The History Of Britain

Tony Robinson takes a fresh and humorous look at British history ‘from the bottom up’. Instead of the usual stories of the powerful, rich and famous, this is history through the eyes of the common people. Each episode covers a momentous period in British history: the first series covers the Tudors, Georgians, Victorians and World War II, while the second series looks at Roman Britain, the Middle Ages, the Edwardians and the 1950’s.

Tombs Of Egyptian Priestesses

A team of Egyptian archaeologists has discovered a previously unknown cemetery that opens a window onto a unique period in the history of ancient Egypt - a time when the country was ruled by rich and powerful princesses, "The God’s Wives of Amun." We follow the excavation of the tombs in real time and witness the discovery of amazing artifacts belonging to these elite women. It was a time when Egypt was ruled by the Kushites from Nubia. To cement their rule, the Nubian kings sent their wives and daughters to rule over their new Egyptian conquests. These women embraced the local culture and religion and became known by the name of the all-powerful Egyptian god Amun. They ruled like kings, but having female rulers empowered women throughout Egyptian society. Through the discoveries in the cemetery, we explore one of the most mysterious periods of Egyptian history, when power was in the hands of women.

Hitler's British Island

Alderney, a peaceful idyll in the English Channel, a jewel of the British Crown, and home to one of the darkest chapters of Britain’s wartime history. The British Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for a long five-year period - and the atrocities committed there during that time have taken almost 80 years to come to light. How many did they murder on British soil, and why did no one face justice for their crimes? Using cutting-edge technology, declassified wartime sources and buried government files, the series will shed light on the horrors that unfolded on Alderney during the Second World War, including reports of mass graves and shootings in cold blood. Heart-breaking testimonies from the families of those that suffered provide startling revelations into the scale of the brutality inflicted upon prisoners – many of them Jews – by the SS Death’s Head Unit. Through painstaking research by expert historians and investigative journalists, the series also investigate the true fate of the perpetrators, exposing a series of deceptions at the highest levels of the British government. Nearly a century after these horrifying war crimes, are we finally closer to finding out what truly happened on Hitler’s British Island?

Curse Of The Ancients

From wars to earthquakes and floods to famines – these are the events that have helped shape our modern world. In each episode, Professor Alice Roberts takes viewers on a journey across Europe and North Africa to discover epic sites and landmarks - cities abandoned, battlefields long forgotten and civilisations toppled and lost to the mists of time. To our ancient ancestors, suffering these catastrophic events, it must have seemed they were cursed, but science is now exploding those myths and re-writing history.

What's In A Name

A fun and exciting romp through history telling the stories of the names we know best—from perfume to hockey teams and cars to cocktails. What names have worked, why, and what impact have they had? Every episode sets out to help name something new like a newly invented electric car, a mouth-watering chocolate bar, or a baby about to be born! Branding experts and celebrities weigh in - actor George Wendt (Norm from Cheers) gives tips on branding beer, wrestling legends Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan weigh in on punchy monikers in the ring, and musician Randy Bachman gives a young band tips on finding a name that rocks.

The Real Spies Among Friends

The real story behind hit drama series A Spy Among Friends. This documentary on Kim Philby, and his fellow Cambridge traitors, reveals the worst spy ring in history. From Cold War Washington to contemporary Moscow, Beirut backstreets to Buckingham Palace, the story is as gripping as any espionage thriller. The treachery of the privileged Philby, Burgess, Maclean, and Blunt shows how old school ties blinded the British establishment. Contributors include ex-officers from MI5, CIA and KGB who lift the lid on their secret tradecraft, and shed light on the ongoing threat from espionage. Ben Macintyre, author of the book behind the drama, is lead contributor.

Hindenburg: The New Evidence

Inspired by newly found amateur film footage, HINDENBURG: THE NEW EVIDENCE follows a team of aviation experts, historians and scientists as they launch a new investigation into the Hindenburg disaster. They travel to the site of the crash, Lakehurst, New Jersey, to review the historical records from 6 May 1937- weather conditions, event timelines and eyewitness accounts- and evaluate the authenticity of the newly restored film. The investigators also meet with historians who explain how the Hindenburg was constructed and observe experiments in the labs of Caltech to determine the cause of the Hindenburg tragedy.

Iconic Biographies

This collection, including a six-part series and three two-hour specials, offers a deep look at renowned historical figures who were not only significant figures in Britain, but whose leadership and legacies also had a huge impact worldwide. All the biographies will explore both sides of their personalities and characters, to present rounded portraits of them all. Historical figures included are Winston Churchill, Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Thomas Edward Lawrence. Brunel: Building A Great Britain | 1x120' HD Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Hero | 1x120' HD The Real Lawrence of Arabia | 1x120' HD Winston Churchill | 6x60' HD

Lost Worlds: Deeper Into The Black Sea

A journey to the depths of the Black Sea yields the greatest series of ancient shipwrecks ever discovered. In 2015, an international team of scientists began a three year exploration of the Black Sea in search of evidence of the ancient empires that sailed their ships into unknown waters in pursuit of trade, treasure and conquest. This documentary captures a series of astonishing discoveries; a treasure trove of shipwrecks uniquely preserved that date back 2500 years to the Greek and Roman empires, culminating in maritime archaeology’s greatest ever wreck. A fully intact Roman wreck, perfectly preserved in the anoxic waters of the Black Sea.

Mao’s Cold War

Mao’s Cold War is a stunning and unique historical angle on China’s involvement in the Cold War, told through the declassified top-secret Chinese army film record of their campaigns. There are always two sides to every story, and the PLA archive combined with first person accounts and expert commentary paints a far more complex picture of the Cold War than has ever been told before.