* The Mystery of Agatha Christie (2013)

David Suchet sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding the life and work of Agatha Christie. Since he first played Hercule Poirot on ITV in 1990, the actor has become closely identified with the dapper Belgian detective who first appeared in The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the novel which launched Christie's career as a crime writer in 1920. One of the best-selling novelists of all time, Christie remains popular with millions of fans 37 years after her death. Suchet asks what gave her stories worldwide appeal and why her enduring characters, such as Poirot and Miss Marple, so captured the imagination of her readers.

* Victoria Cross Heroes (2014)

"The most democratic and at the same time the most exclusive all orders of chivalry - the most enviable order of the Victoria Cross." Edward VIII (when Prince of Wales)

Seventy years after that statement, Edward's great nephew, HRH Prince Charles, introduces the definitive history and a landmark series to commemorate and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. It pays fitting tribute to the men who have been awarded the highest medal for gallantry. As President of the VC and GC Association and with the Royal Family's long connection with Britain's armed forces, the Prince believes the medal has a particular resonance and significance.

The Empire
'The Empire' centres upon the VCs of the 19th Century, from its hugely popular instigation by Victoria in 1856 after the Crimean war to the war that ended her era, the Boer war at the turn of the century. The Victoria Cross was immediately taken to heart, its winners becoming celebrities equivalent to the pop stars and footballers of now. It includes dramatic reconstructions of Rorke's Drift, from the Indian Mutiny and the Crimea.

The Great War
'The Great War' tells the story of the VC through the first World War. Half of all VCs awarded to date were done so between 1914 and 1919. From the Western Front, through the Somme to Gallipoli, such was the variety of battle that every facet of human bravery was exposed. Stories featured include that of Noel Chavasse, one of only three men to win the VC twice, Boy Cornwell, the youngest recipient, and Billy Leefe-Robinson who shot down a Zeppelin over London to national acclaim.

The Modern Age
'The Modern Age' brings the story of the VC up to date. From the air and sea battles of WWII, through Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands and the current Gulf War, British soldiers have been fighting every year for the last 60 years. And through these years the VC has been awarded less and less. Has the nature of battle changed so much that men are no longer faced with such danger, or has the attention around the VC become so great that the Generals are scared to award it?

Bruce Forsyth on Sammy Davis Jr (2014)

Sir Bruce Forsyth looks at the life and career of Sammy Davis Jr, who he considers to be the greatest entertainer of all time. Sir Bruce first met Sammy in May 1960 when he was hosting The Royal Command Performance and Sammy was top of the bill. So began a friendship that lasted until Sammy's death in 1990. Born into poverty in Harlem, New York in 1925, Sammy Davis Jr went on the road at the age of three with his vaudeville performer father and appeared in his first movie before he was five. Broadway and West End theatre, Hollywood movies, network television, Las Vegas and performances before royalty and presidents were to follow. But given widespread prejudice during the early years of his career, he could not stay in the hotels where he performed. In addition to learning of Sammy's struggle against racism and bigotry, Sir Bruce meets up with people who knew and loved him, including Burt Boyar, co-author of Sammy's autobiography, and Lionel Blair.

Life of Ryan: Caretaker Manager (2014)

This new ITV documentary focuses on Ryan Giggs becoming the interim manager of Manchester United and his four games in charge of the biggest club in the world. The highs and lows of management, his playing career and his eventual retirement are all covered in this exclusive portrait of the most decorated player in English football history. It includes ground-breaking access to the club and unique insight into the methods and preparations of Giggs and his coaching staff during the last three weeks of this season’s Premier League. Produced by Fulwell 73, who made the acclaimed The Class of ‘92 film and the ITV documentary First Among Equals: The Laurie Cunningham Story, this programme features contributions from Giggs himself, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, Diego Maradona, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher.

* Freddie Mercury Saved My Life (2014)

Singer Alfie Boe explores the extraordinary life and work of Freddie Mercury. He discusses Freddie's legacy as a performer and a musician with those who knew him best, including Queen guitarist Brian May, opera diva Montserrat Caballe, designer Zandra Rhodes, Sir Bob Geldof and other close friends and family. Freddie is one of Alfie's heroes and is a constant inspiration. He sets out to find out more about the man behind the music, explore the formative experiences which made him unique, and discover how he became one of the most recognisable front men ever. Alfie admits that his own journey from opera to exploring new musical forms has mirrored that of Freddie, who went from rock to opera as he used his genius to propel Queen from conventional rockers into one of the greatest bands in the world.

* Billy Connolly's Big Send Off (2014)

Billy Connolly sets out to gain an insight into the rich variety of attitudes, belief systems, rituals and customs relating to death that are woven into different cultures and communities. Billy’s quest takes him inside locations and into the company of people across religious, cultural and social boundaries, to discover, with his trademark charisma and curiosity, what death means to different communities and the diverse ways it is marked. Along the way, Billy also looks into the business of death and candidly shares his thoughts on his own death, how he would like to go, and how he would like to be remembered.

* Alfred Hitchcock: Made in Britain (2013)

Jonathan Ross examines the life and career of the most celebrated director in the history of cinema, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, in a quest for the British roots of his unique style. Jonathan is a huge fan of the Hollywood legend and finds out what led the son of an East End grocer to embark on a career in the film industry. He visits Gainsborough Studios where Hitchcock secured his first job at the age of 20, designing the captions which appeared on screen in the silent era - just five years later he was a director. Jonathan meets actress Jean Marsh, who starred in Hitchcock's penultimate film Frenzy, and hears what the great man was like to work with. On his return to his own childhood home in East London, Jonathan recalls how when he first saw the iconic Hitchcock movie Psycho it scared the life out of him.

* Up Series (1964 - 2012)

The Up Series is a series of documentary films produced by Granada Television that have followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were seven years old. So far the documentary has had eight episodes spanning 49 years (one episode every seven years) and the documentary has been broadcast on both ITV and BBC. In a 2005 Channel 4 programme, the series topped the list of The 50 Greatest Documentaries. The children were selected to represent the range of socio-economic backgrounds in Britain at that time, with the explicit assumption that each child's social class predetermines their future. Every seven years, the director, Michael Apted, films material from those of the fourteen who choose to participate. The aim of the series is stated at the beginning of 7 Up as: "Why do we bring these children together? Because we want to get a glimpse of England in the year 2000. The shop steward and the executive of the year 2000 are now seven years old."

Wikipedia

Seven Up! (1964)

7 Plus Seven (1970)

21 Up (1977)

28 Up (1984)

35 Up (1991)

42 Up (1998)

49 Up (2005)

56 Up (2012)

* Amazing Argentina (2012)

Matt Smith presents a fascinating profile of one of football's great national teams - Argentina. Often controversial but always entertaining, they have provided football with some of its greatest players. The team's biggest achievement was winning the World Cup in 1978. The programme also includes other notable moments, many of which involve the great Diego Maradona. His infamous 'hand of God' goal still rankles with England fans, but his genius was also displayed in that very same game in 1986 with a goal described by the then England manager the late Bobby Robson as a miracle. The team's current superstar is Lionel Messi, another tiny player, and the comparison with Diego has been inevitable. Once again the press have hailed an Argentinian as one of the greatest players of all time.

* When Ali Came to Britain (2012)

Documentary marking the 70th birthday of legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali by looking at his long relationship with Britain. The programme features contributions from some of the people Ali encountered during his many visits to the UK, including a teenager who sparred with him, a fan who became a close friend, and former opponents. The family of Henry Cooper talk about the British boxer's two fights with Ali, and trainer Angelo Dundee talks about the controversy over the famous tampered glove when Cooper floored Ali in their first fight. The film also includes some previously unseen archive and home video footage.

* Magritte: The Man In The Hat (2014)

Ever since he stumbled upon a book about Rene Magritte in an Oxford bookshop at the age of 15, singer and actor Will Young has had a passion for the surrealist artist's work. In this film, Will travels to Magritte's native Belgium to find out more about the man whose trademark was a bowler hat and whose apparently conventional exterior concealed the mind of a subversive rebel. Will uncovers a childhood marked by tragedy, a marriage that lasted from Magritte's adolescence until his death in 1967, and a stunning artistic legacy which endures to this day.

* River Deep, Mountain High: James Nesbitt in New Zealand (2013)

James Nesbitt explores New Zealand, his adopted home for the last two years, in this brand-new factual documentary about the dramatic landscapes of "Middle Earth".

* Mark Cavendish - Born to Race (2012)

An intimate in-depth profile of the cyclist Mark Cavendish, the first British man to win the Tour de France green jersey, and the first Brit to win the prestigious rainbow jersey since the 1960s. It follows his career from his early years living on the Isle of Man, through to last year's Olympics. He reflects on his success in the Tour de France, and his many other career highs. We get an insight into his meticulous race preparations, his training regime, as well as joining him on the media trail and relaxing at home on rest days. With contributions from Dave Brailsford, Bradley Wiggins, Peta Todd, and Rod Ellingworth and many more.

* Lockerbie Bombing - 25 years on (2013)

Documentary marking the 25th anniversary of the tragedy of 21 December 1988, when a Pan Am 747 jet exploded in the skies over Scotland and the remains crashed on to the small town of Lockerbie. This is the story of the worst terrorist attack on British soil as told by those who were there, and by those whose lives it tore apart.

* Gypsy Rose Lee: The Queen of Burlesque (2013)

Paul O'Grady reveals the effect that a legendary striptease artist had on him as he explores the life of the queen of American burlesque, Gypsy Rose Lee. Watching the 1962 film Gypsy, starring Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood, ignited Paul's passion for the glamorous entertainer who had taken Broadway by storm with her tease and tassels. Now he travels to Broadway to discover more about the woman behind the legend from the people who knew her best: her son, Erik Preminger and the world famous composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics for Gypsy.

* Brady and Hindley: Possession (2013)

Documentary about the Moors Murders, including Myra Hindley's version of events, recorded from a prison cell, and the photographs that Ian Brady used to mark the killings.