Tony Hancock was the vulnerable clown who became a household name with Hancock's Half Hour. John Freeman cross-examined leading personalities of the day. At the time Freeman's interview was heavily criticised. He was considered too brusque, almost ruthless in his technique. But the two became close friends and it is an interview many remember. (1960)
Frankie Howerd plays Lurcio the slave in mid 70s BC Pompeii, in the first programme of this classic series. Lurcio has to help his master Ludicrus Sextus find a virgin for the annual vestal virgin festival.
Kirsty Wark presents as writers Miranda Sawyer and Anthony Horowitz do battle against authors Wendy Holden and Giles Coren for a place in the semi-finals of the literary panel game.
A celebration of the satirical comedy sketch series The Frost Report, which won the prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux in the 1960s.
Hosted by Sir David Frost, it was highly influential and proved to be the launch pad for the likes of Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and Sheila Steafel.
Featuring rare archive skits, interviews with many of the old team and a complete showing of the award-winning show Frost Over England.
A tribute to Liverpudlian comic Ken Dodd, in which he discusses his career and the influences of his comedy style.
Features film clips of his early performances and footage of him on tour in more recent times.
TUESDAY 25 MARCH 2008
TUE 19:00 World News Today (b009lv1r)
The latest news from around the world.
TUE 19:30 Pop Go the Sixties (b008791b)
Series 1
Marmalade
A colourful nugget of pop by Marmalade, mined from the BBC's archive.
TUE 19:35 Batman (b009ntjz)
Series 2
The Clock King's Crazy Crimes
Fantasy adventure series. The dastardly Clock King is stealing art with every passing minute. Will the dynamic duo manage to thwart him in time?
TUE 20:00 Around the World in 80 Treasures (b0078w84)
Series 1
Turkey to Germany
In the penultimate stage of Dan Cruickshankâs gargantuan journey around the world, we find the intrepid explorer floating above Turkey in a hot air balloon! Below lie miles of a subterranean city where across the centuries peoples hid from warring factions from the east and west. Once in the caves - dark and sinister as they are - Dan uncovers an ingenious means of defence before stumbling on the weirdest treasure of his trip - a cavern full of golden locks - of hair! It reminds him he needs a haircut - possibly the least wise decision of his trip. Recovered from his singeing experience over supper in downtown Istanbul, the mother of all domes at Hagia Sophia raises his spirits as he climbs to the very top.
In Russia's St Petersburg, Dan casts himself in the guise of Peter the Great, who planned an imperial city from a simple shack before heading north toward the Arctic Circle and the remote Monastery of Solovki, where Russia's epic and often violent history has left its mark. Even now it is one of the bleakest places he has encountered so far.
Poland is a destination with personal echoes - as he reveals, he grew up there - a visit to the local salt mine with its miraculous salt carvings - beautifully detailed figures carved by the miners as altar pieces to petition God for their safety - transports him back to his lost childhood. Shadows of 20th-century history crowd in as Dan lands in Berlin where he determines he must salvage something from the wreckage of Nazi Germany. His choice: a chair and a beetle.
TUE 21:00 The Top of the Form Story (b0074sfx)
Dave Gorman traces the history of the BBC's long-running quiz show for schoolchildren. The programme includes interviews with original quizmasters as well as the now grown-up boys and girls who engaged in the weekly battle of wits.
TUE 22:00 Goodness Gracious Me (b007492k)
Series 2
Episode 6
British-Asian comedy sketch show. This programme features Britain's No 1 kabaddi star, and a special edition of 'Asian Gladiators'.
TUE 22:30 The Hard Sell (b009lv1t)
House and Home
Phill Jupitus narrates a series exploring 50 years of British TV advertising. In the world of advertising few items are given a harder sell than household products. The liquids, soaps, sprays and powders on which a multi-million pound industry has been built have revolutionised domestic life and the marketing of these labour-saving devices was the foundation on which the whole industry was created. Contributors include Tim Bell, Sam Delaney, Nicola Mendelsohn, Rula Lenska, Tamara Ingram and Dave Prowse.
TUE 23:00 Up Pompeii (b009ppgx)
Series 1
The Ides of March
Frankie Howerd plays Lurcio the slave in mid 70s BC Pompeii, in the classic series. Lurcio has been ordered by his master to assassinate Caesar, but are we seeing double?
TUE 23:30 A Year in Tibet (b009hp6b)
Faith, Hope and Charity
Documentary series following a year in the life of the society living in and around the Tibetan town of Gyantse.
The monks begin preparations for New Year, one of Tibet's biggest festivals. Lhakpa, a local rickshaw driver, struggles to earn money as winter approaches. He embarks on a scheme to buy and sell puppies, with disastrous consequences.
Hotel owner Jianzang gets involved in a court case which has a surprising outcome. In Tangmai, the doctor cannot cure Lhamo's crippling stomach pains.
TUE 00:30 The Top of the Form Story (b0074sfx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
TUE 01:30 BBC Proms (b007xlmz)
2007
Bluebeard's Castle - Prom 48
Verity Sharp introduces Christoph von Dohnanyi conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra in a new orchestral suite from Thomas Ades' opera Powder Her Face, based on the life and disgrace of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. This is followed by Bartok's darkly psychological opera Duke Bluebeard's Castle, sung by Charlotte Hellekant and Falk Struckmann.
TUE 03:25 The Top of the Form Story (b0074sfx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2008
WED 19:00 World News Today (b009lv9g)
The latest news from around the world.
WED 19:30 Pop Go the Sixties (b0088xv2)
Series 1
Helen Shapiro
A colourful nugget of pop mined from the BBC's archive, as Helen Shapiro performs Walking Back to Happiness.
WED 19:35 Batman (b009nthx)
Series 2
The Clock King Gets Crowned
Fantasy adventure series about a caped crusader and his sidekick. The Dynamic Duo rope in Aunt Harriet in a race against time with the Clock King.
WED 20:00 Legends (b0074svr)
Joyce Grenfell - Comedy with Breeding
In many ways Joyce Grenfell was the pioneer of British female comedy. Through her radio broadcasts, her St Trinian's films, and her regular appearances on BBC TV's Face the Music, Joyce was one of the most popular and enduring performers of her generation. But who was Joyce Grenfell and what was she really like?
Clive James, Maureen Lipman and Dillie Keane join a host of Joyce's friends and colleagues to paint a candid and affectionate portrait of this great British star.
Narrated by Cass Allen.
WED 21:00 Hancock and Joan (b009lv9j)
Drama which tells the story of comedian Tony Hancock's love affair with his friend's wife, and her fight to save the man and his career. Only months into her marriage to John Le Mesurier, Joan fell in love with Tony, who, despite his struggles with drink, remained charismatic and funny. They embarked on a passionate affair, but Tony's demons were never far away, and after months of turmoil Joan gave him an ultimatum: If he made a go of a new series in Australia and stayed sober, she would leave John for good. Tony left, determined to succeed.
WED 22:30 The Late Edition (b009lv9l)
Series 4
Episode 20
Satirical comedy show, with host Marcus Brigstocke and guests.
WED 23:00 Mark Lawson Talks To... (b009lv9n)
George Cole
Actor George Cole, best known as Arthur Daley in the long-running TV series Minder, in conversation with Mark Lawson.
WED 00:00 Hancock and Joan (b009lv9j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
WED 01:25 The Late Edition (b009lv9l)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:30 today]
WED 01:55 Legends (b0074svr)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
WED 02:55 Mark Lawson Talks To... (b009lv9n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
23:00 today]
THURSDAY 27 MARCH 2008
THU 19:00 World News Today (b009lvdw)
The latest news from around the world.
THU 19:30 Up Pompeii (b009ppk0)
Series 1
The Senator and the Asp
Frankie Howerd plays Lurcio the slave in mid 70s BC Pompeii, in the classic series. Lurcio has to help his mistress get rid of an unwanted lover, but has he got rid of the wrong man?
THU 20:00 Himalaya with Michael Palin (b0074qpt)
Annapurna to Everest
Michael Palin continues his Himalayan trek. During a Gurkha recruitment Palin is disturbed by Maoist insurgents, but survives to suffer as he climbs to 15,000 feet and sees the majesty of Annapurna Sanctuary. In Kathmandu he is blessed by the Nepalese king before meeting some holy men. Crossing into Tibet he meets his first yaks at the highest monastery in the world before heading up the Rongbuk glacier towards the summit of Everest.
THU 21:00 A Year in Tibet (b009lvdy)
Monks Behaving Badly
Documentary series following a year in the life of the society living in and around the Tibetan town of Gyantse. In the Pel Kor monastery, the director Choephel discovers that some irreplaceable statues have been stolen and the theft gives the local Communist Party an excuse to put in a government 'work team' to weed out monks they think are behaving badly. Lhakpa heads north in search of a lucrative job on a building site, and Butri gets an unpleasant surprise as she approaches her retirement.
THU 22:00 Ashes to Ashes (b009ny70)
Series 1
Episode 7
Drama series following the exploits of Life on Mars DCI Gene Hunt. Thousands of pounds collected for charity have been stolen, and the only lead is Gil Hollis, the man who raised it. Alex is sure that Gil knows more than he realises and that she can coax it out of him. But when Gene is humiliated on a TV appeal, he resorts to his 'fists first, questions later' method. Can Alex prevent Gene going off the rails just when she needs to stay in control?
THU 23:00 Mad Men (b009lt2d)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:00 on Sunday]
THU 23:45 Auntie's War on Smut (b009hff3)
Tongue-in-cheek journey through 20 years of censorship from the BBC after it issued a book of guidelines that would define its role and values for postwar Britain in 1948. Known by the colour of its cover, the 'Green Book' would keep a generation of errant writers and performers in check with bans on jokes about honeymoon couples, fig leaves and animal habits among others. Featuring contributions from writers and performers like Denis Norden, Nicholas Parsons, David Frost and Jonathan Miller.
THU 00:45 A Year in Tibet (b009lvdy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
THU 01:45 Everest: Getting to the Bottom of the Mountain (b0074nz8)
A look at the world's highest mountain in its various guises - Mother Goddess, symbol of human achievement, ruthless killer and latter-day tourist attraction. Contributors include Chris Bonington, Rheinhold Messner and Doug Scott.
THU 02:45 Auntie's War on Smut (b009hff3)
[Repeat of broadcast at
23:45 today]
THU 03:45 A Year in Tibet (b009lvdy)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
FRIDAY 28 MARCH 2008
FRI 19:00 World News Today (b009lvpj)
The latest news from around the world.
FRI 19:30 Transatlantic Sessions (b0080w4g)
Series 3
Episode 4
Folk musicians come together in what have been called 'the greatest backporch shows ever'. Iris DeMent and Phil Cunningham are among the performers. There is also a piping duet from Scotland's Fred Morrison and Ireland's Michael McGoldrick with backing from Donal Lunny.
FRI 20:00 Sacred Music (b009lvpl)
Series 1
Palestrina and the Popes
Documentary series in which actor and former chorister Simon Russell Beale explores the flowering of Western sacred music.
He uncovers the links between the papal intrigues of Renaissance Rome and the music of the enigmatic Palestrina, whose work is considered by many to be unsurpassed in its spiritual perfection. The art and architecture of the Italian High Renaissance are accompanied by a performance from the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by founder Harry Christophers.
FRI 21:00 Omnibus (b009lvpn)
Through Many Dangers - The Story of Gospel Music
Documentary on the history of gospel church music from its West African slave roots to its widespread influence on popular music across the world today. The story of the music's evolution is recounted by historians and writers and features performances from Mahalia Jackson, Thomas Dorsey, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Aretha Franklin and many others.
FRI 22:30 Hancock and Joan (b009lv9j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Wednesday]
FRI 23:55 Batman (b009ntjz)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:35 on Tuesday]
FRI 00:20 Batman (b009nthx)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:35 on Wednesday]
FRI 00:45 Transatlantic Sessions (b0080w4g)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
FRI 01:15 Sacred Music (b009lvpl)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
FRI 02:15 Hancock and Joan (b009lv9j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Wednesday]