Ian Hislop explores the British trait of obsession with the past. He looks at the rural olden days - Britain's idealised vision of the countryside. Show more

Dr Janina Ramirez travels across glaciers and through the lava fields of Iceland to find out about one of the most compelling of the great Viking stories - the Laxdaela Saga. Show more

Descendants of rival gang leaders in 1890s Salford and descendants of the judge who tried to stop them tell their family stories. Show more

Simon Schama explores the depiction of nature. Simon discovers that landscape painting is seldom a straightforward description of observed nature. Show more

Simon Schama examines how traditions developed in the years following the Renaissances. Show more

Documentary looking at the most devastating raid so far on Britain, launched in November 1940 by the Luftwaffe. In a 12-hour blitz, thousands of bombs were dropped on Coventry. Show more

Seventy years on, brothers Colin and Ewan McGregor take viewers through the key moments of the Battle of Britain, when 'the few' of the RAF faced the might of the Nazi Luftwaffe. Show more

Colin and Ewan McGregor bring the story of the Battle of Britain to a new generation, discovering the legacy of the battle and the inspiring personal stories of the pilots. Show more

Simon looks at how Shakespeare's most profound tragedies may have been inspired by the bard's experiences writing for the courts of Elizabeth I and James I. Show more

Simon Schama argues that it is impossible to understand how Shakespeare came to belong 'to all time' without understanding just how much he was of his time. Show more

Simon Schama examines the war in Afghanistan and suggests President Obama would be wise to handle the inherited conflict like Harry Truman did the Korean War. Show more

Simon Schama asks whether President Obama will act decisively to make the American money machine work for everyone, ending the cycle of boom and bust. Show more

Using rare archive and first-hand testimony from those who knew him intimately, this film explores the life of Donald Campbell, one of Britain's most compelling but doomed heroes. Show more

Jack O'Connell on his role in Tennessee Williams's play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; novelist Emma Donoghue chooses her Queer Icon; conductor Jules Buckley looks ahead to his two Proms. Show more

Since the first star lit up the universe, they have been engines of creation. Professor Brian Cox reveals how, ultimately, stars brought life and meaning to the universe. Show more

It’s the ultimate question: why are we here? Brian Cox explores how cutting-edge space missions take us back 13.8 billion years to the origin of the universe. Show more