Queen’s Coronation In Colour

This film takes us behind the scenes of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, arguably the most elaborate ceremony of the 20th century, to celebrate not only the Royal Family and those who masterminded the Coronation but the people from all walks of life who contributed to making it a unique occasion. Presented by British actor Alexander Armstrong.

Lost Home Movies Of Nazi Germany

Thousands of German attics have become dumping grounds for countless hours of private home movies, left gathering dust for decades. Hidden on these rolls of film is a different story of Hitler’s Third Reich; a private window into the inner most recesses of life in the Nazi Germany – at home during peacetime, but even more astonishingly, from the front lines of Hitler’s wars of conquest. This two-part series delves into these private collections to reveal how ordinary Germans – both civilian and military – recorded the dawn of an empire that they thought would last a thousand years. Ordinary citizens, Party organisations, firemen, local officials and soldiers on the frontline lovingly documented their own lives, exuding both national and domestic pride. However, as Hitler’s plans turned to ashes in the catastrophe of May 1945, much of this footage was hidden away. Now, as the war generation passes away, their children and grandchildren are finding these films and sharing them. What emerges is a candid and engaging look at what life was really like for those living under Hitler’s Swastika.

Man Made Marvels: Ancient China

Giant Buddha Four times the size of Mount Rushmore and twice as high as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Leshan’s Giant Buddha is one of the world’s ancient wonders. Crafted over a thousand years ago on an inaccessible site in a place where carving anything should be impossible, the mighty Buddha has survived war, fire, earthquakes and extreme weather. But can it survive the modern world? China's Forgotten City With a history defined by the rise and fall of powerful dynasties and immortalized by some of China’s greatest architectural and engineering innovations, predecessors of modern day Xian have provided a blueprint for many of the world’s great cities. Using the best technology and science available, today’s Xian’s residents are rediscovering and restoring a city laden with ancient man made marvels.

What's In A Name

A fun and exciting romp through history telling the stories of the names we know best—from perfume to hockey teams and cars to cocktails. What names have worked, why, and what impact have they had? Every episode sets out to help name something new like a newly invented electric car, a mouth-watering chocolate bar, or a baby about to be born! Branding experts and celebrities weigh in - actor George Wendt (Norm from Cheers) gives tips on branding beer, wrestling legends Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan weigh in on punchy monikers in the ring, and musician Randy Bachman gives a young band tips on finding a name that rocks.

Tombs Of Egyptian Priestesses

A team of Egyptian archaeologists has discovered a previously unknown cemetery that opens a window onto a unique period in the history of ancient Egypt - a time when the country was ruled by rich and powerful princesses, "The God’s Wives of Amun." We follow the excavation of the tombs in real time and witness the discovery of amazing artifacts belonging to these elite women. It was a time when Egypt was ruled by the Kushites from Nubia. To cement their rule, the Nubian kings sent their wives and daughters to rule over their new Egyptian conquests. These women embraced the local culture and religion and became known by the name of the all-powerful Egyptian god Amun. They ruled like kings, but having female rulers empowered women throughout Egyptian society. Through the discoveries in the cemetery, we explore one of the most mysterious periods of Egyptian history, when power was in the hands of women.

Mysteries of China

Archaeologist Agnes Hsu, a director of New York-based China Institute goes on a quest to answer some of ancient China’s most beguiling mysteries.

Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight

SILVER SPITFIRE: THE LONGEST JOURNEY follows pilot Matt Jones and his team as they make the incredible journey around the world in a World War II era Spitfire plane. Facing dangerous weather, volcanic ash and dangerous territories, Matt and his team fly the historic machine over the stunning vistas of North America, the majestic pyramids and the soaring Alps. As drama ensues at home and the team struggles to finish their historic flight, they push to get to the finish line – and to accomplish their goal of inspiring a new generation through the freedom of flight. SILVER SPITFIRE: THE LONGEST JOURNEY features never-before-seen archive, interviews and stunning aerial cinematography. -Official selection: 2022 Manchester Film Festival

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.

The Black West: A Counter History Of The Wild West

It is one of the West’s most powerful myths. The story of how the American West was won - by great heroes and white men. BLACK WEST tells the flip side of that myth. In 1875, one of four American cowboys was Black—Black sheriffs, Black trappers and Black soldiers. Some were adopted by Native American tribes, while others became slaves. These anonymous heroes were the inspiration for many great Westerns; yet Hollywood has erased them from the silver screen. Pieced together from archives, carefully crafted re-enactments and first-hand historical accounts, BLACK WEST restores these invisible heroes to their rightful place in history.

China's Ghost Army

Uncovering the secret of how Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s army of terracotta warriors was made reveals the true extent of the First Emperor’s power.