Factual Autumn Highlights 2004

FACTUAL AUTUMN HIGHLIGHTS 2004

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

This autumn, the BBC encourages people across the country to find out who they really are as it launches a major family history project, with a 10-part series as the centre-piece.

Following the growing interest in genealogy, 10 well-known figures, including Jeremy Clarkson, Bill Oddie, Ian Hislop, Meera Syal, David Baddiel and Moira Stuart, go back to their roots as they research their family trees.As they make often emotional journeys of discovery, the stories of their families paint a picture of the social history of Britain.

Ian Hislop explores the impact war had on his family’s history, finding out more about his grandfather, who fought in the Boer War, and his mother, who lived through German occupation in Jersey.

Meera Syal tells the story of the fall of the British Empire and Indian migration to the UK in the Sixties as she traces her family back to the Punjab; and Jeremy Clarkson discovers what effect the Industrial Revolution had on his family.

There is plenty of information and advice for viewers wanting to make their own journey into their family’s past. Short films after each programme give practical tips, from how to access war records to what a birth certificate can reveal.There will also be a full website, more information via BBCi and a complementary series on BBC Four.

02 THE LITTLE PRINCE VENICE The nation’s best young voices perform in this spectacular film production of the opera The Little Prince. Venice rose miraculously out of the Selected at BBC Talent auditions held across the UK earlier this year, the cast of mud and slime of an inhospitable children received professional training over the summer before making their lagoon to become the world capital television debut alongside soprano Lesley Garrett. of beauty, art and decadence.Where today visitors see the dazzling Doge’s Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman has adapted the classic French children’s Palace, St Mark’s and countless novel. Francesca Zambello, one of the world’s foremost directors of opera and stunning bridges, there was once musical theatre, directs. utterly barren, unstable watery ground inhabited by a frightened people fleeing barbarians.

Using CGI and dramatic reconstruction, BBC Two takes viewers on a journey through Venice’s history and the secrets and mysteries of its canals, palaces and homes.This new series explores Venice’s early days in the fifth century as one of the world’s earliest and richest republics and its transformation into a bejewelled wonder of the medieval world, to the city’s years spent contending with prostitution, fire, floods, plague and Napoleon’s armies.

This is Venice’s inside story presented by Venetian aristocrat, writer, architect and historian Francesco da Mosto. He reveals how Venice is not simply a treasure trove of awe- inspiring art, architecture and luxury goods; it is a work of art in itself. It is a symbol of man at his most adventurous and creative, a place where everyday fishermen and firemen have always worked alongside artistic greats such as Titian, Palladio and Vivaldi to help their city triumph.

04 EDGE OF LIFE

How do doctors and parents decide whether it is best to battle to save an extremely premature baby or to let the infant die? Should a child with severe facial deformities have life-threatening surgery? How do doctors choose who deserves to have a life-saving liver transplant?

Edge Of Life tells the extraordinary story of families as they come face to face with the hardest decisions of their lives.With exclusive access to cutting-edge medical institutions, the series provides a unique insight into the dramatic life-and-death dilemmas confronting patients and doctors as medicine pushes the boundaries of the possible.

THE CULTURE SHOW

BBC Two presents a brand-new programme dedicated to UK arts and culture.

Sophisticated, intelligent and surprising, The Culture Show delves deep into the big cultural issues and events of the day, with a mix of investigative journalism and reviews.

Celebrating and critiquing the range and diversity of arts in the regions as well as the metropolis,The Culture Show uses some of the nation’s most passionate and opinionated voices to reach into the heart of UK cultural life.

06 HORIZON 40 WHAT THE PAST DID FOR US FEAR, UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT Horizon is 40 years old in 2004 and, in Probably not many people know that the Arabs invented photography; that the this anniversary year, makes a high- Babylonians were responsible for the electric battery; and that the Chinese Fear, Uncertainty And Doubt tells the profile return to reinforce its status as invented the wheelbarrow, paper money, and gunpowder. intertwined story of two political the definitive, flagship science groups who, in their idealistic attempts programme on British television. Viewers can step back in time to discover how the world was shaped by past to create a better world, instigated a civilisations - the Ancient Britons, the Chinese, the Babylonians, the Ancient Indians, global climate of terror and fear. In this autumn’s new series, Horizon the Ancient Americans and the Arabs. will: reveal the truth about vitamins; Stretching back 50 years, the series answer the big question about MMR Adam Hart-Davis presents an epic history of the world and is joined by reporters tells the story of the Political Islamists and whether it causes autism; tell the from around the globe to delve into the beginnings of civilisation.This grand history and the American Neoconservatives, extraordinary story of the discovery of the world begins with the Ancient Greeks and finishes with the Ancient Britons. the ideas that inspired them and how of King Solomon’s Tablet of Stone; sift Examining the military, technological, social, architectural and medical advances of their paths crossed as they rose through all the theories and investigate each era,What The Past Did For Us traces some of the defining moments in steadily to power. what did, or rather, what didn’t, kill the history and the key inventions that have shaped the world. dinosaurs; and examine what the The programmes, writen and Cassini probe will find when it reaches produced by Adam Curtis, explore Saturn in July and what it reveals about how the two forces have used both the origins of our own planet. terror and deception to create an increasingly fractured world, in which populations wait in fear of the next mass attack.

08 AGATHA CHRISTIE - A LIFE IN PICTURES

Agatha Christie, the queen of crime and best-selling novelist of the 20th century, kept her life and her world a mystery. Hardly any film exists of this famous writer, but she did divulge stories about herself in her fiction and autobiographical writing. Christie cultivated a public persona, not unlike that of her spinster detective creation MEDIUMS:TALKING TO THE DEAD Miss Marple.There was much more to Christie than appeared on the surface. They say they can talk to the dead, prove there is life after death and deliver Far from being a dowdy matron, she messages to the grieving from beyond the grave.With extraordinary access, was a strong-willed, independent- Mediums:Talking To The Dead lifts the veil on mediums in Britain and follows four minded, intelligent woman, twice of them as they go about their work - giving sittings to the bereaved, investigating married, with a mischievous sense hauntings and training aspiring mediums to hone their skills. of humour. Known as the “psychic barber”, Gordon Smith can silence the most hardened Agatha Christie - A Life In Pictures sceptic but now he has to perform on the trans-Atlantic stage. Blind medium uses these stories in a docu-drama Sharon Neill has stunned audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe and the film follows which brings the author to life.Agatha her sell-out theatre tour. Craig and Jane Hamilton Parker call themselves the Christie is played by award-winning “psychic family”and are determined to help develop a new generation of mediums. actress Olivia Williams (Sixth Sense, Rushmore), and every word she This series, from the everyman team, asks whether mediums spread false hope, speaks in the film is Christie’s own. exploit the vulnerable or simply tell people what they need to hear in troubled times.

10 DRAGONS’ DEN CRISIS COMMAND

Enter the Dragons’ Den for the An infectious disease from a Liverpool chance of a lifetime where the hospital threatens to spread to potential reward is capital investment mainland Europe. Extreme weather in an idea, a dream or a company. But conditions hit the East Coast and, in the dragons are no soft touch - they London, lives hang in the balance as are five successful British and over 100 hostages are kept American entrepreneurs and business at gunpoint. leaders who’ve been there and done it. Crisis Command is a unique interactive television programme that They’ve heard thousands of ideas gives three members of the public the before and aren’t afraid to say no in chance to run the country during a the harshest of terms.With the potential national disaster.The three pressure of the pitch,it could get “ministers” receive advice from personal, but the dragons can sniff out military, police and communication the diamond in the rough,recognise an experts, but the final life-and-death idea with that extra something special decisions are down to them alone. and make dreams come true. If they like the idea,they’ll invest their own Presented by Gavin Hewitt, Crisis money. Command uses specially shot dramatic sequences, computer-generated graphics and tailored archive news footage to create the sense of a real- SPY life crisis.

Eight ordinary people are leaving behind their old lives, saying goodbye to their Digital viewers can use the Red button families, relocating to a new city and assuming a whole new identity in a bid to on their remote control to play along. become a spy.

For two months, these raw recruits will undergo a rigorous training programme consisting of missions and challenges conducted in the real world, designed to help them reinvent themselves as undercover agents.The training is overseen by a team of experts, who are responsible for selecting, instructing and continually assessing the recruits.

The wannabe spies are pushed to their psychological limits, as they attempt to prove they’ve got what it takes to make it in the notoriously secretive world of espionage.

Spy is a co-commision with BBC Three and is premiering on BBC Three.

12 THE CHALLENGE THE LOST WORLD OF MITCHELL A weekend rugby player tackles AND KENYON temperatures of -100 degrees in a non-stop race to the North Pole and a A local film historian made an amazing female boxer takes on the mighty discovery while rummaging in a shop Atlantic Ocean in a world record basement in Lancashire: 800 films attempt.They’re taking part in The dating from before the First World Challenge, in which eight members of War in sealed barrels which give an the public are trained up to take part unparalleled visual record of in the world’s toughest team trials. Edwardian British life. With a gruelling fitness regime to get through and the knowledge that a Highlights include the first-ever team of professionals will be relying on footage of Manchester United, a them, the pressure is on as the eight Crimewatch-style reconstruction from stretch their physical and mental 1901 and a silent interview with the endurance levels to the limit. last soldier to receive the Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria herself. Coached by polar explorer and expert in endurance medicine, Mike Stroud, Presented by Dan Cruickshank, the the eight are trained by Dr Greg series brings the archive alive using Whyte of the Olympic Medical interviews with the descendants of the Institute and sports psychologist people captured on film, and specially Gary LeBoff. made silent movies. Shot by pioneering film-makers Mitchell and Kenyon, the discovery of this archive collection will rewrite British film history.The entire collection of films is being restored by IF the British Film Institute.

The If drama-documentary strand returns with more plausible future scenarios based on current fact and rigorous journalism, in a new, longer, 90-minute format which includes a debate.

The new series includes a look at Britain’s precarious housing market. Household debt is still growing, with second mortgages supporting a booming buy-to-let market. If explores what would happen if the housing bubble burst.

Another highlight is an investigation into the future of crime, with a scenario in which scientists are able to identify would-be criminals, in a programme that explores the controversial scientific theories which could revolutionise crime prevention. Drugs also come under scrutiny, with a programme assessing the impact of the legalisation of soft drugs in Britain.

14 GARDENS THROUGH A YEAR AT KEW FULL ON FOOD TIME Alan Titchmarsh narrates a fascinating series which looks behind the scenes at one Some of the country’s top culinary Diarmuid Gavin and Jane Owen of the nation’s best-loved gardens – Kew. Through the seasons,A Year At Kew experts cook up a storm in a new celebrate the 200th birthday of the follows the stories of some of the hundreds of staff committed to keeping the series celebrating the nation’s love of RHS as they join staff at Harlow Carr Royal Botanical Gardens looking their best for more than a million great cuisine. Presented weekly by a to create six beautiful period gardens. visitors each year. team of food lovers, it includes celebrity guests, location visits and Featuring the same plants and The series also reveals the scientific side of the Gardens, including the work done studio stunts, including a race between materials which were originally used, to save some of the species around the world which may otherwise be doomed to a resident chef who has been these gardens pay tribute to the extinction, and other aspects of Kew’s cutting-edge conservation work. challenged to produce a delicious meal greatest horticultural achievements of in the time it takes a member of the the last two centuries. audience to microwave a TV dinner.

In addition, inspired by his Full On Food gives the lowdown on predecessors, Diarmuid creates a the latest recipes and food fads, contemporary garden (pictured) including what’s in and where to get it. bringing together ideas he’s learned From restaurants to root vegetables from the designs of the past. and from burgers to beluga caviar, if it’s edible, this show has an opinion about it. It looks at anything that’s interesting in the world of gastronomy but, at its heart, is a passion for food and great things to eat.

16 BANK OF MUM THE FUTURE IS WILD AND DAD Imagine a world without man, mammals and birds, a world where elephant-sized Imagine a whole week where you can’t squid crash though dense forest canopy, fish live in trees and rodents the size of spend any of your hard-earned cash sheep roam the land.The Future Is Wild brings this world to life in a futuristic without your Mum and Dad’s natural history series that puts evolution on fast forward. permission.You want to buy a sandwich at work? They tell you to From looking at evolutionary patterns, scientists have forecast the creatures that make your own.You want a new car? rule the earth now man has gone. Millions of years ahead, a rich fantasy world They give you a bus pass.This is the created by crashing land masses is inhabited with extreme species.These creatures nightmare scenario at the heart of can survive the freezing temperatures in Ice World, noxious gasses in Hot House Bank Of Mum And Dad. World and the severe weather of New World. Man, mammals and birds disappeared millions of years previously in an unidentified catastrophe but evolution As the UK’s personal debt fast goes on.The future is wild. approaches the trillion pound mark, some of the worst offenders are today’s 25-35-year-olds.They’re living the champagne lifestyle on beer money and, more often than not, it’s Mum and Dad that end up bailing their offspring out of financial hot water. THIS IS MY FAMILY

In Bank Of Mum And Dad, six Fourteen-year-old Gareth has an members of the public volunteer to unusual family. His father, Richard, have their finances turned around and became a woman and is now called to change their dangerous spending Diane. Mum Caroline and dad Diane habits for good. Having flown the nest have been married for 25 years, still and gained their independence, the share the same bed and still love each debtors will endure an intense week other, although they no longer have a with their parents moving into their sexual relationship.The family is still home and having complete control happy together. over every penny they earn. Each film in this series is told by a particular member of the family, often a child.Thirteen-year-old Debra has five brothers and sisters (pictured). They all have learning disabilities and all are adopted by parents Woody and Christina.The family’s home is called Wit’s End.

This Is My Family documents the challenges facing a diverse group of 21st-century families.