The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us and what remains of Bradshaw's Britain, as he follows the route of the Irish mail from Ledbury to Holyhead.
Michael tastes the Victorian drink perry, a kind of pear cider, gets up close and personal with a pedigree Hereford bull and visits the grandfather of all skyscrapers, the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.
In the 1530s, King Henry VIII was at a crossroads. In his desperation for a new wife and an heir he had broken with Rome, divorced Catherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn. Isolated and vulnerable, he needed a powerful new image as head of church and state.
In the second of a two-part documentary, architectural historian Jonathan Foyle looks for clues in the king's art to glimpse what was going on inside his head as he faced his darkest days.
Fifty years ago every UK town had a variety theatre. Michael Grade tells the story of this lost world.
Eminent classical historian Robin Lane Fox embarks on a journey in search of the origins of the Greek myths. He firmly believes that these fantastical stories lie at the root of western culture, and yet little is known about where the myths of the Greek gods came from, and how they grew. Now, after 35 years of travelling, excavation and interpretation, he is confident he has uncovered answers.
From the ancient lost city of Hattusas in modern Turkey to the smouldering summit of the Sicilian volcano Mount Etna, the documentary takes the viewer on a dazzling voyage through the Mediterranean world of the 8th century BC, as we follow in the slipstream of an intrepid and mysterious group of merchants and adventurers from the Greek island of Euboea. It's in the experiences of these now forgotten people that Lane Fox is able to pinpoint the stories and encounters, the journeys and the landscapes that provided the source material for key Greek myths.
And along the way, he brings to life these exuberant tales - of castration and baby eating, the birth of human sexual love, and the titanic battles with giants and monsters from which the gods of Greek myth were to emerge victorious.
The final instalment looks at the problems disabled people faced as they moved out of institutions and into the community. The 1980s and 90s proved to be a turning point as more people were prepared to fight for wider recognition and rights.
THURSDAY 24 MAY 2012
THU 19:00 World News Today (b01hznc2)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
THU 19:30 Top of the Pops (b01j0wxj)
12/05/77
Jimmy Savile looks at the weekly pop chart from 1977 and introduces Honky, Blue, Trinidad Oil Company, Simon May, Martyn Ford, Mud, Billy Paul, Dr Feelgood, Barbra Streisand, 10cc, Kenny Rogers and Deniece Williams, with a dance sequence from Legs & Co.
THU 20:00 Munro: Mountain Man (b00mwgyq)
Little more than 100 years ago, Scottish mountains standing at more than 3,000 feet were virtually unknown. Today they are familiar terrain to many thousands of climbers, thanks to Victorian adventurer Hugh Munro's determination to list the high peaks which now define the highlands and islands of Scotland.
This documentary tells the story of the magnificent peaks that bear his name and the people who have been possessed by them.
The birth of this obsession - now known as Munrobagging - is a twisting tale of intrigue, which presenter Nicholas Crane unravels high on the ridges and pinnacles of some of Scotland's most spectacular mountains.
THU 21:00 The Eiger: Wall of Death (b00tlwj3)
A history of one of the world's most challenging mountains, the Eiger, and its infamous north face. The film gets to the heart of one of Europe's most notorious peaks, exploring its character and its impact on the people who climb it and live in its awesome shadow.
THU 22:00 Natural World (b00tj7j4)
2010-2011
The Himalayas
Documentary looking at the wildlife of the most stunning mountain range in the world, home to snow leopards, Himalayan wolves and Tibetan bears.
Snow leopards stalk their prey among the highest peaks. Concealed by snowfall, the chase is watched by golden eagles circling above. On the harsh plains of the Tibetan plateau live extraordinary bears and square-faced foxes hunting small rodents to survive. In the alpine forests, dancing pheasants have even influenced rival border guards in their ritualistic displays. Valleys carved by glacial waters lead to hillsides covered by paddy fields containing the lifeline to the east, rice. In this world of extremes, the Himalayas reveal not only snow-capped mountains and fascinating animals but also a vital lifeline for humanity.
THU 23:00 Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls (b01j2fcq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Tuesday]
THU 00:00 Top of the Pops (b01j0wxj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
THU 00:40 Birdsong (b01bmyfj)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Monday]
THU 02:00 Munro: Mountain Man (b00mwgyq)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
THU 03:00 The Eiger: Wall of Death (b00tlwj3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
FRIDAY 25 MAY 2012
FRI 19:00 World News Today (b01hznd6)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
FRI 19:30 Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma (b01j0yys)
The composer Frederick Delius is often pictured as the blind, paralysed and caustic old man he eventually became, but in his youth he was tall, handsome, charming and energetic - not Frederick at all for most of his life, but Fritz. He was a contemporary of Elgar and Mahler, yet forged his own musical language, with which he always tried to capture the pleasure of the moment.
Using evidence from his friend, the Australian composer Percy Grainger, who reported that Delius 'practised immorality with puritanical stubbornness', this film by John Bridcut explores the multiple contradictions of his colourful life. Delius has long been renowned for his depiction of the natural environment, with pieces such as On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, yet his music is usually steeped in the sensuality and eroticism that he himself experienced.
The documentary features specially-filmed performances by the widely-acclaimed Danish interpreters of Delius, the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bo Holten, as well as the chamber choir, Schola Cantorum of Oxford.
FRI 21:00 Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (b01j0yyv)
John Edginton's documentary explores the making of Pink Floyd's ninth studio album, Wish You Were Here, which was released in September 1975 and went on to top the album charts both in the UK and the US.
Featuring new interviews with band members Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason alongside contributions from the likes of sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson and photographer Jill Furmanovsky, the film is a forensic study of the making of the follow-up to 1973's Dark Side of the Moon, which was another conceptual piece driven by Roger Waters.
The album wrestles with the legacy of the band's first leader, Syd Barrett, who had dropped out of the band in 1968 and is eulogised in the album's centrepiece, Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Pink Floyd had become one of the biggest bands in the world, but the 60s were over and the band were struggling both to find their purpose and the old camaraderie.
FRI 22:00 A Pink Floyd Miscellany 1967-2005 (b014grts)
A compilation of rarely screened Pink Floyd videos and performances, beginning with the Arnold Layne promo from 1967 and culminating with the reunited band's performance at Live 8 in 2005. Also including a newly restored Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) and performances of Grantchester Meadows, Cymbeline and others.
FRI 23:00 Guitar Heroes at the BBC (b00llh2f)
Part III
Compilation of classic archive performances from the guitar gods of the late 60s and 70s. Status Quo appear playing Pictures of Matchstick Men on Top of the Pops in 1968, The Who perform Long Live Rock in the Old Grey Whistle Test studio, Dire Straits play Tunnel of Love and Lynyrd Skynyrd bring a taste of the Deep South with Sweet Home Alabama. The show also features rare performances from George Benson, Leo Kottke, Link Wray and Tom Petty.
FRI 00:00 Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul (b00ymljb)
The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica, Toots Hibbert, featuring intimate new performances and interviews with Toots, rare archive from throughout his career and interviews with contemporaries and admirers including Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Marcia Griffiths and Paolo Nutini.
From his beginnings as a singer in a Jamaican church to the universally-praised, Grammy award-winning artist of today, the film tells the story of one of the true greats of music.
Toots was the first to use the word reggae on tape in his 1968 song Do the Reggay and his music has defined, popularised and refined it across six decades, with hit after hit including Pressure Drop, Sweet and Dandy, Monkey Man, Funky Kingston, Bam Bam, True Love Is Hard To Find and Reggae Got Soul.
As Island records founder Chris Blackwell says, 'The Maytals were unlike anything else... sensational, raw and dynamic'. Always instantly recognisable is Toots's powerful, soulful voice which seems to speak viscerally to the listener - 'one of the great musical gifts of our time'. His songs are at the same time stories of everyday life in Jamaica and postcards from another world.
FRI 01:00 Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (b01j0yyv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
FRI 02:00 A Pink Floyd Miscellany 1967-2005 (b014grts)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:00 today]
FRI 03:00 Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma (b01j0yys)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)
10 Things You Didn't Know About...
22:00 TUE (b008s99l)
10 Things You Didn't Know About...
02:00 TUE (b008s99l)
A Pink Floyd Miscellany 1967-2005
22:00 FRI (b014grts)
A Pink Floyd Miscellany 1967-2005
02:00 FRI (b014grts)
Barry Manilow at the BBC
23:50 SUN (b01hrb2y)
Birdsong
21:00 MON (b01bmyfj)
Birdsong
02:50 MON (b01bmyfj)
Birdsong
00:40 THU (b01bmyfj)
Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury
19:30 MON (b0110ghh)
Canal Walks with Julia Bradbury
00:20 MON (b0110ghh)
Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma
19:30 FRI (b01j0yys)
Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma
03:00 FRI (b01j0yys)
Great British Railway Journeys
19:30 TUE (b00xbmlv)
Great British Railway Journeys
03:00 TUE (b00xbmlv)
Great British Railway Journeys
19:30 WED (b00xhxrv)
Great British Railway Journeys
01:10 WED (b00xhxrv)
Greek Myths: Tales of Travelling Heroes
22:00 WED (b00vzxv9)
Greek Myths: Tales of Travelling Heroes
02:40 WED (b00vzxv9)
Guitar Heroes at the BBC
23:00 FRI (b00llh2f)
Hancock
20:30 SUN (b00778m5)
Hancock
03:20 SUN (b00778m5)
Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls
21:00 TUE (b01j2fcq)
Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls
03:30 TUE (b01j2fcq)
Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls
23:00 THU (b01j2fcq)
Henry VIII: Patron or Plunderer?
20:00 WED (b00lc71z)
Henry VIII: Patron or Plunderer?
00:10 WED (b00lc71z)
Lost Kingdoms of Africa
20:00 SAT (b01bs7f7)
Lost Kingdoms of Africa
01:50 SAT (b01bs7f7)
Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan
21:00 SUN (b018l6wz)
Munro: Mountain Man
20:00 THU (b00mwgyq)
Munro: Mountain Man
02:00 THU (b00mwgyq)
Natural World
22:00 THU (b00tj7j4)
One Night with Barry Manilow
00:50 SUN (b007c87l)
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
21:00 FRI (b01j0yyv)
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
01:00 FRI (b01j0yyv)
Roundhead or Cavalier: Which One Are You?
22:20 MON (b01hr7k9)
South Pacific
19:00 SAT (b00l7q55)
South Pacific
02:50 SAT (b00l7q55)
Tales of Television Centre
23:00 SAT (b01h266w)
Tales of Television Centre
19:00 SUN (b01h266w)
Tales of Television Centre
01:50 SUN (b01h266w)
The Bridge
21:00 SAT (b01j0nkg)
The Bridge
22:00 SAT (b039s9lc)
The Bridge
23:20 MON (b01j0nkg)
The Bridge
23:00 TUE (b039s9lc)
The Disabled Century
23:30 WED (b0077s9w)
The Eiger: Wall of Death
21:00 THU (b00tlwj3)
The Eiger: Wall of Death
03:00 THU (b00tlwj3)
The Great Estate: The Rise & Fall of the Council House
00:50 MON (b0109dvs)
The Lighthouse Stevensons
01:00 TUE (b00y6hym)
The Story of British Pathé
20:00 TUE (b014bb01)
The Story of British Pathé
00:00 TUE (b014bb01)
The Story of Variety with Michael Grade
21:00 WED (b00z1z0g)
The Story of Variety with Michael Grade
01:40 WED (b00z1z0g)
Timewatch
23:00 SUN (b00790p2)
Timewatch
20:00 MON (b00fg9hw)
Timewatch
01:50 MON (b00fg9hw)
Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul
00:00 FRI (b00ymljb)
Top of the Pops
00:30 SAT (b01hr9rw)
Top of the Pops
01:10 SAT (b01hzglr)
Top of the Pops
19:30 THU (b01j0wxj)
Top of the Pops
00:00 THU (b01j0wxj)
World News Today
19:00 MON (b01hzn8v)
World News Today
19:00 TUE (b01hzn9l)
World News Today
19:00 WED (b01hznbd)
World News Today
19:00 THU (b01hznc2)
World News Today
19:00 FRI (b01hznd6)