British writer Agatha Christie (1890-1976) published her first novel in 1920, in which the eccentric Belgian private sleuth Hercule Poirot made his debut. Later, in 1927, the first short story starring the gentle spinster Miss Jane Marple appeared. A fascinating journey through popular culture in search of the footprints of two of the most charismatic characters in crime and mystery literature.
25 years after the verdict in the Jamie Bulger murder trial, we reveal what the jury, public and press never heard, and what his two killers, Thompson and Venables, said during their time in custody from arrest to release.
Agatha Christie was born in Torquay on England's south coast. In a career spanning over half a century, the prolific crime writer was inspired by the landscapes and character of her home country, much of which featured in her novels. This heart-warming documentary takes viewers on a literary tour of England - focusing on the most interesting locations featured in some of her best-known books.
Surpassed only by the Bible and Shakespeare, Agatha Christie is the most successful writer of all time. We all know her characters and incredible plot twists, but what do we know about Agatha herself? Combining rare access to Agatha's family, her personal archive and speaking to those who know her work best, discover what made the world's most successful crime writer tick.
For almost 200 years Cadbury had been the home of chocolate. Making a staggering 350 tonnes of milk chocolate a day. But it's far more than just a factory. From its very beginnings the company set out to change our country. Not just by giving a great taste to the nation, but like Willy Wonka's fictional creation, building a magical place for its employees to live, work and play in. But as we'll find out it's not all been a sweet story. Over the past 150 years the company's been rocked by scandal, its products spreading deadly Salmonella and the victim of one of the most hostile takeover bids in corporate history when it was poached by cheese maker Kraft
The Channel Tunnel linking Britain with France is one of the seven wonders of the modern world but what did it take to build the longest undersea tunnel ever constructed? We hear from the men and women, who built this engineering marvel. Massive tunnel boring machines gnawed their way through rock and chalk, digging not one tunnel but three; two rail tunnels and a service tunnel. This was a project that would be privately financed; not a penny of public money would be spent on the tunnel. Business would have to put up all the money and take all the risks. This was also a project that was blighted by flood, fire, tragic loss of life and financial bust ups. Today, it stands as an engineering triumph and a testament to what can be achieved when two nations, Britain and France put aside their historic differences and work together.
Behind-the-scenes stories from the long-running sci-fi drama. There are tales of stunts that went dangerously wrong and secrets of how the crew brought monsters to life, as well as revelations about how some storylines proved to be so scary the BBC were forced to re-edit episodes.
Tracy Borman and Jason Watkins explore the mystery of what happened to the two young princes that were brought to the Tower of London in 1483 by their uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester. A few weeks later, the two boys vanished without a trace. Jason treads the boards as Shakespeare's greatest villain, Richard III, to try to get inside his mind, while Tracy investigates the discovery of the bones of two children found at the Tower in the 1600s.
A biopic drama-documentary about the 'King of Pop', that mixes real footage and new interviews with people around him (most notably his mother Katherine Jackson) with re-enactments of times of Michael's life until his untimely death on the 25th of June in 2009.
A look at Britain's beloved canal network via a fact-filled cruise along the first superhighways of the Industrial Revolution. In the age before mechanisation, a frenzy of canal-building saw a new army of workers carve out the British landscape, digging out hundreds of miles of waterways using picks, shovels and muscle.
Documentary revealing the shocking story of how Richard Spencer was subjected to years of abuse at the hands of his wife Sheree. This is the disturbing tale of the suffering that Richard endured, with compelling footage of the abuse captured on camera and in audio recordings, as well as written testimonials.
Unpacking and questioning the evidence used to convict neonatal nurse Lucy Letby.
Documentary taking a warm and celebratory look at the countless ways the Star Wars universe has inspired fans all over the globe. Whether it be adhering to the scriptures of Jedi, perfecting one's light-saber skills, designing a Wookie costume, or making a self-financed fan film, this show revels in the bright side of the Force.
Cleopatra, the last Egyptian queen and one of the most legendary women in history. A beautiful seductress who used her sex appeal in order to manipulate the most powerful men in the Roman Empire. This film reveals the truth behind the legend.
Biographical documentary about the life and career of the film star. What lies behind the extraordinary success of a man sometimes described as a nice guy who came first.
Unsettling medical details on the JFK assassination are disclosed by seven doctors who were in the ER during a futile effort to save his life in 1963.
We reveal the secrets of ABBA's missing 40 years and uncover the rollercoaster story of what happened to the band members after going their separate ways in 1982.
An exploration of immigration in Britain over the half century since Conservative MP Enoch Powell made his controversial speech. Issues surrounding race, religion, integration and multiculturalism are examined.
Documentary taking a behind-the-scenes look at how the world's biggest, multi-billion pound movie series came into existence. Featuring rare interviews with Star Wars producers Gary Kurtz and Robert Watts and insights from those members of the creative team who won Oscars making the visual effects. Plus, a few little-known and surprising facts surrounding the film franchise
This new special reveals the secrets of the long-running sitcom's extraordinary success. Helped by former cast and crew members, families of the stars no longer with us, and celebrity fans, we learn the secrets of this comedy classic and get to see previously unseen interviews and rare behind-the-scenes archive footage.
