BBC Documentaries

Documentaries

An indepth look at stories and issues from around the world. This podcast offers you the chance to access landmark series from our archive.
Daily English United Kingdom Education
60 Episodes
1 – 20

In the Studio: International film school

Mark Reid visits a school in Bulgaria where they are teaching their pupils how to make movies. They are making a short film about their local horse market. There are classes like this across the world, in Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, to name but a few. And it…
22 Dec 7PM 28 min

The Global Jigsaw: Russia’s gateway to Africa in jeopardy

What would the potential loss of Syria naval and air bases mean for Russia? The fall of the Assad regime triggered the start of possibly the greatest reshaping of the Middle East in decades, throwing into uncertainty the fate of Russia’s military bases in the country, among many other things…
21 Dec 7PM 44 min

The Fifth Floor: K-drama craze

K-dramas are taking the world by storm. What's the secret of their success? BBC journalists Faith Oshoko, Julie Yoonnyung Lee and Samantha Haque discuss all things K-drama and offer their recommendations for series to get stuck into during the holiday period. Produced by Hannah Dean and Alice Gioia. (Photo: Faranak…
21 Dec 7AM 25 min

BBC OS Conversations: Syrian prisoners and their families

It has been two weeks since the fall of the Assad regime and the horror of the brutal and corrupt system he oversaw has been laid bare. Since the start of the civil war in 2011, it is estimated that 100,000 people – men, women and children – disappeared without…
20 Dec 7PM 24 min

Heart and Soul: Antisemitism in Turkey

Members of Turkey’s ancient Jewish community say they feel forced to hide their identities and practice their religion in private, after a marked rise in antisemitism following the 7 October attacks in Israel. Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has maintained a relentless criticism of Israel’s government for its response to…
19 Dec 7PM 28 min

The Watermelons: Myanmar's military moles

***This program contains distressing content. The voices of all active Watermelons have been changed for security reasons*** The Myanmar military is now riddled with soldiers betraying their colleagues. Military green on the outside, rebel red within. They are known as the Watermelons. BBC Eye goes inside the Watermelons unit to…
18 Dec 6PM 33 min

Assignment: Argentina - Milei's Chainsaw

It has been a year since chainsaw-wielding Javier Milei won the Presidency in Argentina. During his campaign, his chainsaw became a symbol of how quickly and drastically he wanted to cut the Argentine state. And he has slashed government budgets and sliced subsidies on power, food and transport. He stopped…
16 Dec 7PM 26 min

In the Studio: Creating Selfridges’ Christmas windows

One of the many traditions in London at Christmas is to visit the capital’s festive lights. People travel from across the world to enjoy the colourful and eye-catching Christmas window displays along Oxford Street, one of London’s main shopping roads. Andrea Kidd goes behind the glitter and tinsel with the…
15 Dec 7PM 26 min

Introducing Dramas: Purple Heart Warriors

Time-travelling drama about the Japanese-American legends of US military history - inspired by real events. The story of the 442nd regiment, fighting the Nazi German army in World War Two, is written by Oscar nominated Iris Yamashita and narrated by Will Sharpe. It contains dramatised battle scenes. Available now, just…
14 Dec 7PM 4 min

The Fifth Floor: Fleeing Chechnya

Why would a young woman flee her family and leave everything behind? BBC Russian's Zlata Onufrieva has been following the journeys of three women who've decided to run away from their homes in the Russian republic of Chechnya. Her documentary, Don't look for me, is part of the BBC 100…
14 Dec 7AM 26 min

BBC OS Conversations: Syrians after the fall of Assad

Syrians have finally got their voices back. After 50 years of living under the cruelty of their President, Bashar al-Assad, they can now speak freely without fear, although some are still cautious. We talk to Syrians across the country, including Ibraheem from Aleppo. He tells host Mark Lowen: “I couldn’t…
13 Dec 7PM 23 min

Black Madonnas

Author and broadcaster Chine McDonald has never seen a black representation of the Virgin Mary. Black Madonnas are statues or paintings of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus, where both figures are depicted with dark skin. They can be found both in Catholic and Orthodox countries. There are thought…
12 Dec 7PM 30 min

Srebrenica’s forgotten refugees

Thirty years after the war in Bosnia, survivors and their descendants find themselves permanently displaced in their own country. BBC reporter Lauren Tavriger visits the Tuzla region where families fleeing atrocities, including the Srebrenica massacre, have been living for decades in makeshift settlements originally designed as temporary. She talks to…
11 Dec 7PM 26 min

Introducing World of Secrets S6: The bad guru

New season on World of Secrets. Miranda’s search for inner peace through yoga leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation. “You just get sucked in so gradually... that you don't realise,” says her mother Penny. The Bad Guru is season six of World of Secrets, the global investigations podcast…
10 Dec 7PM 2 min

Assignment: Mining the Pacific – future proofing or fool’s gold?

Climate change is intensifying, sea levels are rising and the very existence of low-lying Pacific Islands is under threat. The Cook Islands, though, has a plan to assure their peoples’ future. Enter deep sea mining, harvesting metallic nodules on the bottom of the sea floor for use in things like…
9 Dec 7PM 26 min

Bonus: The Food Chain is 10!

A bonus episode from The Food Chain - as they turn 10!We are celebrating 10 years of The Food Chain with some of our favourite programme moments from the past decade.Fishing to stay alive, chopping onions in remembrance, and tasting people’s names – these stories and more tell us something…
8 Dec 8PM 29 min

Morse code: Ready to transmit

The World Morse Code championships are fiendishly competitive. Contestants from many countries travel to Tunisia, where they face each other across tiny tapping machines in a competition hall silent but for the clicking. It is called High Speed Telegraphy - the skill and art of sending and receiving fast and…
7 Dec 7PM 26 min

The Fifth Floor: Javier Milei's first year in power

Argentina's president Javier Milei famously campaigned with a chainsaw, promising he would cut public spending. Has he delivered? Verónica Smink of BBC Mundo will bring us the latest from Buenos Aires. Plus, how thousands of old portrait pictures were found and restored in Uganda, with BBC Africa's Christine Otieno.Produced by…
7 Dec 7AM 23 min

BBC OS Conversations: The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

It is coming up to two weeks since a ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since then there have been reports of minor violations on both sides. As the fragile truce continues, we hear from residents about their experiences, their fears and their hopes for peace. For…
6 Dec 7PM 23 min
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