The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
For generations, the Firth of Clyde was a favourite holiday destination for millions of Scots, both rich and poor. In this Grand Tour of Scotland, presenter Paul Murton explores the delights of this famous stretch of water. Here you could enjoy healthy sea breezes - take a dunk in the briny, mess about in boats, enjoy a glass or two of your favourite tipple - or, if you had the money, all of the above at the same time!
Ada Lovelace was a most unlikely computer pioneer. In this film, Dr Hannah Fry tells the story of Ada's remarkable life. Born in the early 19th century, Ada was a countess of the realm, a scandalous socialite and an 'enchantress of numbers'. The film is an enthralling tale of how a life infused with brilliance, but blighted by illness and gambling addiction, helped give rise to the modern era of computing.
Hannah traces Ada's unlikely union with the father of computers, Charles Babbage. Babbage designed the world's first steam-powered computers - most famously the analytical engine - but it was Ada who realised the full potential of these new machines. During her own lifetime, Ada was most famous for being the daughter of romantic poet Lord Byron ('mad, bad and dangerous to know'). It was only with the advent of modern computing that Ada's understanding of their flexibility and power (that they could be far more than mere number crunchers) was recognised as truly visionary. Hannah explores how Ada's unique inheritance - poetic imagination and rational logic - made her the ideal prophet of the digital age.
This moving, intelligent and beautiful film makes you realise we nearly had a Victorian computer revolution.
Historian Dr Thomas Asbridge explores the BBC's archive to reveal how television's telling of the Crusades has changed over the last 60 years. Using footage from Crusade documentaries shot during the Vietnam era, the Palestinian Crisis, the First Gulf War and the more recent War on Terror, he reveals how our interpretation of this medieval story has been influenced by modern political and social change. Thomas highlights the alternative Arabic perspectives on the Crusades, and asks whether this 1,000-year-old story really does cast its long shadow over the modern world, as so many have claimed.
With contributions from Monty Python star and medievalist Terry Jones, Washington economist JK Galbraith, and historians Simon Sebag Montefiore, Dr Peter Frankopan, Prof Konrad Hirschler and Dr Fozia Bora.
The Robert Winston-narrated mini-series concludes with the story of hospitals. At the beginning of the 20th century these were forbidding places very much to be avoided - a last resort for the destitute rather than places you would go to get better. Using unique archive footage from an era when infectious disease was virtually untreatable and powerful first-hand accounts from patients, doctors and nurses, the programme explores the extraordinary transformation of the hospital from Victorian workhouse to modern centre of medicine.
In 1984, Sir John Betjeman died and was buried at St Enodoc Church, close to the village of Tribetherick in north Cornwall.
Writer, critic and biographer of Betjeman, AN Wilson, visits the real and imagined places that shaped his life to reveal the life and work of the poet and broadcaster.
Wilson explores how Betjeman came to speak to, and for, the nation in a remarkable way. As a poet Betjeman was writing popular verse for the many, not the few. With his brilliant documentaries for television, Betjeman entertained millions with infectious enthusiasm as he explained his many passions and bugbears.
As a campaigner to preserve the national heritage, Betjeman was tireless in his devotion to conservation and preservation, fighting the planners, politicians and developers - railing against their abuse of power and money.
Wilson investigates this by visiting locations in London, Oxford, Cornwall, Somerset and Berkshire. He travels through a landscape of beautiful houses and churches, beaches and seaside piers - a place that Wilson calls Betjemanland.
In doing so he also reveals the complexity and contradictions of Betjeman - how Betjeman, the snob with a love of aristocrats and their country houses, is the same person who is thrilled by the more proletarian pleasures of the Great British seaside; how the poetry of Betjeman shows us that he is haunted by childhood memory, has religious faith but also doubt and is in thrall to love and infatuation; and how the man his friends called Betjeman was full of joie de vivre, but also suffered great melancholy and guilt whilst living an agonised double life.
THURSDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2016
THU 19:00 World News Today (b06zd9bj)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
THU 19:30 Top of the Pops (b06zdnkk)
Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Shakin Stevens, Phil Collins, The Who, Adam and the Ants, Toyah, Motorhead & Girlschool, Joe Dolce, Talking Heads and The Teardrop Explodes, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.
THU 20:00 A Timewatch Guide (b06zw45j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Wednesday]
THU 21:00 The Brain with David Eagleman (b06zdnkm)
Who Is in Control?
Series in which Dr David Eagleman takes viewers on an extraordinary journey that explores how the brain, locked in silence and darkness without direct access to the world, conjures up the rich and beautiful world we all take for granted.
This episode explores the great deception that greets us each morning when we wake up - it feels as though we are in conscious control of our lives, but in fact almost every action we take, every decision we make, every belief that we hold is driven by parts of the brain that we have no access to.
Dr Eagleman reveals the electrical storm of unconscious neural activity that accompanies even the simplest of actions. We meet a patient who has lost the ability to walk without consciously controlling every movement. If he's distracted for even a moment he will fall.
To demonstrate the proficiency of the unconscious brain, Dr Eagleman competes with a ten-year-old world champion in the sport of cup stacking. Wearing EEG caps to record their brain activity reveals that although the champion is performing at much greater speed and precision, his brain is almost at rest. When a skill sinks below the level of conscious, controlling this allows for much greater speed and efficiency.
Dr Eagleman reveals that everything from who we find attractive to how we describe the relationship we have with our mother can be influenced by factors that we have no conscious control over. But the unconscious has a dark side, as the story of Ken Parks - who killed his mother-in-law in his sleep - demonstrates. Our consciousness is needed to arbitrate between competing systems in the brain that, left to their own devices, are liable to run amok.
Dr Eagleman ends with a brief journey through free will, and the deep question of whether we have any conscious control over our lives. Although there is tantalising evidence that we can feel as though we are consciously in control when we are not, the experimental jury is still out on whether or not free will is an illusion. However, free will or no free will, the human brain's extraordinary complexity guarantees that life will never feel predictable.
THU 22:00 Spider House (b04mqc4z)
Ever wondered what spiders really get up to in your home? In this Halloween special Alice Roberts overcomes her arachnophobia to enter a spider-filled house where an astonishing drama unfolds within its walls.
Inside she meets entomologist Tim Cockerill, who loves spiders and quickly immerses Alice in the wonders of web-building, the secrets of fly-catching and the dangerous spider-eat-spider world they inhabit.
Tim wants us to welcome spiders into our homes. He takes Alice on a macro mystery tour of the rooms of the Spider House, revealing what goes on in the cracks and crannies of our homes.
Why do we always find spiders in the bathroom? And what happens if we flush them down the plughole? Using powerful macrophotography, Tim and Alice find out.
In the dining room, they uncover the complex engineering behind the most beautifully constructed 'dinner plate' in the home - a spider's web. In the kitchen Alice witnesses the extraordinary hunting ability of the keen-eyed jumping spider, while Tim finds out how spiders kill their prey using venom.
In the bedroom, the secrets of spider courtship are revealed. For spiders, mating is a high-stakes life-or-death game, where males risk being eaten by females. In the nursery, we enter an enchanting cocoon where tiny spiderlings struggle out of their exoskeletons - the first of many moults on the road to becoming adult spiders. Meanwhile, down in the cellar, we meet an unexpectedly voracious killer - the daddy longlegs.
Many of us have a love-hate relationship with spiders. The rational side of Alice Roberts understands their benefits, but can she overcome her irrational fears? She faces the ultimate challenge: to spend the night alone... with the spiders... in Spider House.
THU 23:30 Top of the Pops (b06zdnkk)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
THU 00:10 The London Markets (b01jbb99)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:00 on Monday]
THU 01:10 Horizon (b00xxgbn)
[Repeat of broadcast at
23:30 on Sunday]
THU 02:10 The Brain with David Eagleman (b06zdnkm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
THU 03:10 Britain on Film (b03b8s51)
Series 2
The Home Front
Archive-based series on British life in the 1960s continues with an episode devoted to some of the most monumental challenges of the post-war period - how to tackle desperate housing shortages, rebuild shattered cities and meet the rising expectations of an increasingly affluent and consumerist nation. As these films show, 1960s Britain embraced ambitious solutions by building high-rise homes in our cities and New Towns in the country.
FRIDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2016
FRI 19:00 World News Today (b06zd9bt)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
FRI 19:30 Top of the Pops (b06zdpkm)
Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme, featuring The Teardrop Explodes, Kim Wilde, Linx, Status Quo, Kelly Marie, Freeez, Beggar & Co, Landscape, Talking Heads, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast and Roxy Music, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.
FRI 20:00 The Good Old Days (b06yrv6l)
Leonard Sachs presents an edition of the old-time music hall programme, from the stage of the City Varieties Theatre, Leeds. With Ronnie Corbett, Kenneth McKeller, Rosemary Squires, the Looneys and members of the Players Theatre, London.
FRI 20:45 Sounds of the Sixties (b008pfhf)
Reversions
1964-6 The Beat Room
Featuring vintage performances from Tom Jones, the Kinks and the Moody Blues.
FRI 20:55 Sounds of the Seventies (b00c1cx3)
Solos
The Faces
Vintage rock, pop and soul performances from the BBC archives. The Faces perform Stay with Me in 1972.
FRI 21:00 Totally British: 70s Rock 'n' Roll (b01r3pm9)
1970-1974
Trawled from the depths of the BBC Archive and classic BBC shows of the day - Old Grey Whistle Test, Top of the Pops and Full House - a collection of performance gems from a totally rock 'n' roll early 1970s.
This was a golden era for British rock 'n' roll as everyone moved on from the whimsical 60s and looked around for something with a bit more oomph! In a pre-heavy metal world bands were experimenting with influences that dated back to 50s rock 'n' roll, whilst taking their groove from old-school rhythm and blues. It was also a time when men grew their hair long!
In a celebration of this era, we kick off with an early 1970s Badfinger number direct from the BBC library and continue the groove from the BBC vaults with classic rock 'n' roll heroes like Free, Status Quo, the Faces, Humble Pie and Mott the Hoople. Plus from deep within the BBC archives we dig out some rarities from the likes of Babe Ruth, Stone the Crows, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Man, Heavy Metal Kids and original rockers Thin Lizzy... to name but a few.
Sit back and enjoy a 60-minute non-stop ride of unadulterated Totally British 70s Rock 'n' Roll!
FRI 22:00 The Most Dangerous Band in the World: The Story of Guns N' Roses (b06zdpkr)
It was 1985. Guns N' Roses were soon to be known as the last mammoth rock entity to come out of LA after selling over 100 million albums. Jon Brewer brings alive never-before-seen video footage of Guns N' Roses in their earliest days as a fledgling band, filmed and meticulously archived over the years by their close friend. They became known as 'the most dangerous band in the world' and retained the title for reasons this film portrays, via interviews with band members and those who were there on, and off, tour. Venture down seedy Sunset Strip to the Whiskey, the Rainbow and the Roxy, all known as 'the Jungle'.
FRI 23:30 Rock 'n' Roll America (b061fdr7)
Whole Lotta Shakin'
As rock 'n' roll took off with teens in 1955 it quickly increased record sales by 300 per cent in America. Big business and the burgeoning world of TV moved in. Elvis made a big-money move to major label RCA instigated by Colonel Tom Parker, an illegal immigrant from Holland who had made his name at country fairs with a set of dancing chickens. Elvis made his national TV debut with Heartbreak Hotel and followed it with a gyrating version of Hound Dog that shocked America. PTAs, church groups and local councils were outraged. Rock 'n' roll was banned by the mayor of Jersey City and removed from jukeboxes in Alabama. Now Ed Sullivan would only shoot Elvis from the waist up.
The conservative media needed a cleaned-up version and the young, married-with-kids Christian singer Pat Boone shot up the chart, rivalling Elvis for sales. Not that this stopped rock 'n' roll. Jerry Lee Lewis again scandalised the nation with his gyrating finger in Whole Lotta Shakin' and the Everlys shocked with Wake Up Little Susie, both 45s being banned in parts of America.
It took bespectacled geek Buddy Holly to calm things down as a suburban down-home boy who, with his school friends The Crickets, turned plain looks into chart success. But by the end of 1958 the music was in real trouble. Elvis was conscripted into the army, Jerry Lee was thrown out of Britain and into obscurity for marrying his 13-year-old cousin and Little Richard went into the church.
Featuring Jerry Lee Lewis, Don Everly, Tom Jones, Wanda Jackson, Pat Boone, DJ Fontana, Eric Burdon, James Burton, Jerry Allison (The Crickets' drummer), Mike Stoller, PF Sloan, Joe Boyd, Jerry Phillips, Marshall Chess and JM Van Eaton (Jerry Lee Lewis's drummer).
FRI 00:30 Top of the Pops (b06zdpkm)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
FRI 01:10 Totally British: 70s Rock 'n' Roll (b01r3pm9)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
FRI 02:10 The Most Dangerous Band in the World: The Story of Guns N' Roses (b06zdpkr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:00 today]
LIST OF THIS WEEK'S PROGRAMMES
(Note: the times link back to the details; the pids link to the BBC page, including iPlayer)
A Timewatch Guide
21:00 WED (b06zw45j)
A Timewatch Guide
03:00 WED (b06zw45j)
A Timewatch Guide
20:00 THU (b06zw45j)
Attenborough and the Giant Egg
20:00 MON (b00z6dsg)
Attenborough and the Giant Egg
00:20 MON (b00z6dsg)
Britain on Film
02:20 MON (b03c26xf)
Britain on Film
03:10 THU (b03b8s51)
Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing
20:00 WED (p030s5bx)
Crossing England in a Punt: River of Dreams
20:00 TUE (p00y6r6q)
Danny Baker's Great Album Showdown
00:45 SAT (b01qlcss)
Danny Baker's Great Album Showdown
02:55 SUN (b01qlcss)
Donald Campbell: Speed King
01:20 MON (b01rrk63)
Grand Tours of Scotland
19:30 MON (b016qxjs)
Grand Tours of Scotland
19:30 TUE (b0171n40)
Grand Tours of Scotland
19:30 WED (b01783jf)
Guilty Pleasures: Luxury in...
02:00 TUE (b012cnkx)
Horizon
23:30 SUN (b00xxgbn)
Horizon
01:10 THU (b00xxgbn)
How Earth Made Us
19:00 SAT (b00qbvyc)
How Earth Made Us
00:00 TUE (b00qhqr8)
How the Celts Saved Britain
01:00 TUE (b00kps7h)
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
23:45 SAT (b063m6wy)
Music Moguls: Masters of Pop
22:45 SAT (p039x5f7)
Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution
21:00 MON (b06zdkds)
Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution
02:50 MON (b06zdkds)
Nature's Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution
23:00 TUE (b06zdkds)
Pierre Boulez at the BBC: Master and Maverick
19:00 SUN (b06z66l8)
Return to Betjemanland
02:00 WED (b04gb6nl)
Rock 'n' Roll America
01:30 SUN (b0615nmw)
Rock 'n' Roll America
23:30 FRI (b061fdr7)
Russia's Lost Princesses
20:00 SUN (b04fljyk)
Russia's Lost Princesses
21:00 TUE (b04fljyk)
Russia's Lost Princesses
00:00 WED (b04fljyk)
Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History
20:00 SAT (b03l7kj8)
Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History
03:00 TUE (b03l7kj8)
Shipwrecks: Britain's Sunken History
22:00 WED (b03l7kj8)
Sounds of the Eighties
03:05 SAT (b0074sll)
Sounds of the Eighties
02:30 SUN (b0074sll)
Sounds of the Seventies
20:55 FRI (b00c1cx3)
Sounds of the Sixties
20:45 FRI (b008pfhf)
Spider House
22:00 THU (b04mqc4z)
Storyville
22:00 SUN (b06zdjn0)
Tales from the Royal Bedchamber
21:00 SUN (b0386lxs)
Tales from the Royal Bedchamber
23:00 WED (b0386lxs)
The Brain with David Eagleman
00:30 SUN (b06yrqzh)
The Brain with David Eagleman
21:00 THU (b06zdnkm)
The Brain with David Eagleman
02:10 THU (b06zdnkm)
The Good Old Days
20:00 FRI (b06yrv6l)
The Great War
23:00 MON (b0074p9b)
The Great War
23:40 MON (b0074p9d)
The London Markets
22:00 MON (b01jbb99)
The London Markets
00:10 THU (b01jbb99)
The Most Dangerous Band in the World: The Story of Guns N' Roses
22:00 FRI (b06zdpkr)
The Most Dangerous Band in the World: The Story of Guns N' Roses
02:10 FRI (b06zdpkr)
The Young Montalbano
21:00 SAT (b06zdgfg)
Timeshift
01:00 WED (b01n3vq9)
Top of the Pops
01:45 SAT (b06yrm6x)
Top of the Pops
02:25 SAT (b06yrs1d)
Top of the Pops
19:30 THU (b06zdnkk)
Top of the Pops
23:30 THU (b06zdnkk)
Top of the Pops
19:30 FRI (b06zdpkm)
Top of the Pops
00:30 FRI (b06zdpkm)
Totally British: 70s Rock 'n' Roll
21:00 FRI (b01r3pm9)
Totally British: 70s Rock 'n' Roll
01:10 FRI (b01r3pm9)
Tutankhamun: The Truth Uncovered
22:00 TUE (b04n6scp)
World News Today
19:00 MON (b06zd99y)
World News Today
19:00 TUE (b06zd9b3)
World News Today
19:00 WED (b06zd9b9)
World News Today
19:00 THU (b06zd9bj)
World News Today
19:00 FRI (b06zd9bt)