Canada The Story Of Us

CANADA: THE STORY OF US tells the story of a nation and its people - in a new way for a new generation. Each hour features exciting action-adventure narratives told through dramatic recreation and 3D animation. With ground-breaking CGI and a cast of celebrity interviews that take us inside the nation’s biggest stories, Canada: The Story of Us is truly a celebration of a nation that has transformed its differences into understanding and created an identity that is uniquely diverse.

Curse Of The Ancients

From wars to earthquakes and floods to famines – these are the events that have helped shape our modern world. In each episode, Professor Alice Roberts takes viewers on a journey across Europe and North Africa to discover epic sites and landmarks - cities abandoned, battlefields long forgotten and civilisations toppled and lost to the mists of time. To our ancient ancestors, suffering these catastrophic events, it must have seemed they were cursed, but science is now exploding those myths and re-writing history.

Jack The Ripper: Written In Blood

From leading producer Nutopia, JACK THE RIPPER: WRITTEN IN BLOOD is a gripping drama-documentary series that reveals a shocking new angle on the infamous Whitechapel murders: how a gang of ruthless reporters at The Star Newspaper created the legend of Jack the Ripper, and helped him get away with murder. Across three hours, we’ll go inside the real-life thriller of how penny-a-line journalist Fred Best and his colleagues at The Star, including its cunning editor TP O'Connor, manipulated the gruesome murders to sell papers. They actively misled the police investigation by planting false leads and fabricating evidence, and printing speculation as fact. With every lurid headline and forged letter, in which they pertained to be the killer, Fred and his cohorts steered the hunt away from the real murderer and made a fiasco of Scotland Yard’s investigation. By identifying false suspects, The Star whipped up mass hysteria and turned the streets of Whitechapel into a battleground, fuelling mob justice and violent suspicion. The city spiralled into panic, with the police chasing shadows while the real killer slipped through their grasp. In their relentless pursuit of headlines, Fred and his colleagues at The Star, didn’t just create the myth of Jack the Ripper, they ensured he would never be caught. They made him the story, guaranteeing he became a sensation, whilst the tragic stories of the murderers victims were lost amidst the press hysteria. The Star’s underhand tactics laid the foundation for modern tabloid journalism, a legacy of scandal, fear, and media-fuelled frenzy, that still shapes our world today.

A Very Royal Wedding

Brought to life through stunning colour archive, and with access to exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, this landmark documentary tells the story of how the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip captured the hearts of a nation, and became an extraordinary moment of celebration to help raise the spirits of a world broken by war.

Operation Oblivion

In the darkest days of WWII in the Pacific, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) faced a critical obstacle to their operations in the Far East: How could their agents infiltrate Japanese-occupied territories and establish links with the Chinese resistance without sticking out like a sore thumb? This documentary film will uncover the stories of a group of 12 Chinese-Canadians and their secret training under the guidance of British SOE operatives. OPERATION OBLIVION combines newly shot interviews and never-before-seen images with animated sequences that vividly recreate the remarkable stories of Force 136.

Much Ado About Shakespeare

MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE follows Steven Wadlow, a window cleaner who believes that a painted portrait that has been hanging above his family’s television set for over half a century may be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Over eleven years, Steven embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about the portrait, visiting some of the world’s top art institutions. The history of the painting suggests it could be a missing portrait of William Shakespeare that had been painted during his lifetime. Facial comparison software shows a striking resemblance to The Bard, more so than any known image. Despite the art world’s skepticism, Steven’s breakthrough comes in Paris, where a renowned expert, who has examined masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, confirms his discovery. This captivating film uncovers the mystery behind a painting that could rewrite history and change Steven’s life forever.

America The Bountiful

Across the fields and farms of America, the food traditions that define the nation are being preserved and rediscovered. Capri Cafaro travels the country’s back roads to uncover the incredible stories behind the foods we grow, harvest, cook and celebrate.

Bettany Hughes' Grand Tour: From Paris To Rome

Prof. Bettany Hughes is on the journey of a lifetime through France and Italy to understand how travel, art, and culture can enrich our lives. Inspired by the 18th Century’s Grand Tourists, Bettany is making her own modern, pleasure-filled pilgrimages to some of Europe’s most beautiful cities including Paris, Nice, Florence, Lake Como, Venice, and Rome. Over four stunning episodes, Bettany reveals the honeypot of art and culture that make these the world’s most desired and popular destinations. This landmark series is a sumptuous treat filled with staggering access, good food, fine wines, and the most inspiring art and history. Think charisma, culture, and Camparis - the ultimate chance for the armchair traveller to relax, learn, discover, delight, and enjoy.

Destination Haunted: Leap Castle

Ireland's Leap Castle is considered the most haunted castle in the world. Built on an ancient druidic ritual site, it’s home to countless murders, tortures and executions, making it a hot bed for paranormal encounters dating back to the 1600s. Visitors to the castle have reported being touched and pushed by aggressive poltergeists, seeing apparitions of ghost children and hearing inexplicable voices. DESTINATION HAUNTED: LEAP CASTLE takes us into the castle, its history, and centuries of hauntings.

Style in Steel

Explore the multiple and complex roles that automobiles have played in our lives. Celebrate the automobile, its enduring beauty, and the art that has been inspired by the influences of 20th century designers.