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?

The Lost Voyage Of 499

Discover the story of the steamship SS Ventnor, which, in 1902, sank off Hokianga, North Island, with the remains of 499 Chinese gold miners on board

Passage

PASSAGE charts the fatal true story of John Rae (1813-1893), The Hudson’s Bay Company doctor, who solved the two great mysteries of the 19th Century: the fate of the doomed Sir John Franklin expedition, and the location of the last navigable link in the North West Passage. Rae’s findings included the tragic news that the Franklin crew had resorted to cannibalism, and it was this truth that was his undoing.

Much Ado About Shakespeare

MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE follows Steven Wadlow, a window cleaner who believes that a painted portrait that has been hanging above his family’s television set for over half a century may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Over eleven years, Steven embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about the portrait, visiting some of the world’s top art institutions. The history of the painting suggests it could be a missing portrait of William Shakespeare that had been painted during his lifetime. Facial comparison software shows a striking resemblance to The Bard, more so than any known image. Despite the art world’s skepticism, Steven’s breakthrough comes in Paris, where a renowned expert, who has examined masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, confirms his discovery. This captivating film uncovers the mystery behind a painting that could rewrite history and change Steven’s life forever.

The Lost Colony Of Roanoke: New Evidence

A definitive investigation into one of the biggest mysteries of all time - what happened to the English colonists of Roanoke Island who seemingly disappeared without a trace. This two part special follows the work of British archaeologists who try to weed through the conspiracy theories and speculation, and find the truth.

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.

Bettany Hughes' Lost Worlds: The Nabataeans

For decades, historian Bettany Hughes has been fascinated by the enigmatic kingdom of Nabataea. Petra, their iconic capital, was part of a vast empire that is only now revealing its secrets. Seemingly lost to history, it's time to tell their story and show they were as important as Ancient Greece, Rome, or Egypt. Bettany traces their incense trade routes from the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean, accessing newly revealed research across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Greece, Italy and Oman. From towering tombs to underwater temples, Bettany unveils the Nabataeans' spectacular story from the periphery of their world to its very centre.

City Guides

CITY GUIDES is a revealing series about the history of beautiful structures and their finer details, many of which are lost in the hustle and bustle of the cityscape. It is with this discerning eye for design that a city’s past, and its transformation over the years, is revealed. The first season spotlights Toronto, providing a new perspective on the stunning architecture that frames this beautiful city, while the second season episodes each focus on a different metropolis.

Operation Oblivion

In the darkest days of WWII in the Pacific, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) faced a critical obstacle to their operations in the Far East: How could their agents infiltrate Japanese-occupied territories and establish links with the Chinese resistance without sticking out like a sore thumb? This documentary film will uncover the stories of a group of 12 Chinese-Canadians and their secret training under the guidance of British SOE operatives. OPERATION OBLIVION combines newly shot interviews and never-before-seen images with animated sequences that vividly recreate the remarkable stories of Force 136.

Pride And Prostitution

From brothels for the working-classes to highly secretive high-society sex clubs, PRIDE AND PROSTITUTION follows the true account of Fanny Murray, the woman who rose from street vendor to darling of the Royal court by working her way up the sex ladder. With expert testimony from Regency sex historians and dramatic reconstruction following Fanny’s life; PRIDE AND PROSTITUTION throws candlelight into the shadows of the Georgian sex industry and discovers that it was anything but a period of high morals and sexual restraint.