Katty Kay in Washington and Christian Fraser in London return to report on the events that are shaping the world.
Archaeology series unearthing the history and anecdotes behind cult British Sunday night drama series looks at Poldark. The programme reveals how rows about the adaption of Winston Graham's Poldark novels dogged the production behind the scenes. The author attempted to block production and the show ended after just two series with his refusal to allow the producers to create new storylines. Poldark was nonetheless a smash hit and its two main stars, Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees became known as TV's sexiest couple.
In the second episode of this series about the history of Britain's shopgirls, Dr Pamela Cox reveals how the lives of shopgirls and the stores they worked in were revolutionised in the early 20th century.
Venturing behind the scenes of some of our most iconic department stores and high street chains, Pamela reveals how feisty shopgirls rebelled against their poor working conditions and started to demand more from their jobs. No longer content to just be servants on the shop floor, they were becoming a respected workforce - professional young women at the heart of the nation's blossoming love affair with shopping.
Pamela learns about shopgirl Margaret Bondfield who, in the late 1890s, went undercover in shops to reveal the harshness of life behind the counter before rising to become Britain's first woman cabinet minister.
Larger-than-life proprietor Harry Gordon Selfridge set out to train his shop assistants to be modern businesswomen, while the First World War gave women the opportunity to step into shopwork like never before, including at Harrods.
In the turmoil of post-war, John Lewis shopworkers went on strike, while the founder's son, Spedon Lewis, honed his plans for a revolutionary idea in which staff would become partners in the business. By the 1930s, the boom in chain stores gave rise to a new type of shopgirl with a new shopping concept: to hang back and let the customer 'browse'.
Dan Snow travels to Congo - one of the wildest, most colourful and anarchic places on our planet - to reveal how its troubled history of slavery, colonialism, corruption and war have turned one of the world's potentially richest countries into one of its poorest.
Dan's journey takes him to some of the most remote and dangerous places on earth, where he discovers how Congo's resources and people helped make Britain rich through the centuries and win two world wars.
A Storyville documentary. A raw and unfiltered insight into the bloodiest conflict since the Second World War. Over the last two decades, the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed over five million conflict-related deaths, multiple regime changes and the impoverishment of its people.
Following the lives of four diverse characters - a government whistleblower, a patriotic military commander, a mineral dealer and a displaced tailor - this programme offers a visceral, yet intimate insight into a nation caught between the foreign-backed M23 rebels and the government ruled by president Joseph Kabila, who cancels elections and refuses to relinquish power. As the conflict resonates through their lives, the film reveals the insidious legacy of colonialism, resource exploitation and the genocidal wars that has created a never-ending cycle of violence.
Ludwig II of Bavaria, more commonly known by his nicknames the Swan King or the Dream King, is a legendary figure - the handsome boy-king, loved by his people, betrayed by his cabinet and found dead in tragic and mysterious circumstances. He spent his life in pursuit of the ideal of beauty, an ideal that found expression in three of the most extraordinary, ornate architectural schemes imaginable - the castle of Neuschwanstein and the palaces of Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. Today, these three buildings are among Germany's biggest tourist attractions.
In this documentary, Dan Cruickshank explores the rich aesthetic of Ludwig II - from the mock-medievalism of Neuschwanstein, the iconic fairytale castle that became the inspiration for the one in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty, to the rich Baroque splendour of Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig's answer to Versailles. Dan argues that Ludwig's castles are more than flamboyant kitsch and are, in fact, the key to unravelling the eternal enigma of Ludwig II.
Sandbrook takes a fresh look at a dynamic decade. 1980s Britain changed in everything from politics and sport to fashion and popular culture.
In the opening years of the 1980s, the powerful new forces of choice and consumerism were radically reshaping British life. The first episode looks at how the early 80s saw the powerful new forces of choice and consumerism radically reshape British life, tearing down existing ways of doing things and ripping up the rule book of British politics. This new culture of consumer-driven populism propelled Margaret Thatcher to victory. For the first time, 'who we were' became a question less about the fixed identities of region and class, and much more about the choices we made, from where we shopped to how we cooked, to what we wore. Thatcher may have embodied this change - but she didn't drive it.
This episode takes in everything from the popularity of Delia Smith to affordable fashions on the high street, from the subcultures of Britain's youth to the crisis of identity that rocked and splintered the political left. But it also shows how the mood of aspiration that swept the nation left certain sections of society adrift and alienated, from the hollowed out industrial heartlands of the Midlands to the inner city communities of south London and Liverpool.
As good as any Dickens novel, this is the triumphant and tragic story of the greatest architectural dynasty of the 19th century. Dan Cruickshank charts the rise of Sir George Gilbert Scott to the very heights of success, the fall of his son George Junior and the rise again of his grandson Giles. It is a story of architects bent on a mission to rebuild Britain. From the Romantic heights of the Midland Hotel at St Pancras station to the modern image of Bankside power station (now Tate Modern), this is the story of a family that shaped the Victorian age and left a giant legacy.
THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2018
THU 19:00 Beyond 100 Days (b0b7spjm)
Series 1
28/06/2018
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
THU 19:30 Top of the Pops (b0b8hjp0)
Peter Powell and Dixie Peach present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 28 November 1985. Featuring David Grant and Jaki Graham, Whitney Houston, Prefab Sprout, Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin, and Wham!.
THU 20:00 The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (p01wq65t)
Episode 1
In 1714, to prevent the crown falling into the hands of a Catholic, Britain shipped in a ready-made royal family from the small German state of Hanover. To understand this risky experiment, presenter Dr Lucy Worsley has been given access to treasures from the Royal Collection as they are prepared for a new exhibition at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace - providing a rare and personal insight into George I and his feuding dynasty.
The Hanoverians arrived at a moment when Britain was changing fast. Satirists were free to mock the powerful, including the new royals. The Hanoverians themselves were busy early adopters of Neo-Palladian architecture, defining the whole look of the Georgian era. When the French philosopher Voltaire visited, he found a 'land of liberty' unlike anything in Europe - Britain was embracing freedom of speech and modern cabinet government.
THU 21:00 Napoleon (b05yxzlj)
Episode 1
The first of three documentaries telling the story of Napoleon. With access to a unique archive of Napoleon's personal letters, many of which have never been published before, historian Andrew Roberts journeys through the history and geography of Europe to bring this story vividly to life as he retraces the footsteps of the legendary leader himself. The films shed new light on Napoleon as an extraordinarily gifted military commander, a mesmeric leader whose private life was, contrary to popular belief, littered with disappointments and betrayals.
From lowly Corsican Army officer to first consul of France, this episode charts the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte to leader of the French nation in the late 1790s. It tells of Napoleon's military triumphs in Italy, Egypt and against anti-revolutionaries on the streets of Paris, his marriage to Josephine Beauharnais and leadership of the military coup of 1799 that swept him into power.
It shares in his ambition as an army officer and his highly progressive modernisation of the country during the early years of his dictatorship, but then also an acute sensitivity in the man, a personality trait that in later years would prove to be an Achilles heel to his power.
The film is presented by British historian Andrew Roberts, and shot on location in St Helena, France and Italy.
THU 22:00 Generation '66 (b07myxld)
The defining moment of 1966 may have been England winning the World Cup, but what about the other 364 days of the year? A revealing portrait of '66 told by the generation that shaped it. Featuring Michael Palin, Janet Street-Porter, Peter Stringfellow, Nina Baden-Semper and Geno Washington.
THU 23:00 Horizon (b00vv0w8)
2010-2011
Asteroids - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Famed for their ability to inflict Armageddon from outer space, asteroids are now revealing the secrets of how they are responsible for both life and death on our planet.
Armed with an array of powerful telescopes, scientists are finding up to 3,000 new asteroids every night. And some are heading our way.
But astronomers have discovered that it's not the giant rocks that are the greatest danger - it's the small asteroids that pose a more immediate threat to Earth.
Researchers have explained the photon propulsion that send these rocks across space, and have discovered that some asteroids are carrying a mysterious cargo of frost and ice across the solar system that could have helped start life on Earth.
THU 00:00 Top of the Pops (b0b8hjp0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
THU 00:30 Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics (b08h06tq)
Series 1
Making Sound
Dr Helen Czerski investigates the extraordinary science behind the sounds we're familiar with and the sounds that we normally can't hear.
She begins by exploring the simplest of ideas: what is a sound? At the Palace of Westminster, Helen teams up with scientists from the University of Leicester to carry out state-of-the-art measurements using lasers to reveal how the most famous bell in the world - Big Ben - vibrates to create pressure waves in the air at particular frequencies. This is how Big Ben produces its distinct sound. It's the first time that these laser measurements have been done on Big Ben.
With soprano singer Lesley Garrett CBE, Helen explores the science of the singing voice - revealing in intimate detail its inner workings and how it produces sound. Lesley undergoes a laryngoscopy to show the vocal folds of her larynx. At University College London, Lesley sings I Dreamed a Dream inside an MRI scanner to reveal how her vocal tract acts as a 'resonator', amplifying and shaping the sound from her larynx.
Having explored the world of sounds with which we are familiar, Helen discovers the hidden world of sounds that lie beyond the range of human hearing. At the summit of Stromboli, one of Europe's most active volcanoes, Helen and volcanologist Dr Jeffrey Johnson use a special microphone to record the extraordinary deep tone produced by the volcano as it explodes - a frequency far too low for the human ear to detect. Helen reveals how the volcano produces sound in a similar way to a musical instrument - with the volcano vent acting as a 'sound resonator'.
Finally, at the University of Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, Helen meets a scientist who has discovered evidence of sound waves in space, created by a giant black hole. These sounds are one million billion times lower than the limit of human hearing and could be the key in figuring out how galaxy clusters, the largest structures in the universe, grow.
THU 01:30 Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics (b08h9ctd)
Series 1
Using Sound
Dr Helen Czerski examines the extraordinary messages sound waves carry and how they help us understand the world around us.
Visiting a hidden location buried beneath the hills of Scotland, Helen experiences some of the most extreme acoustics in the world. Here she learns just how much information can be carried by sound. She discovers how sound has driven the evolution of truly incredible biological systems and complex relationships between creatures that exploit sound for hunting - and escaping from predators. Helen demonstrates how sound waves diffract (bend around objects) and in doing so help us sense danger and locate it.
Through the story of a cochlea implant patient Helen explores the complicated way our ears can translate sound waves - a physical vibration in the air - into an electrical signal our brain can understand.
Helen explains how we are not limited to passively detecting sound waves, we can also use them to actively probe the world. From detecting submarines to uncovering the secrets of our planet, sound waves are instrumental in revealing things hidden from the world of light. On the cold North Sea, Helen investigates how marine archaeologists are using sound waves to uncover the remarkable human stories buried beneath the sea. Yet we are not limited to using sound waves here on Earth, as Helen explains how sound has been used to better understand distant, alien worlds in the outer solar system.
THU 02:30 The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (p01wq65t)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
FRIDAY 29 JUNE 2018
FRI 19:00 World News Today (b0b7spjy)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
FRI 19:30 Top of the Pops (b0b8kv3f)
Gary Davies and Janice Long present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 12 December 1985.
FRI 20:00 Top of the Pops (b07g9rc4)
1982 - Big Hits
The Top of the Pops vaults are opened once more, this time to celebrate the mega-hits of 1982.
A new pop sound had arrived, shattering the chart domination of mainstream pop-rock, which in turn coincides with a second British invasion of the US charts. Step forward Adam Ant, Yazoo, Wham, ABC and The Associates, all breakthrough acts in a golden year for British pop.
Madness provide a little two-step with their ska revival, and Junior and Patrice Rushen's R&B tracks pack a punch. Pop-infused reggae beats are provided by Culture Club and Musical Youth, while the mods get a nod from The Jam. And did we mention Tight Fit?
FRI 21:00 Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know (b0b7szrg)
With exclusive access, the band open up about their extraordinary career and talk candidly about the highs and lows they have endured together over four long decades. This is the band at their most relaxed, intimate and honest. We spend time with John at his LA home, Simon pays a visit to his former choir master, Roger goes back to where it all started in Birmingham, and Nick dusts off some of the 10,000 fashion items that the band have meticulously catalogued and collected over the course of their career. Joining the conversation is fellow new romantic and singer Boy George, lifelong fan and record producer Mark Ronson, friend, fan and supermodel Cindy Crawford, and Highlander film director Russell Mulcahy.
Charting their trajectory over four decades, the story is told through seven of their albums. Each record uncovers a compelling chapter in the band’s journey - the fame, the fortune, the melt downs, the hits, the flops, the exotic videos, the tours, the fans, the partying and the supermodels.
FRI 22:00 Duran Duran: A Night In (b0b7szrj)
A celebration of one of the UK's most enduring pop bands of all time, Duran Duran. The programme joins Simon, John, Roger and Nick as they sit back, relax, watch and talk through personally selected clips of archive television, music shows, movies, performances, adverts and children's shows that have inspired them across their career spanning four decades.
In this exclusive hour-long special, they discuss their influences from the worlds of music, film, TV and art. From The Beatles and Sex Pistols to Top of the Pops, Tomorrow's World and the Apollo 11 moon landing, A Night In is a trip down memory lane with the band as they remember the shows that capture a particular moment in their creative lives.
FRI 23:00 Duran Duran: Unstaged (b0b8ctk8)
Film showcasing Duran Duran's concert at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles, which was part of the All You Need Is Now world tour in 2011. Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor all feature, alongside special guests Gerard Way, Beth Ditto, Kelis and Mark Ronson. Award-winning filmmaker David Lynch captures the event, layering animation, special effects and pre-recorded live-action footage on top of the band's live performance footage to create a unique visual experience.
FRI 00:45 Top of the Pops (b07g9rc4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
FRI 01:45 Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know (b0b7szrg)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
FRI 02:45 TOTP2 (b00slpb6)
Duran Duran Special
Mark Radcliffe takes us on a memorable look back at some classic Duran Duran Top of the Pops performances.
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 SUN (b071gx2c)
Africa's Great Civilisations
22:10 TUE (b0b873nn)
Africa
21:10 TUE (b01qb062)
Africa
01:25 TUE (b01qb062)
Art of Scandinavia
00:00 SUN (b073mp87)
Beyond 100 Days
19:00 WED (b0b7spj8)
Beyond 100 Days
19:00 THU (b0b7spjm)
Biggest Weekend
19:00 SUN (b0b7srxf)
Britain in Focus: A Photographic History
01:40 MON (b08h95jk)
Classic Quartets at the BBC
02:00 SUN (b08jq8ll)
Cruel Sea: The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster
20:00 SUN (b00794gz)
Cruel Sea: The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster
03:00 SUN (b00794gz)
Dan Cruickshank and the Family that Built Gothic Britain
02:25 WED (b04m3ljr)
David Starkey's Music and Monarchy
01:00 SUN (p018rffp)
Duran Duran: A Night In
22:00 FRI (b0b7szrj)
Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know
21:00 FRI (b0b7szrg)
Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know
01:45 FRI (b0b7szrg)
Duran Duran: Unstaged
23:00 FRI (b0b8ctk8)
Fair Isle: Living on the Edge
22:40 MON (b083xzhb)
Frank Skinner on George Formby
23:00 SAT (b016fpz0)
Generation '66
22:00 THU (b07myxld)
Genius of the Modern World
23:40 MON (b07gpdbx)
Hidden
21:00 SAT (b0b6tgcv)
Horizon
23:00 THU (b00vv0w8)
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
19:00 SAT (b07gxpd7)
Match of the Day Live
19:00 MON (b0b8h2ht)
Match of the Day Live
19:00 TUE (b0b8h4kt)
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
02:40 MON (b06t3w73)
Napoleon
21:00 THU (b05yxzlj)
Nature's Turtle Nursery: Secrets from the Nest
21:10 MON (b0b7st0z)
Nature's Turtle Nursery: Secrets from the Nest
02:25 TUE (b0b7st0z)
Night on Film: An A-Z of the Dark
23:00 SUN (b018jl97)
She-Wolves: England's Early Queens
23:05 TUE (b01dc66v)
Shopgirls: The True Story of Life Behind the Counter
20:00 WED (b048sd4l)
Shopgirls: The True Story of Life Behind the Counter
01:25 WED (b048sd4l)
Simon King's Shetland Adventure
20:00 SAT (b00qnw1f)
Simon King's Shetland Adventure
03:00 SAT (b00qnw1f)
Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics
00:30 THU (b08h06tq)
Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics
01:30 THU (b08h9ctd)
Sound of Cinema: The Music That Made the Movies
00:00 SAT (b03b45h4)
Storyville
00:05 TUE (b04ndsb3)
Storyville
22:00 WED (b0b7srxh)
TOTP2
02:45 FRI (b00slpb6)
The 80s with Dominic Sandbrook
00:25 WED (b07n7gtn)
The Cult of...
19:30 WED (b009099z)
The Cult of...
03:25 WED (b009099z)
The Fairytale Castles of King Ludwig II with Dan Cruickshank
23:25 WED (b036f9vc)
The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain
20:00 THU (p01wq65t)
The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain
02:30 THU (p01wq65t)
The League of Gentlemen
22:00 SAT (p008wmwp)
The League of Gentlemen
22:30 SAT (p008wmy9)
The Secret Life of Waves
00:40 MON (b00y5jhx)
This World
21:00 WED (b03cwn1m)
Timeshift
02:00 SAT (b019327k)
Top of the Pops
19:30 THU (b0b8hjp0)
Top of the Pops
00:00 THU (b0b8hjp0)
Top of the Pops
19:30 FRI (b0b8kv3f)
Top of the Pops
20:00 FRI (b07g9rc4)
Top of the Pops
00:45 FRI (b07g9rc4)
Tutankhamun: The Truth Uncovered
22:00 SUN (b04n6scp)
Unsung Heroines: Danielle de Niese on the Lost World of Female Composers
01:00 SAT (b0b6znwz)
World News Today
19:00 FRI (b0b7spjy)