The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
Nymans, one of the most fashionable and romantic gardens of the Edwardian and interwar years, was the creation of a family of German emigres of Jewish descent. The Messels arrived in Britain in 1870 at a time when both anti-semitism and anti-German sentiment were rife. Nevertheless, Ludwig Messel succeeded in establishing a successful stockbroking firm and creating at Nymans the quintessential English garden with rare plants and a theatrical herbaceous border inspired by William Robinson.
His children and grandchildren would continue to develop the garden and the family's spectacular social trajectory reached its apogee with Ludwig's great-grandson Antony Armstrong-Jones's marriage to Princess Margaret. However, Nymans was to repeatedly face disaster as a fire devastated the house leaving just a romantic ruin to dominate the garden, while the garden itself came close to total destruction in the Great Storm of 1987.
Historian Bettany Hughes is in Greece, on the trail of the hugely influential maverick thinker Socrates, who was executed for his beliefs.
Just off the southern coast of mainland Greece lies the oldest submerged city in the world. It thrived for 2,000 years during the time that saw the birth of western civilisation.
An international team of experts uses cutting-edge technology to prise age-old secrets from the complex of streets and stone buildings that lie less than five metres below the surface of the ocean. State-of-the-art CGI helps to raise the city from the seabed, revealing for the first time in 3,500 years how Pavlopetri would once have looked and operated.
Underwater archaeologist Dr Jon Henderson leads the project in collaboration with Nic Flemming, the man whose hunch led to the discovery of Pavlopetri in 1967, and a team from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Working alongside the archaeologists are a team from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics.
The teams scour the ocean floor, looking for artefacts. The site is littered with thousands of fragments, each providing valuable clues about the everyday lives of the people of Pavlopetri. From the buildings to the trade goods to the everyday tableware, each artefact provides a window into a forgotten world.
Together these precious relics provide us with a window to a time when Pavlopetri would have been at its height, showing us what life was like in this distant age and revealing how this city marks the start of western civilisation.
Historian Bettany Hughes unravels one of the most intriguing mysteries of all time. She presents a series of geological, archaeological and historical clues to show that the legend of Atlantis was inspired by a real historical event, the greatest natural disaster of the ancient world.
What really went on at the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi, how did it get its awesome reputation and why is it still influential today?
Michael Scott of Cambridge University uncovers the secrets of the most famous oracle in the ancient world. A vital force in ancient history for a thousand years, it is now one of Greece's most beautiful tourist sites, but in its time it has been a gateway into the supernatural, a cockpit of political conflict, and a beacon for internationalism. And at its heart was the famous inscription which still inspires visitors today - 'Know Thyself'.
THURSDAY 13 AUGUST 2015
THU 19:00 World News Today (b065b7fh)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
THU 19:30 BBC Proms (b065gxc2)
2015
Concerto at the BBC Proms: Nicola Benedetti Plays Korngold
Former BBC Young Musician of the Year Nicola Benedetti brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Royal Albert Hall, performing Korngold's Violin Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Kirill Karabits also conducts the seaside orchestra in a Proms favourite - Britten's Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes. Presenter Tom Service follows the action.
THU 20:35 The Chopin Etudes (b0074pnr)
Opus 10, No 6
Pianist Freddy Kempf plays Chopin's Etude in E flat minor, Op 10 no 6.
THU 20:40 The Chopin Etudes (b0074pqr)
Opus 25, No 11
Pianist Freddy Kempf plays Chopin's Etude in A minor, Op 25 no 11.
THU 20:45 The Chopin Etudes (b008wmkw)
Opus 25, No 7
Chopin's Opus 25 no 7 performed by Freddy Kempf.
THU 20:55 London to Brighton Side by Side (b00f2zxt)
In 1953, the BBC made a point-of-view film from the London to Brighton train. In 1983, they did the same again. This is a film made of both runs at once, with every bridge, siding, tunnel and station running side by side in unlikely synchronisation.
THU 21:00 Britain's Deadliest Rail Disaster: Quintinshill (b05vqx7v)
On 22 May 1915, a collision at the Quintinshill signal box, near Gretna, became Britain's deadliest ever rail crash. Involving a military train filled with troops - most of whom were from Leith - heading for Gallipoli and two passenger trains, the crash claimed an estimated 226 lives and left hundreds more injured.
The duty signalmen, George Meakin and James Tinsley, were found responsible for the disaster and were both jailed on the charges of culpable homicide.
Neil Oliver explores the series of mistakes that may have caused the collision, the part played by the train companies and the government, and determines whether the investigation would have come to the same conclusions if it were carried out today. Dramatised reconstructions add to this compelling account of a tragedy which had a profound effect on several communities in Scotland, and remains the deadliest in the annals of Britain's railways.
Britain's Deadliest Rail Disaster: Quintinshill is a Finestripe Productions programme for BBC Scotland.
THU 22:00 Britain's Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield (b065x080)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Monday]
THU 23:00 Lost Land of the Volcano (b00mq3p1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Saturday]
THU 00:00 A Very British Renaissance (b03zmmk5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 on Monday]
THU 01:00 Picasso: Love, Sex and Art (b0543hfx)
At the time of his death in April 1973, aged 91, Pablo Picasso had become one of the 20th century's most influential and prolific artists. Picasso has been painted as many men - genius, womaniser, egomaniac. His reputation is still fiercely debated. Brought up in the Spanish town of Malaga, he would represent himself as the mythological minotaur - half-man, half-bull. The bull craved the women who would feed his life and his art.
Picasso reconstructed the female form - to the point of total abstraction. Many women would find themselves damaged forever by the experience of being his partner. Now, for the first time, the people who knew him best tell the story of those women, giving a new insight into the artist and his work.
THU 02:00 Sex, Lies and Love Bites: The Agony Aunt Story (b0555vjj)
Psychotherapist and agony aunt Philippa Perry presents a witty and revealing look at the problem page's enduring appeal. In the documentary Philippa picks her way through three centuries of advice on broken hearts, cheating partners and adolescent angst to uncover a fascinating portrait of our social history.
She talks to fellow agony aunts and uncles like the Telegraph's Graham Norton and the Sun's Deidre Sanders about their experiences, as well as exploring the work of advice columnists past, like the 17th-century inventor of the problem page, John Dunton. The advice may change, but she discovers that, when it comes to subjects like love and courtship, the same old problems keep on cropping up.
Through the work of generations of advice columnists Philippa charts the developing battle of the sexes, the rise of the middle classes and a revolution in social attitudes. For much of the 20th century, agony aunts avoided any mention of trouble in the bedroom. Philippa explores the pioneering work of agony aunts like Claire Rayner, who began to offer frank sex advice in the 1960s. Today, sex takes pride of place on the problem page, as Philippa discovers for herself when she takes a starring role in the Sun's photo casebook, which is famous for its real-life problems illustrated with pictures of semi-clad ladies.
At a time when advice is more easily available than ever before, Philippa reflects on why agony aunts are often still our first port of call, and on what makes reading about other people's problems so irresistible.
THU 03:00 Britain's Deadliest Rail Disaster: Quintinshill (b05vqx7v)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
FRIDAY 14 AUGUST 2015
FRI 19:00 World News Today (b065b7fn)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
FRI 19:30 BBC Proms (b065gyln)
2015
Friday Night at the Proms: Eric Whitacre's Choral Prom
A celebration of some truly inspiring American composers, from the early 20th century to the present day and with a few European premieres thrown in for good measure.
The ever-popular and endlessly charismatic Eric Whitacre puts the BBC Singers and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra through their paces in a programme that's packed to the rafters. Kicking off proceedings with the European premiere of Jonathan Newman's electrifying Blow It Up, Start Again, Whitacre's own enchanting compositions The River Cam and Cloudburst are followed by a piece that you couldn't leave out of this repertoire - George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, with solo piano performed by Young Musician of the Year winner Martin James Bartlett.
Aaron Copland's Quiet City follows, before the concert is capped by Whitacre's Equus and the European premiere of his new work Deep Field which, in a Proms first, is accompanied by a free interactive smartphone app which lets everyone at home join in the performance with unearthly sounds and images.
FRI 21:30 Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (b065h3vy)
Series 1
Episode 2
An up-close and personal examination of the life, music and career of the legendary entertainer. In 1971, Frank Sinatra sang his legendary 'retirement concert' in Los Angeles, featuring music which was said to reflect his own life. Told in his own words from hours of archived interviews, along with commentary from those closest to him, this definitive four-part series weaves the legendary songs he chose with comments from friends and family, as well as never-before-seen footage from home movies and concert performances.
An unprecedented tribute to the beloved showman, with the full participation of the Frank Sinatra Estate, the second episode follows Sinatra's growing political profile, his relationship with Ava Gardner and the split from Nancy, his first wife.
FRI 22:30 Guys and Dolls (b0078gmw)
Lavish film version of the classic Broadway musical, based on Damon Runyon's short stories. A gambler in need of cash bets he can make any girl go to Havana with him. But his pals pick a girl at the Save a Soul Mission in need of recruiting sinners to her cause. Includes songs such as Adelaide's Lament and Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat.
FRI 00:55 Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (b065h3vy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:30 today]
FRI 01:50 ... Sings Bacharach and David! (b01gxl5w)
The BBC have raided their remarkable archive once more to reveal evocative performances from Burt Bacharach and Hal David's astonishing songbook. Love songs from the famous songwriting duo were a familiar feature of 60s and 70s BBC entertainment programmes such as Dusty, Cilla and The Cliff Richard Show, but there are some surprises unearthed here too.
Highlights include Sandie Shaw singing Always Something There to Remind Me, Aretha Franklin performing I Say a Little Prayer, Dusty Springfield's Wishin' and Hopin', The Stranglers' rendition of Walk on By on Top of the Pops, The Carpenters in concert performing (They Long to Be) Close to You and Burt Bacharach revisiting his classic Kentucky Bluebird with Rufus Wainwright on Later...with Jools Holland.
FRI 02:50 Singer-Songwriters at the BBC (b015f5c8)
Series 2
Episode 1
The celebration of the singing songwriting troubadours of the 1960s and 70s continues with a further trawl through the BBC archives for timeless and classic performances.
Don McLean performs his huge hit American Pie from 1972 and Tim Buckley provides some sublime sounds with a rendition of his song Happy Time. Also making an appearance is the long-lamented John Martyn, folk queen Sandy Denny and, in a duet with Joe Egan as Stealers Wheel, the late Gerry Rafferty. Stealers Wheel chum and one-time collaborator Rab Noakes also makes a contribution to this compilation.
Leonard Cohen and Julie Felix present a unique collaboration and performance of Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye, and there's an unforgettable performance of Case of You by Joni Mitchell. No celebration of this genre would be complete without contributions from songwriting heavyweights such as Elton John, Paul Simon, Loudon Wainwright III and Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens.
LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)
... Sings Bacharach and David!
01:50 FRI (b01gxl5w)
... Sings the Great American Songbook
00:55 SAT (b00rs3w4)
A Very British Renaissance
20:00 MON (b03zmmk5)
A Very British Renaissance
00:00 THU (b03zmmk5)
BBC Proms
19:00 SUN (b065ggg7)
BBC Proms
00:10 SUN (b064jgwv)
BBC Proms
19:30 THU (b065gxc2)
BBC Proms
19:30 FRI (b065gyln)
Britain's Deadliest Rail Disaster: Quintinshill
21:00 THU (b05vqx7v)
Britain's Deadliest Rail Disaster: Quintinshill
03:00 THU (b05vqx7v)
Britain's Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield
21:00 MON (b065x080)
Britain's Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield
02:25 MON (b065x080)
Britain's Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield
22:00 THU (b065x080)
British Gardens in Time
20:00 WED (b042638j)
British Gardens in Time
01:00 WED (b042638j)
Brushing up on...
20:30 SUN (b01s6h36)
Brushing up on...
01:00 MON (b01s6h36)
Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities
00:30 TUE (b03lyyrc)
Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities
02:00 WED (b03lyyrc)
Chalkie Davies: Rock Photographer
22:40 SUN (b05xd4yv)
Delphi: The Bellybutton of the Ancient World
00:00 WED (b00w4jtx)
Doris Day - Virgin Territory
01:35 SUN (b0074rwd)
Genius of the Ancient World
21:00 WED (b065gv2m)
Genius of the Ancient World
03:00 WED (b065gv2m)
Great British Railway Journeys
19:30 MON (b03t7ql3)
Great British Railway Journeys
19:30 TUE (b03t7rgg)
Great British Railway Journeys
20:00 TUE (b03t7spn)
Guys and Dolls
22:30 FRI (b0078gmw)
Hive Minds
20:30 TUE (b065gkjb)
Hive Minds
01:30 TUE (b065gkjb)
Irish Rock at the BBC
23:55 SAT (b0556qc9)
Irish Rock at the BBC
01:30 MON (b0556qc9)
London to Brighton Side by Side
20:55 THU (b00f2zxt)
Lost Land of the Volcano
19:00 SAT (b00mq3p1)
Lost Land of the Volcano
01:55 SAT (b00mq3p1)
Lost Land of the Volcano
23:00 THU (b00mq3p1)
Natural World
20:00 SAT (b01ntt8p)
Natural World
02:55 SAT (b01ntt8p)
Natural World
23:00 MON (b01ntt8p)
Pavlopetri - The City Beneath the Waves
22:00 WED (b015yh6f)
Picasso: Love, Sex and Art
01:00 THU (b0543hfx)
Precision: The Measure of All Things
23:30 TUE (b02xgf5d)
Race for the World's First Atomic Bomb: A Thousand Days of Fear
22:00 MON (b065y7qq)
Race for the World's First Atomic Bomb: A Thousand Days of Fear
03:00 TUE (b065y7qq)
Sex, Lies and Love Bites: The Agony Aunt Story
02:00 THU (b0555vjj)
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All
23:10 SUN (b064jgws)
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All
21:30 FRI (b065h3vy)
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All
00:55 FRI (b065h3vy)
Singer-Songwriters at the BBC
02:50 FRI (b015f5c8)
Storyville
21:00 SUN (b065y1dx)
Storyville
02:35 SUN (b065y1dx)
The Chopin Etudes
20:35 THU (b0074pnr)
The Chopin Etudes
20:40 THU (b0074pqr)
The Chopin Etudes
20:45 THU (b008wmkw)
The Fantastical World of Hormones with Professor John Wass
00:00 MON (b03wctdg)
The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain
21:00 TUE (b042twvq)
The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain
02:00 TUE (b042twvq)
The Irish Rock Story: A Tale of Two Cities
22:55 SAT (b0555xv8)
The Sky at Night
22:10 SUN (b06626c5)
The Sky at Night
19:30 WED (b06626c5)
The Young Montalbano
21:00 SAT (b03b8pz3)
Timewatch
23:00 WED (b00sl29f)
War Book
22:00 TUE (b065ylyy)
World News Today
19:00 MON (b065b7f0)
World News Today
19:00 TUE (b065b7f5)
World News Today
19:00 WED (b065b7fb)
World News Today
19:00 THU (b065b7fh)
World News Today
19:00 FRI (b065b7fn)