Factual computer technology and archaeology, Arthur FACTUAL recreates the real Dark Age counterpart to legendary Camelot, and brings to life the battlefield where Arthur won his greatest victories. Arthur – King Of The Britons Director Jean Claude Bragard says: “Travel with us as we journey through this ancient land of myths and legends. Exploring the length and breadth of the British isles, we visit the sites and sounds of Arthurian tradition – from Arthur’s historic birthplace at Tintagel to the mystical isle of Avalon where he is said to be buried. Together we’ll discover the truth behind the story and reveal the man behind the myth.” A BBC production for BBC ONE. Human Instinct King Arthur is one of the most famous figures in British mythology – but was there a “real” Arthur? Arthur – King Of The Britons goes on a quest to discover the true story behind the legend. Richard Harris – who famously portrayed Arthur in the film Camelot – unravels Arthur’s story and finds evidence for a real flesh and blood hero, deep in the mists of British history. The legend of King Arthur first appears in a 12th-century book written by Geoffrey of Professor Robert Winston provides a unique Monmouth in the Middle Ages, but the myth of glimpse into what it is that makes people tick in Arthur continues to enthral people throughout his latest series for BBC ONE. In Human the world. Much of the story may seem fanciful, Instinct, he reveals why certain people find one but there is evidence to suggest that the legend another attractive, why some drivers fly off the was inspired by real events that took place in handle in road rage and what it is that makes 5th century Britannia. some of us scared of harmless spiders. This magical tale is brought to life by the award- Our instincts are honed for a primitive world winning team behind BBC ONE’s Son Of God. that was far riskier than our own. They live on, Using the same mix of live action, state-of-the-art even in our own, safer world and science is only BBC ONE Spring/Summer 2002 22 Factual just beginning to understand the amazing story Charlotte first hit the screens in Cousins, in of instincts and how they work. which she introduced her extended primate family to the world. She’s uniquely qualified to The series includes epic location filming from take viewers on this new journey to discover around the world, including the East African what animals are saying to each other and even savannah, where many scientists think people’s to us. Charlotte has always been fascinated by earliest instincts were formed, plus experiments animal communication, and studied chimp calls in human behaviour, secret filming, computer for five years in Gombe, Africa, with renowned graphics and accounts of people recalling expert Jane Goodall. powerful moments of instinct. “Eavesdropping is always fascinating,” says In Exploring Survival, Sex, Competition and Charlotte. “But finding out what another species is Self Sacrifice, Professor Winston takes saying is even better. Some of them are even talking viewers on a journey of discovery into about us.” Charlotte wanders over the freezing human behaviour, to look at themselves in plains of Alaska to discover how polar bears find an entirely new way. each other from hundreds of miles away. She swims with dolphins and realises they are calling to A BBC production for BBC ONE. each other by name, uses a robotic bowerbird in Australia to seduce a male, and enters a virtual world to discover how animals fly in flocks. Talking With Animals Using the latest research and filming techniques, she reveals a hidden world of communication, more complex and sophisticated than ever imagined before. Humans share with animals the need to communicate in order to survive and reproduce. Animals have developed many ways to do this in difficult surroundings such as deserts, dense forest, crowded colonies and underwater. They sing in frequencies humans can’t hear, detect colours that our eyes can’t see, and send messages in worlds of scent, electricity and polarised light that are impossible to imagine. A BBC production for BBC ONE. Teen Species The journey from child to adult is one of life’s most dramatic experiences. Everybody goes through it, yet teenagers rarely receive any sympathy. However, research is beginning to show that there may be scientific reasons for the Charlotte Uhlenbroek says: “I’ve ended up moody behaviour, clumsiness and arguments swimming with alien-looking cuttlefish, having a associated with adolescence. Teen Species close encounter with a bull elephant and being follows youngsters from different backgrounds stung all over by fire ants – all in a serious and studies new scientific research, offering an attempt to find out how animals communicate important insight into the minds and bodies of and what they are actually saying.” that extraordinary species: the teenager. BBC ONE Spring/Summer 2002 23 Factual Finally, the programme looks at the risks and dangers of teenage pregnancy with 16-year-old Sanet as she prepares for the birth of her baby. Popular wisdom has it that young pregnancies are good for both mother and baby, but research has shown that, while it is all right for the mother, it often leads to low birth weights for the baby. A BBC production for BBC ONE. Armed And Dangerous After the recent wave of shootings and knife- attacks across Britain, the Shops, Robbers And Claudia is 12 and a dancer, in the middle of her Videotape team go behind the scenes to see how growth spurt. All teenagers lose balance while the police tackle the menace of armed crime. going through puberty. They wake every This special follows two elite armed police morning with a different centre of gravity and officers as they race to confront some of the the brain takes some time to catch up. most dangerous criminals on the streets. Clumsiness affects all teenagers, so how will it affect Claudia in her chosen career? Their task is as difficult as it is dangerous. Split- second decisions can mean life or death and not Observing twin sisters Rebecca and Jessica, everyone’s up to the job. Teen Species also looks at what makes the difference when the genes are the same, but Faced with graphic evidence that more and more development is not. The answer may lie in the fat criminals are ready to use extreme violence to stores under the skin. achieve their ends, the programme asks whether now is the time for an armed police force. Popular opinion has it that boys start to develop Armed And Dangerous takes a long, hard look much later than girls but, in fact, there is at gun law, UK-style. generally less than six months in it. The myth has grown up because the earliest changes in A Folio production for BBC ONE. boys go on out of sight and their growth spurt comes late in puberty. When it starts, boys grow in a particular way. Their hands and feet are Cashing In – The BBC Money Roadshow first, their spines last. This programme talks (working title) testosterone, fighting and under-age drinking with five boys and explains why bad behaviour is inevitable. Cashing In is a new money roadshow which Teen Species explains why older teenagers, reveals the secrets of personal financial success. although mostly fully grown and sexually mature, are not quite adults. Advanced brain imaging The BBC Money Bus travels the length and suggests that areas in the brain responsible for breadth of Britain this summer with a panel of social judgement and self control may not finish special advisers on board to provide free advice forming until the end of adolescence. Teen Species on better financial housekeeping. Over the meets Osian, a talented 16-year-old who has weeks, the team gives the nation the knowledge joined a football academy, as he learns to look they need to question the experts and provide after himself practically and emotionally. tips guaranteed to save money for every viewer. BBC ONE Spring/Summer 2002 24 Factual Changing Rooms Aiming to rejuvenate an area once designated for use as a car park and caravan site, the Duchess has plans to make a modern garden as spectacular as those in the heyday of extravagant Under the watchful eye of Carol Smillie, and horticulture. It is one of the most ambitious new assisted by the ever-productive “Handy” Andy garden designs in modern Britain, with over 11 Kane, the creative team of Changing Rooms acres of land encompassing 65,000 plants, 3,000 designers is reunited for another set of roses and 25 pools and waterfalls. decorating and diplomacy challenges. Charlie meets the Duchess and her team, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Oliver Heath including Belgian father-and-son designers team up for the first time and head for the Jacques and Peter Wirtz. For the next 18 Thames to decorate two Dutch barges. In a months, Charlie keeps track of the garden’s reversal of roles, it is Laurence who keeps his execution – from planting the first tree, to giving head above water with a cool and contemporary out the Christmas presents at the estate workers’ design, while Oliver goes just slightly overboard. children’s party. She also creates her biggest water feature yet – a computer-controlled water In Cheltenham, Laura McCree decides to paint system called the Grand Cascade – the largest in an entire room red – including the ceiling. But, the UK after Chatsworth. halfway through, she discovers that this is the one colour that the neighbours hate.