Riding a Penny Farthing bicycle from the Sierra Nevada mountains to Yokohama, Japan, Thomas Stevens began his epic two-and-a-half year journey around the world on 22nd April, 1884.
Along the way, he encountered mountain lions, Persian aristocracy, and thousands of supporters from bicycle clubs, who turned up to hear him speak. His journey was endlessly delay ... Show More
Today
When Lennon Met McCartney
The Quarrymen took to the stage at a parish fête near Liverpool on 6th July, 1957: the event that first brought together the brains behind the Beatles, teenagers John Lennon and Paul McCartney. John oozed cool with his swagger, sideburns, and low slung guitar. Paul, watching in a ... Show More
11m 41s
Jul 3
Sailing Alone Around The World
Captain Joshua Slocum set sail from Nova Scotia in The Spray, his revamped oyster sloop, on 3rd July, 1895: the first solo circumnavigation of the world. Sailing alone for no reason other than pleasure was considered a fool’s errand at the time, but, motivated by the death of his ... Show More
12m 23s
Mar 2017
Free Thinking - Neil Jordan, Flat Time House, Teletubbies
Worlds within worlds - Matthew Sweet talks to filmmaker and author Neil Jordan about his new novel Carnivalesque, which features a hall of mirrors and stolen children. He makes a tour of Flat Time House in south London and speaks to the Turner Prize-winning artist Laure Prouvost ... Show More
45m 22s
Oct 2025
S8 E4 | Ballads and Brawls
Henry of Monmouth’s impatience reaches fever pitch when he tries to snatch the crown from his father, Henry IV. It backfires royally. To teach him a lesson, the king makes Henry’s boozehound brother, Thomas, the heir apparent. To delve deeper into the history behind each episode, ... Show More
27m 56s
Sep 2025
Alone in Zambia: Scorching Sun, Out of Water
Chaz Powell is determined to walk the full length of the Zambezi River, from source to mouth. 2,000 miles through harsh terrain, even harsher weather and some of the hottest temperatures on Earth. After two months, he’s making good headway… until his progress grinds to a sudden h ... Show More
51m 36s
Sep 2025
Introducing… Season Eight of a Dynasty to Die For
When you survive an arrow shot to the face like Henry V did, you don’t waste your second chance. So when he’s finally crowned in 1413, it’s all systems go. He ruthlessly slaps down challenges to his rule, and launches a lightning military campaign that puts England back in the bi ... Show More
2m 24s