Programmes

Feature

Lonely Planet

Join BBC Knowledge Wednesdays from 7.30pm. Lonely Planet on BBC Knowledge features the best of travel and inspirational programming, including Lonely Planet’s Best in China and Making Tracks.

Feature

BBC Earth

Join BBC Earth on BBC Knowledge Sundays from 7.30pm. BBC Earth on BBC Knowledge features iconic BBC Natural History programming such as Planet Earth.

A

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Ancient Worlds

Ancient Worlds is a voyage of discovery from the birth of the first cities through the development of trade, warfare and religion.

Arctic With Bruce Parry

The Arctic is on the point of enormous, irreversible change, and this stunning series highlights what that means to those who make their lives there. It’s the story of the winners and losers in the last great wilderness.

B

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Blizzard - Race to Pole

The first television event to explore the truth behind the world’s most impossible journey – the epic race to reach the South Pole.

Bang Goes the Theory

Content-rich, current and authoritative, yet full of high energy, irreverence and humour, this is the series that explains the world we live in, and what’s going to change it.

25 June 2012 at 3:20pm

C

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Civlization: Is the West History?

Harvard historian Niall Ferguson takes on a big subject: why has the West dominated the rest of the world – and are the days of Western ascendancy coming to an end?

D

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Dangerous Roads

Humans have built roads in the most unlikely, remote and dangerous places on the planet. But what is it like to travel along these routes? Six celebrities find out.

Derren Brown Investigates

Renowned psychological illusionist Derren Brown hits the road to investigate extraordinary paranormal claims from around the world.

Don’t Grow Old

A mysterious process is underway inside every cell of our bodies. It began before we were born and will ultimately lead to death and scientists don’t understand why or how it happens. Horizon investigates ageing.

Don't Die Young

Dr Alice Roberts continues her user’s guide to the body, revealing how to take care of ourselves with the appliance of science.

5 July 2012 at 6:20am

Deadliest Warrior

Who is the Deadliest Warrior of all time? Each week this series examines two groups of the world's most lethal men in a historical and action-packed battle.

18 July 2012 at 3:05am

Digging for Britain

Hot on the heels of the headline-hitting first series, Digging for Britain rejoins the teams in the field for more pioneering archeological adventures.

Dawn Porter Gets Her Man

Talented young journalist Dawn Porter aims to discover what she actually wants from a relationship and whether her perfect man even exists.

Dawn Porter Goes Lesbian

Journalist Dawn Porter completely forgoes men and moves in with three lesbians for a month in a bid to determine what makes her sexuality tick and whether she has the potential for homosexuality.

E

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Expedition Tiger

Join the first ever expedition to venture high into the Himalayas in search of big cats.

Edwardian Farm

Archaeologists Alex and Peter and historian Ruth attempt to bring Morwellham Quay in Devon back to life as it was in its Edwardian heyday.

27 May 2012 at 12:00pm

F

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Frontline Medicine

From the frontline of war to the frontline of research, this programme meets the inspirational men and women behind the latest medical breakthroughs that will save thousands of lives – both on and off the battlefield.

Filthy Cities

Dan Snow presents an immersive series, going back in time to medieval London, revolutionary Paris and 19th century New York, to bring these cities’ stinking histories vividly to life.

18 June 2012 at 7:30pm

Free Rein

TV and film legends Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward go in search of the spirit of Australia on the ultimate horseback adventure across the Outback’s last frontier.

G

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Genius with Dave Gorman

Imagine a world where gym equipment is hooked up to the national grid and every pavement has pedestrian fast and slow lanes! From the daft and down-right ridiculous to the hilariously inventive, each show sees Dave and his celebrity guest decide whether the idea is pure genius, or perfectly ludicrous.

H

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

J

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

James May's Things You Need to know

Three ordinary workers – experienced, qualified and looking for a challenge – find out what it’s like to do their job under some of the toughest conditions on the planet.

1 July 2012 at 8:00pm

James May's 20th Century

Motoring journalist James May discovers how inventors and their inventions changed the way we live our lives in the 20th century, from the creation of the teenager to modern warfare.

1 July 2012 at 7:30pm

Jimmy’s Farm

Jimmy Doherty has given up the rat race to realise his dream of renovating a crumbling farm and breeding rare pigs.

Joanna Lumley in the Land of

One of the UK’s best-loved personalities and most successful comedy exports, Joanna Lumley, pursues a life-long dream to track down the elusive and beautiful Northern Lights.

James May's Toy Stories

James May is a man on a mission to prove why traditional, old fashioned toys are still relevant today as he pushes them to the limit in spectacular, supersize challenges.

Jimmy's Food Factory

Where does our food come from? What have scientists added? Or taken away? And does it matter? Farmer and TV personality Jimmy Doherty uncovers the science behind the food we eat.

K

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Kevin McCloud: Slumming It

Kevin McCloud discovers a world of curious juxtapositions in one of the most extreme urban environments on earth: Dharavi, Mumbai.

Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour

Kevin McCloud follows in the footsteps of the most notorious aristocrats, artists and architects of the Grand Tour.

L

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Life in Cold Blood

David Attenborough explores the world of amphibians and reptiles, a group of animals that have been around for millions of years and easily outnumber mammals and birds.

30 July 2012 at 4:10am

Lonely Planet: Best in China

An exciting, interactive travel show designed to inspire debate and showcase the best that China has to offer.

23 May 2012 at 9:30pm

Life with David Attenborough

Packed with excitement, revelation and entertainment – with stunning screen ‘firsts’ – this breathtaking ten-part blockbuster brings you 130 incredible stories from the frontiers of the natural world.

Life in the Undergrowth

Join Sir David Attenborough on his ground-breaking exploration into a spectacular miniature universe never normally seen, but teeming all around us.

23 July 2012 at 4:35am

Louis Theroux Specials

Louis Theroux returns for two new specials tackling risqué subject matter with his award-winning and praised investigative flair.

M

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Museum Secrets

Museum Secrets travels to the world’s most famous museums in search of weird, wonderful, amazing and fascinating stories connected with both the well-known and the more obscure exhibits held in their collections.

22 May 2012 at 8:35pm

Moguls And Movie Stars: A History Of Hollywood

Moguls And Movie Stars: A History Of Hollywood is a series of seven one-hour documentaries. The heart of our story is the lives and work of the men and women who created more than one hundred years of American movie history.

Michael Wood’s Story of England

In this groundbreaking series Michael Wood tells the story of one place – the village of Kibworth, Leicestershire – throughout the whole of English history.

O

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Our War: 10 Years in Afghanistan

2011 marks the 10th Anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. This is the war you haven’t seen: filmed by the soldiers, told by the soldiers.

P

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Paul Merton in India

A unique perspective to a land of startling contradictions in a series that provides a fresh and engaging glimpse of a vast and diverse country.

1 August 2012 at 7:35pm

R

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds

Just beyond our naked eyes lies an invisible world of secret forces that touches every aspect of life on Earth and shapes it in unseen ways. Now, for the first time, this hidden world is revealed – in action.

Ross Kemp on Gangs

Ross Kemp risks life and limb yet again as he seeks to both expose and understand gang culture around the world.

S

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Seven Ages of Marriage

Cherry Healy gets to know 16 year old Gemma, who believes that she’s already met the love of her life…

2 June 2012 at 7:35pm

South Pacific

Explore the sheer scale and majesty of the largest ocean on Earth, the isolation of its islands, the extraordinary journeys wildlife and humans have gone through to reach these specks of land, and what happened to both after their arrival.

22 May 2012 at 2:05pm

Speed

Speed attempts to discover why some people continuously strive to push the limits – of their bodies and their incredible machines.

T

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

The Secret of Scott’s Hut

Ben Fogle joins an expedition across Antarctica; he joins a project hoping to preserve Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Hut, frozen in time for a century.

The Banker, The Escorts & the 18 Million

The Banker, The Escorts and The $18 Million tells the story of Stephen Versalko – the ASB fraudster who stole almost $18m of his clients’ money to lead an audacious double life of sex, lies and betrayal, including spending around $3.4m on prostitutes.

The Force

With unprecedented and unvarnished access to a UK police force, this three-part series follows the investigation of major crimes.

The Natural World

A classic wildlife series which tells in-depth stories of incredible animals, featuring award-winning photography in some of the most extraordinary places in the world.

The Victorians

Jeremy Paxman investigates The Victorians, the people who made the UK the richest and most powerful nation on Earth.

The Choir

For the third series of The Choir, Gareth Malone goes to South Oxhey and makes it his mission to make this Hertfordshire town a centre of true choral excellence.

To Infinity and Beyond

It’s older than time, bigger than the universe and stranger than fiction. By accepting infinity, are we admitting the possibility of a parallel universe?

True Stories

From thrillers to horror stories, spy movies and conspiracies, films captivate and entertain. But where does the inspiration come from? Are these stories purely fiction, or are they based on fact? True Stories uncovers the truth.

The Bear Family and Me

Over the course of a year wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan and biologist Lynn Rogers get up close and personal to a family of bears.

19 June 2012 at 3:20pm

Tribe

Bruce Parry sheds the trappings of a Western existence and lives alongside tribes adopting their methods and practices.

23 May 2012 at 8:30pm

Trawlers, Rigs & Rescue

Skipper George Anderson takes to the high seas in his multimillion pound pelagic trawler but mechanical failures, twisted nets and severe storms make it the trip from hell .

Top Gear

Get ready for more thrills, spills and mayhem as television’s most daring trio return for a new series of the world’s biggest car show.

22 May 2012 at 11:00am

W

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Who Do You Think You Are? USA

Seven celebrities trace their family trees to explore the lives of their ancestors and uncover major themes in American social history. Featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick & Spike Lee.

Walking With Dinosaurs

Using leading-edge computer technology and animatronics, this epic series shows dinosaurs as never before.

Y

  1. Programme
  2. Description
  3. Airs

Yellowstone

Yellowstone is no ordinary wilderness – a lost world of vast plains and endless forests defended on all sides by towering mountains, home to America’s last great Bison herds and realm of the wolf.

22 June 2012 at 6:30pm