similar, more or less simultaneous, demands for labour in the industrialization of other countries. One major effect was the emigration of much of the Italian peasantry to cities and to foreign countries such as the United States. The main imperatives demanded of Pinocchio are to work, be good, and study. And in the end Pinocchio's willingness to provide for his father and devote himself to these things transforms him into a real boy with modern comforts. |
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Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago (2018) #1088
DOCUMENTARY
Main
3x1 hour. BBC. Seven celebrities tackle a medieval pilgrimage to see whether it still has relevance today. cf Pilgrimage of Compostela - Camino. 1/3 Seven celebrities arrive in Biarritz and make their way to the start of their pilgrimage. 2/3 The celebrity pilgrims leave a hostel in solidarity with Heather when she senses racism. 3/3 The group are now in Galicia, walking the last 100km to Santiago. |
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Ready Player One (2018) #1157
FILM
Main
Directed by Steven Spielberg. With Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe. When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. |
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The Grinch (2018) #1310
FILM
Main
Directed by Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier. With Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams. A grumpy Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville. |
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Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) #1132
FILM
Main
Directed by Rian Johnson. With Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher. Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares for battle with the First Order. |
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Cuckoo (2017) #1150
COMEDY
Main
4x30 min episodes. BBC. Series 2: 4. Funeral When Ken's old professor's dying wish goes wrong, Dale and Ken turn up at the funeral.... 26 MINS Series 2: 5. Ken at Work The senior partner at Ken's firm is retiring and Ken is in line for succession.... 27 MINS Series 2: 6. Neighbourhood Watch An intruder leaves Ken questioning his manliness. Rachel and Ben are moving in together.... 26 MINS Series 2: 7. Christmas Special Ben and Dale both want to make Rachel's holiday special and Ken gets stuck in the middle.... 32 MINS |
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Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors (2017) #1319
DOCUMENTARY
Special
1 hour. BBC. Lucy Worsley explores the different houses in which Jane Austen lived and stayed, to discover just how much they shaped Jane's life and novels. On a journey that takes her across England, Lucy visits properties that still exist, from grand stately homes to seaside holiday apartments, and brings to life those that have disappeared. The result is a revealing insight into one of the world's best-loved authors. |
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Perfect Pianists at the BBC (2016) #1003
MUSIC
Main
1 hour. BBC. David Owen Norris takes us on a journey through 60 years of BBC archive to showcase some of the greatest names in the history of the piano. From the groundbreaking BBC studio recitals of Benno Moiseiwitsch, Solomon and Myra Hess in the 1950s, through the legendary concerts of Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein, to more recent performances, including Alfred Brendel, Mitsuko Uchida and Stephen Hough, David celebrates some of the greatest players in a pianistic tradition which goes back to Franz Liszt in the 19th century. Filmed at the Cobbe Collection, Hatchlands Park. |
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Sing Street (2016) #1286
FILM
Main
Directed by John Carney. With Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor. A boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the mysterious girl he likes. |
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Bernstein – Stage and Screen (2015) #657
MUSIC
Main
2 hours. BBC Proms. John Wilson and his orchestra are an annual Proms highlight, bringing the glitz and glamour of old-time stage and screen to the Royal Albert Hall. The second of their two performances this year is all about Leonard Bernstein – America’s multitalented conductor, pianist and composer. He reinvented the musical with the anger, energy and feral beauty of West Side Story, his updated take on Romeo and Juliet. A starry cast of soloists including Proms favourite Julian Ovenden and the West End’s Louise Dearman join the John Wilson Orchestra and Maida Vale Singers for a tribute to the composer that includes Bernstein’s biggest hits as well as a selection of rarities. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e89v2m |