Ancient civilisations thought comets were gods. They believed them to be bringers of life or harbingers of doom - strange, magical, mysterious things that moved through the sky, fiery streaks of light that tore across the heavens.
Isaac Newton was the first to make sense of comets and to him they were the key to unlocking the secrets of gravity - nothing to do with an apple. Hundreds of years later, a new breed of space missions are visiting comets, travelling millions of miles to touch down on these tiny balls of rock flying through space at 20,000 mph. The spectacular images we now have are showing us what comets are really made of, where they come from, and their often surprising influence on events on Earth.
What they reveal is that our ancestors may have been right all along and that comets and meteors really are like gods, or at least they can exert tremendous influence over our world. They have brought terrible destruction to the Earth and may one day do so again. But they also may have brought life itself to the planet.
The team ventures into one of the world's most hostile environments, the Arctic Ocean, which plays a crucial role in controlling our climate.
Expedition leader Paul Rose, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and marine biologist and oceanographer Tooni Mahto head to this hostile and remote ocean, where they plan to dive beneath the polar ice cap to explore how the ice, the dominant feature of this ocean, is shrinking and how this could affect the rest of the world.
The polar bear is threatened by the retreating ice - but it is not alone. The team risks diving in sub-zero temperatures to collect samples of some of the tiny creatures that form the basis of the Arctic's complex food chain.
As the seas warm, the Atlantic walrus could be a global warming winner, in the short-term, and the team attempts to find out why. And they search for a glimpse of the world's only white whale, the beluga.
Detective Wallander is haunted by the spectre of a murder he was unable to prevent as a young policeman. Years after the event, the daughter of the murder victim, now a heroin addict, dies of an overdose.
A distressed Wallander is assigned to investigate the crash of a light airplane and a detonated armour piercing shell is found in the wreckage. A few days later, two elderly sisters are killed in an explosion in a sewing supplies shop. Traces of an advanced explosive are found in the burnt-out shop and evidence soon mounts to indicate that both events are tied to a showdown between two rival narcotics gangs.
A compilation of folk performances from the 1950s and 60s, news items on the folk movement from the vaults and newly shot performances. Featured artists include Peggy Seeger, Ewan McColl, Lonnie Donegan, Martin Carthy, AL Lloyd, the Coppers and Bob Davenports.
Compilation of archive performances by some of the 60s folk boom's biggest names, including quirky factual items from the vaults and some newly shot performances from the 60s folk stars. Featuring Donovan, Richard Thompson, Pentangle, Sandy Denny and an Alan Whicker cameo from 1960s.
Noel Edmonds introduces the weekly pop charts featuring performances from the Stranglers, Justin Hayward, Child, Darts, 10cc, the New Seekers and a dance routine by Legs & Co.
In 1959 Britain's biggest cinema company, the Rank Organisation, decided to replace its newsreels with a series of short, quirky, topical documentaries that examined all aspects of life in Britain. For the next ten years, Look at Life chronicled the changing face of British society, industry and culture, all on high-grade 35mm colour film. Britain on Film draws upon the 500 films in this unique archive to offer illuminating and often surprising insights into what became a pivotal decade in modern British history.
This episode looks at the films that recorded one of the great boom industries of the 1960s, the leisure industry. Having left behind the austerity of the immediate post-war period, Britain's increasingly affluent population took full advantage of the new leisure opportunities that made affordable newly-emerging recreational activities at home - as well as exciting holiday adventures abroad.
SUNDAY 04 AUGUST 2013
SUN 19:00 A Poet's Guide to Britain (b00kk4n5)
George Mackay Brown
Poet and author Owen Sheers presents a series in which he explores six great works of poetry set in the British landscape. Each poem explores a sense of place and identity across Britain and opens the doors to captivating stories about the places and the lives of the poets themselves.
George Mackay Brown, who died in 1996, was the great poetic voice of the Orkneys and one of the foremost Scottish poets of the 20th century. Sheers travels to the place the locals call the Venice of the North, the Orkney town of Stromness, which was Mackay Brown's home and the backdrop for much of his work, including his great poem Hamnavoe.
In Hamnavoe, the Viking name for Stromness, Mackay Brown takes the reader on a nostalgic and blustery tour of the town in the footsteps of his father, the local postman. Sheers uses the poem as a tour guide to Mackay Brown's Orkney life and work, exploring the narrow streets where George was born and wrote his first poems and taking diversions to the great cathedral of St Magnus, the Norse patron saint of the islands, and the remote island of Rackwick.
The poem opens up a moving story of a father and son and showcases Mackay Brown's exquisite, concise, gem-like writing. With ravishing views of the islands in the distinctive Orcadian light, the programme is a hymn to a unique corner of Britain. It also features, among other friends and fans of Mackay Brown, the contemporary Scottish poet Don Patterson.
SUN 19:30 BBC Proms (b0381kb8)
2013
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The Sunday series at the Proms continues with an all-Russian programme of Prokofiev and Shostakovich, performed by Danish conductor Thomas Sondergard with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Royal Albert Hall.
Tom Service presents his distinctive take on the music, featuring soloist Daniel Hope in Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No 2 in G minor, followed by Shostakovich's mighty Symphony No 11, The Year 1905.
SUN 21:15 Egypt's Lost Cities (b011pwms)
It is possible that only one per cent of the wonders of ancient Egypt have been discovered, but now, thanks to a pioneering approach to archaeology, that is about to change.
Dr Sarah Parcak uses satellites to probe beneath the sands, where she has found cities, temples and pyramids. Now, with Dallas Campbell and Liz Bonnin, she heads to Egypt to discover if these magnificent buildings are really there.
SUN 22:45 Alan Whicker's Journey of a Lifetime (b00jhgfj)
Europe
Celebrating a remarkable fifty years on television, TV legend and undisputed travel king Alan Whicker sets off round the world on a journey reflecting his incredibly varied life and career.
In this first episode, Whicker revisits Venice, a city of massive significance and very close to his heart, to retrace his steps from war to peace, from soldier to Fleet Street journalist, and then his subsequent move into the fledgling world of television.
Included in the films revisited in this episode are Whicker's earliest surviving TV appearance, in-depth profiles of John Paul Getty and Baroness Fiona Thyssen, and a legendary encounter with millionaire Yorkshireman and eccentric Percy Shaw - the man who invented cats' eyes.
Finally, the remarkable story of what happened when Whicker became the first man to enter a closed and silent order of nuns - and got them to talk to him.
SUN 23:45 Fairport Convention: Who Knows Where the Time Goes? (b01mmw5v)
Documentary following English folk-rock pioneers Fairport Convention as they celebrate their 45th anniversary in 2012. Fairport's iconic 1969 album Liege and Lief featured some of folk music's biggest names - including singer Sandy Denny, guitarist Richard Thompson and fiddler Dave Swarbrick - and was voted by Radio 2 listeners as the most influential folk album of all time. Today, having struggled for years with numerous line-up changes (26 members to date) and shifting musical fashions, these ageing folk-rockers host their annual festival in Cropredy, Oxfordshire in front of a passionate 20,000 crowd. Comedian Frank Skinner, who played the ukulele on Fairport's 2010 album Festival Bell, narrates this tale of the rise and fall - and rise again - of the original English folk-rockers.
SUN 00:45 Fairport Convention: 45th Anniversary Concert (b01mmw5x)
A concert to celebrate the 45th anniversary of folk-rock outfit Fairport Convention, filmed in March 2012 at the Union Chapel in north London, only a few miles away from the 'Fairport' house in Muswell Hill where the band was formed during the summer of 1967. Today only Simon Nicol, whose parents owned the house, is still there from the original line-up, but the wealth of incredible songs and arrangements left by former members such as Ashley Hutchings, Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson remains at the core of the band's live shows. This concert's highlights include Matty Groves from the band's landmark Liege and Lief album and Sandy Denny's Who Knows Where the Time Goes, voted 'favourite folk track of all time' by Radio 2 listeners.
SUN 01:45 A Poet's Guide to Britain (b00kk4n5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 today]
SUN 02:15 Egypt's Lost Cities (b011pwms)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:15 today]
MONDAY 05 AUGUST 2013
MON 19:00 World News Today (b037znpk)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
MON 19:30 Pagans and Pilgrims: Britain's Holiest Places (b01r6zdv)
Ruins
Presenter and Welsh poet Ifor ap Glyn explores the wealth of Britain's extraordinary holy places on a pilgrimage that spans almost 2,000 years of history.
Travelling across the breadth of the UK, Ifor uncovers the stories and rich history behind many of our most famous sites, explaining the myths and legends of some of Britain's most sacred places. Over six episodes, Ifor visits crumbling ruins, tranquil healing pools, sacred caves, island refuges, towering mountain hideaways and ancient shrines to find out what these historical sites tell us about who we are today. From the divine to the unexpected, the series uncovers Britain's extraordinary variety of inspirational, surprising and half-forgotten holy places and brings to life our spiritual history.
In the first episode, Ifor explores why ruins are among the best-preserved and most-loved holy sites in Britain. He visits the famous ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, the mystical atmosphere of Wales's best-preserved Roman site, the battered remains of Coventry's iconic cathedral and the Gothic majesty of North Yorkshire's Whitby Abbey - the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's Dracula. Along the way, he asks why we're drawn to holy ruins long after their religious use is over. Is it just nostalgia or something much deeper that fuels our obsession and enduring fascination with the decaying grandeur of a ruin?
MON 20:00 Britain on Film (b01nz93z)
Series 1
Getting Down to Business
In 1959 Britain's biggest cinema company, the Rank Organisation, decided to replace its newsreels with a series of short, quirky, topical documentaries that examined all aspects of life in Britain. For the next ten years, Look at Life chronicled - on high-grade 35mm colour film - the changing face of British society, industry and culture. Britain on Film draws upon the 500 films in this unique archive to offer illuminating and often surprising insights into what became a pivotal decade in modern British history.
This episode examines Look at Life's surprisingly entertaining films on the British economy, at a time when industry faced ever-increasing competition from abroad.
MON 20:30 Only Connect (b038112n)
Series 7
Francophiles v Celts
Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital.
In this series finale, the Francophiles take on the Celts in a bid to be named Only Connect Champions. They compete to draw together the connections between things which at first glance, seem utterly random. Join Victoria Coren Mitchell to find out what connects: Liu Xiaobo, Samantha the Scorer, Marius's Solo in 'Les Miserables' and Eastwood's Speech to Obama.
MON 21:00 Tales from the Royal Bedchamber (b0386lxs)
Lucy Worsley gets into bed with our past monarchs to uncover the tales from the royal bedchamber. She reveals that our obsession with royal bedrooms, births and succession is nothing new. In fact, the rise and fall of their magnificent beds reflects the changing fortunes of the monarchy itself.
MON 22:00 Alan Whicker's Journey of a Lifetime (b00jnl9f)
California Dreaming
Celebrating a remarkable fifty years on television, TV legend and undisputed travel king Alan Whicker sets off round the world on a journey reflecting his varied life and career.
Whicker looks back at his most famous programmes, including the 1967 film that introduced hippies to a bemused Britain and featured controversial sequences of drug-taking for the first time on British TV.
He also revisits the openly gay church who invited him to one of their same-sex marriages thirty-five years before they were recognised legally, as well as the San Francisco cops who invited him to join them on patrol back in 1979. Also featured is the last-ever interview with the late Peter Sellers.
MON 23:00 The Box That Changed Britain (b00scpzn)
Poet Roger McGough narrates the extraordinary story of how a simple invention - the shipping container - changed the world forever and forced Britain into the modern era of globalisation.
With a blend of archive and modern-day filming, the incredible impact of the box is told through the eyes of dockers, seafarers, ship spotters, factory workers and logisticians. From quayside in huge container ports to onboard ships the size of four football pitches, the documentary explains how the shipping container has transformed our communities, economy and coastline.
MON 00:00 Some People with Jokes (b037nhbc)
Series 1
Some Scousers with Jokes Part 1
The people of Liverpool tell their favourite jokes. The city has a tradition of comedy and joke telling, but does that mean the man and woman on the street can crack corkers? Good news - yes it does.
MON 00:30 Bought with Love: The Secret History of British Art Collections (b037nhb9)
The Age of the Individual
Helen Rosslyn explores how collecting reached its maturity in the 19th century when unprecedented wealth from Britain's booming economy encouraged enlightened, philanthropic industrialists to spend their fortunes on art, and in many cases then donate their collections to the nation.
With different taste from the British aristocracy who had dominated collecting to this point, a new breed of art buyer enriched Britain's cultural story by acquiring adventurous and often avant-garde work. Helen looks at the influence of pharmaceutical magnate Thomas Holloway, the Rothschild banking dynasty and the Welsh Davies sisters.
MON 01:30 Pagans and Pilgrims: Britain's Holiest Places (b01r6zdv)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
MON 02:00 Only Connect (b038112n)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:30 today]
MON 02:30 Tales from the Royal Bedchamber (b0386lxs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
TUESDAY 06 AUGUST 2013
TUE 19:00 World News Today (b037znpr)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
TUE 19:30 Pagans and Pilgrims: Britain's Holiest Places (b01r9s6j)
Water
Presenter and Welsh poet Ifor ap Glyn explores the wealth of Britain's extraordinary holy places on a pilgrimage that spans almost 2,000 years of history. Travelling across the breadth of the UK, Ifor uncovers the stories and rich history behind many of our most famous sites, explaining the myths and legends of some of Britain's most sacred places.
In the second episode, Ifor explores why water crops up again and again as the essential element in many of our most holy places. Why has a yearning for pure natural water always been bound up with our spiritual beliefs?
His journey takes him to our oldest mass baptismal pool which marks the place that Scottish Picts first came into the Christian fold, the site on Loch Ness where Celtic missionaries battling the forces of paganism first encountered the legendary monster, a healing well where a young woman was reputedly brought back to life by having her severed head re-attached to her body, and a 2,000-year-old holy spring that has become a major international brand.
TUE 20:00 Britain on Film (b01p2pd4)
Series 1
Dedicated Followers of Fashion
Throughout the 1960s, the Rank Organisation produced hundreds of short, quirky documentaries that examined all aspects of life in Britain. Shot on high-quality colour film stock, they were screened in cinemas, but until now very little of the footage has been shown on television. This series draws on this unique archive to offer illuminating and often surprising insights into a pivotal decade in modern British history.
This episode examines the films that recorded developments in one of 1960s Britain's most dynamic, innovative industries - the glamorous and fast-moving world of fashion.
TUE 20:30 Secret Knowledge (b01rml7t)
Bolsover Castle
Lucy Worsley tells the story of Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. Built in the early 17th century, it became the pleasure palace of playboy Cavalier and ambitious courtier William Cavendish.
Guiding us on a tour of the castle and its remarkable collection of artworks, Lucy brings to life the spectacular masque held by Cavendish to win the favour of King Charles I.
And from within the walls of this eccentric architectural gem emerges a colourful tale, capturing the tensions of early 17th-century England that would eventually lead the nation to civil war.
TUE 21:00 King Alfred and the Anglo Saxons (b03816y5)
Alfred of Wessex
King Alfred the Great fights a desperate guerrilla war in the marshes of Somerset - burning the cakes on the way - before his decisive victory at Edington. Creating towns, trade and coinage, reviving learning and literacy, Alfred then laid the foundations of a single kingdom of 'all the English'. Filmed on location from Reading to Rome, using original texts read in old English, and interviews with leading scholars, Michael Wood describes a man who was 'not just the greatest Briton, but one of the greatest rulers of any time or place'.
TUE 22:00 Peter and Dan Snow: 20th Century Battlefields (b007qjfb)
20th Century Battlefields
1942 Stalingrad
Peter and Dan Snow describe battles that transformed the 20th century, here telling the story of one of the most epic battles of World War II. With cutting-edge graphics, Peter describes how the tactics of Hitler and Stalin resulted in tragedy on both sides. Whilst Soviet citizens held on for life in the shattered city, Hitler's army froze to death in the countryside.
They film inside the infamous tractor factory, where Dan recounts one of the vicious clashes that flared up in the battle. And on a training exercise, experts from the British Army teach them how snipers would have operated around the city.
TUE 23:00 Darwin's Struggle: The Evolution of the Origin of Species (b00hd1mr)
Documentary telling the little-known story of how Darwin came to write his great masterpiece On the Origin of Species, a book which explains the wonderful variety of the natural world as emerging out of death and the struggle of life.
In the 20 years he took to develop a brilliant idea into a revolutionary book, Darwin went through a personal struggle every bit as turbulent as that of the natural world he observed. Fortunately, he left us an extraordinary record of his brilliant insights, observations of nature, and touching expressions of love and affection for those around him. He also wrote frank accounts of family tragedies, physical illnesses and moments of self-doubt, as he laboured towards publication of the book that would change the way we see the world.
The story is told with the benefit of Darwin's secret notes and correspondence, enhanced by natural history filming, powerful imagery from the time and contributions from leading contemporary biographers and scientists.
TUE 00:00 Oceans (b00g639s)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 on Saturday]
TUE 01:00 Pagans and Pilgrims: Britain's Holiest Places (b01r9s6j)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
TUE 01:30 Britain on Film (b01p2pd4)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
TUE 02:00 Secret Knowledge (b01rml7t)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:30 today]
TUE 02:30 King Alfred and the Anglo Saxons (b03816y5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
WEDNESDAY 07 AUGUST 2013
WED 19:00 World News Today (b037znq0)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
WED 19:30 The Sky at Night (b08kbhhs)
Exploring Mars
Stars are full of variety - they can be big or little, bright or dim. Our sun is right in the middle - Mr Average - but eventually it will grow old and become a red giant. Lucie Green and Chris Lintott discuss the lives of stars and what is a golden era of exploration on Mars, with Nasa's space rover Curiosity finding out new and exciting things about the planet and which might offer the best chance of life elsewhere in our solar system.
The spacecraft Mars Express is also celebrating a decade at the red planet and Chris Lintott and Lucie Green pick out some of the highlights, including the 'face of Mars'.
Meanwhile Jon Culshaw explores the Moore Moon Marathon with astronomers in Chipping Norton.
WED 20:00 She-Wolves: England's Early Queens (b01bgpm7)
Matilda and Eleanor
In the medieval and Tudor world there was no question in people's minds about the order of God's creation - men ruled and women didn't. A king was a warrior who literally fought to win power then battled to keep it. Yet despite everything that stood in their way, a handful of extraordinary women did attempt to rule medieval and Tudor England. In this series, historian Dr Helen Castor explores seven queens who challenged male power, the fierce reactions they provoked and whether the term 'she wolves' was deserved.
Eight hundred years ago, Matilda came within a hair's breadth of being the first woman to be crowned queen of England in her own right. Castor explores how Matilda reached this point and why her bid for the throne ultimately failed. Her daughter-in-law Eleanor of Aquitaine was an equally formidable woman. Despite being remembered as the queen of courtly love, in reality during her long life she divorced one king and married another, only to lead a rebellion against him. She only finally achieved the power she craved in her seventies.
WED 21:00 POP! The Science of Bubbles (b01rtdy6)
Physicist Dr Helen Czerski takes us on an amazing journey into the science of bubbles. Bubbles may seem to be just fun toys, but they are also powerful tools that push back the boundaries of science.
The soap bubble with its delicate, fragile skin tells us about how nature works on scales as large as solar system and as small as a single wavelength of light. Then there are underwater bubbles, which matter because they are part of the how the planet works. Out at sea, breaking waves generate huge plumes of bubbles which help the oceans breathe.
From the way animals behave to the way drinks taste, Dr Czerski shows how bubbles affect our world in all sorts of unexpected ways. Whether it's the future of ship design or innovative new forms of medical treatment, bubbles play a vital role.
WED 22:00 Some People with Jokes (b0381cf1)
Series 1
Some Scousers with Jokes Part 2
More Liverpudlians, more jokes. There must be something in the Mersey...
WED 22:30 Egypt's Lost Cities (b011pwms)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:15 on Sunday]
WED 00:00 The Comet's Tale (b008d2x7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:00 on Saturday]
WED 01:00 She-Wolves: England's Early Queens (b01bgpm7)
[Repeat of broadcast at
20:00 today]
WED 02:00 The Sky at Night (b08kbhhs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
19:30 today]
WED 02:30 Some People with Jokes (b0381cf1)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:00 today]
WED 03:00 POP! The Science of Bubbles (b01rtdy6)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 today]
THURSDAY 08 AUGUST 2013
THU 19:00 World News Today (b037znq6)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
THU 19:30 BBC Proms (b0381jgx)
2013
Proms on Four: Orchestras of the World - Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra with legendary conductor Mariss Jansons are joined by star soloist Mitsuko Uchida, who returns to the Proms after an absence of almost 20 years. Regarded as one of the world's greatest pianists, she performs the lyrical and poetic Piano Concerto No 4 by Beethoven.
In the second half the concert Jansons conducts the orchestra for Symphonie Fantastique, the mighty gothic masterpiece by Berlioz.
Introduced from the Royal Albert Hall by Katie Derham.
THU 21:30 Caravans: A British Love Affair (b00hw3s0)
Documentary about the love affair between the British and their caravans, which saw the country establish the world's largest caravan manufacturer and transformed the holiday habits of generations of families.
In telling the intriguing story of caravanning in Britain from the 1950s through to the present day, the film reveals how caravans were once the plaything of a privileged minority, but after World War II became a firm favourite with almost a quarter of British holidaymakers.
It explores how changes in caravanning across the years reflect wider changes in British society, in particular the increased availability of cars during the 1950s and 60s, but also the improved roads network and changing attitudes towards holidaymaking and leisure time.
Enthusiasts and contributors include Dorrie van Lachterop from the West Midlands and Christine Fagg from Hertfordshire, remarkable and adventurous women who started touring alone in their caravans during the 1950s.
THU 22:30 Tales from the Royal Bedchamber (b0386lxs)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Monday]
THU 23:30 King Alfred and the Anglo Saxons (b03816y5)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:00 on Tuesday]
THU 00:30 Peter and Dan Snow: 20th Century Battlefields (b007qjfb)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:00 on Tuesday]
THU 01:30 Storyville (b01ghtll)
The Real Great Escape
For the first time, the true story of the mastermind behind World War II's Great Escape is told by his niece, Lindy Wilson. Squadron Leader Roger Bushell was a young London barrister, an auxiliary pilot and a champion skier when he was shot down and captured early in the war. He escaped three times and, in spite of the Gestapo's threat to shoot him if he ever escaped again, Bushell accepted the role of 'Big X' on his return to the top-security PoW camp, Stalag Luft 111.
After 18 months of preparation, one of the greatest escapes of the war took place. Their aim to distract the enemy succeeded, as it was estimated that five million Germans were deployed to recapture the 76 escapees. However, Hitler's rage was uncontainable and he personally ordered a terrible reckoning.
THU 02:55 Caravans: A British Love Affair (b00hw3s0)
[Repeat of broadcast at
21:30 today]
FRIDAY 09 AUGUST 2013
FRI 19:00 World News Today (b037znqd)
The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.
FRI 19:30 BBC Proms (b0381cq3)
2013
Proms on Four: Friday Night at the Proms - BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven's 5th Symphony headlines this Prom, the most iconic symphony in western music with its dramatic opening 'fate' motif. The symphony is preceded by Beethoven's Coriolan Overture, a work of contained ferocity. In contrast the concert opens with Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz, the ultimate expression of the pleasures of Viennese high society.
Donald Runnicles conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Introduced from the Royal Albert Hall by Suzy Klein.
FRI 20:45 Pop Go the Sixties (b00rgd4h)
Series 1
The Kinks, the Shadows, the Tremeloes, the Who
More pop moments from the BBC's 60s archive, featuring the Who, the Kinks, the Shadows and the Tremeloes.
FRI 21:00 History of the Eagles (b0388tqv)
Episodes 1 and 2
Subtitled 'The Story of an American band', this three hour forensic documentary features rare archival material, concert footage, and never-before-seen home movies that explore the evolution and enduring popularity of one of the world's biggest-selling and culturally significant American bands, chronicling the band's creation and rise to fame in the 1970s through its breakup in 1980.
While personal stories from band members, managers, and music industry luminaries frame the narrative, it's the unexpected moments - recording sessions, backstage interactions, and even a whimsical sequence from the Desperado cover shoot - that convey the extraordinary bond linking the artists, their music, and the times (an era when country-tinged rock and finely homed harmonies spoke to a nation still reeling from unrest) and reveals the personal and professional struggles members faced while the band was apart, chronicling the group's dramatic reunion in 1994, as well as its resurgence in recording and performing throughout the next two decades.
Among the bands many achievements since reforming are its triumphant Hell Freezes Over tour, the 2007 release of Long Road Out of Eden (which sold more than 5.5 million copies worldwide and earned two Grammy Awards), and its on-going ascendance as an international supergroup. More than 25 new and exclusive interviews were conducted with all current band members - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit - as well as former members Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner and Don Felder. Also featured are new and exclusive interviews with Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Rogers, Irving Azoff and many other seminal artists and band contemporaries who have been closely involved with the Eagles' history.
FRI 00:05 In Concert (b0074sf0)
The Eagles
Footage of Californian country rockers The Eagles from 1973, performing classic US hits such as Peaceful Easy Feeling, Witchy Woman and Take it Easy.
At the time were they the epitome of the California sound, with a sweet blend of sophisticated country music that took them to the top of the charts in the US.
FRI 00:35 The Old Grey Whistle Test (b0074t8q)
California Comes to the Whistle Test
A compilation of BBC performances by artists who lived and worked in California in the 1970s. Featuring Jackson Browne, Little Feat, Ry Cooder, Judee Sill, Bonnie Raitt and a rare duet between James Taylor and Carly Simon.
FRI 01:35 Folk at the BBC (b0074s5l)
[Repeat of broadcast at
22:30 on Saturday]
FRI 02:35 Folk at the BBC (b0074s6b)
[Repeat of broadcast at
23:30 on Saturday]