Posh Pawn (2014)

From helicopters to Lamborghinis, mini-submarines and Hermes handbags, Posh Pawn uncovers the hidden world of high-end pawnbroking.

Part 1
Prestige Pawnbrokers are the kings of pawning luxurious and costly objects in cash-strapped Britain and are part of a growing number of high-end pawnbrokers focusing on expensive and exclusive objects. This documentary goes behind the scenes at Prestige and discovers that, when it comes to upmarket pawn, everyone has a story to tell. Headed up by slick former property developer James Constantinou, and with a quirky team of asset experts including salt-of-the-earth jewellery expert Lawrence and feisty PA Jo, Prestige is the go-to place for people who want fast cash in well-heeled Surrey, pawning everything from million-pound helicopters to Lambourghinis and £25,000 Hermes handbags. And it's an empire on the move: James is taking big risks investing in a new store in Richmond and has bigger plans too. But will expanding make or break the business?


Part 2
The staff at Prestige Pawnbrokers are blown away by two jaw-dropping diamond necklaces, owned by two very different clients. Single mum Marcella is looking for a better future for herself and her son and needs £20,000 to kick-start her music career, while wealthy mother-of-four Ingrid wants to raise capital for her new horse importation and training business. They both hope that family heirlooms that have been gathering dust can kick-start their new lives. But following a closer inspection of one of the necklaces, there's a sleepless night for staff member Patrick, who suspects one could be fake. And Prestige MD James Constantinou is excited by a very unusual yellow mini submarine, which policeman David wants to sell. James tests it in a 'James Bond-style' underwater joyride, as he attempts to impress a potential buyer.


Part 3
James has his work cut out sealing a deal with a pushy young entrepreneur who wants to borrow £100,000 against his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. Legendary film director Ken Russell's ex-wife Hetty gets a shock when she tries to raise money by pawning her personal family photographs. A married couple get emotional as they look to pawn their pride and joy: a six-foot Kerry Darlington painting. A mum-of-three pawns her mother's diamond ring to support her family; but how much is the ring worth? And long-term client Tauren falls behind on his loan repayments. Will he lose his prized designer watch collection?


Part 4
Reformed 1980s cat burglar Sid hopes to raise funds with help from his family and their jewellery. Prestige Pawnbrokers boss James gets the fright of his life when he test drives a client's superbike at Brands Hatch. New employee Kristen is put to the test when she has to value two huge tanzanite stones. And Prestige's PA and office manager Jo visits a client, Maggie, who, following a string of bad luck, including being diagnosed with cancer, can't pay back her loan, and is in danger of losing her late mother's jewellery. Touched by Maggie's unique situation, Jo tries to convince James to extend her loan one last time to save her precious jewellery. But can Jo talk shrewd businessman James around?


Part 5
Ex-model Cathy is looking for a loan so she can launch a range of unusual women's lingerie. In the 1980s she shared the catwalk with the likes of Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. Shortly after the birth of her two children Cathy was taken ill with Cushing's syndrome, which meant she gained an abnormal amount of weight. She has now recovered, and has raided her designer bag and jewellery collection in the hope of using them as collateral for a £50,000 loan to launch her underwear business. But will she get the money she needs? Also in this episode, Prestige MD James gets some unwanted attention when he goes for a spin in a client's Ferrari, a young mum wants to pawn her grandfather's First World War medals to raise money for her mother's funeral, and an inventor turns up at Prestige to pawn his precious watch.


Part 6
A family man approaches Prestige Pawnbrokers with 12 classic cars to raise the money to avoid having his mansion repossessed, but it's another of his possessions that catches James's attention. A young drummer wants to cash in on a unique silver elephant his grandparents gave him to set up a recording studio so that he can stand on his own feet. A single mum parts with a five-carat diamond ring to give her boys a holiday; and a client who was adopted when she was three months old pawns her family heirlooms - including a sherry glass thought to have belonged to Queen Victoria - to raise money for a long-awaited trip to see her birth mother in Australia.


Part 7
James' manoeuvring skills are put to the test as he test drives a client's 40-foot American motorhome. A self-confessed shopaholic hopes to sell two modern art paintings to pursue a new career in photography. A glamorous divorcee wants to sell some of her designer handbags to raise cash for her hair extensions business. And James and gem expert Kristen jet off to millionaires' playground Marbella to meet a glamorous client with some precious jewellery. James has a taste for the high life; can he drum up enough business to branch out overseas?

What The Dambusters Did Next (2014)

The daring raid is undoubtedly one of the most famous in the history of the Second World War, the subject of a great British blockbuster and countless books. But what did the elite fliers of No 617 Squadron RAF, otherwise known as the Dambusters, do after Operation Chastise? This new documentary provides a wealth of insight into the spectacular missions undertaken by the squadron after the deployment of the famous bouncing bombs in 1943.

The Spy Who Brought Down Mary Queen of Scots (2014)

With the aid of dramatised scenes and location-based interviews with leading historians, this film tells the riveting story of how, over an eight-week period in 1586, England's greatest spymaster used covert espionage techniques to foil a Catholic conspiracy to murder Queen Elizabeth I and engineered the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. Sir Francis Walsingham is recognised as one of history's master spies, thanks to the extraordinary trap that he set for Mary, Queen of Scots. Using a sophisticated network of double agents, informants, and secret codes he allowed Mary to believe that she was master-minding a plot to destroy Elizabeth. In fact, every move Mary made was tracked, by intercepting and decoding her correspondence. As a result, the Scots Queen was exposed as a threat to the Crown, and Walsingham was finally able to persuade Elizabeth to execute her.

* Britain's Greatest Pilot: The Extraordinary Story of Captain 'Winkle' Brown (2014)

Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown recounts his flying experiences, encounters with the Nazis and other adventures leading up to and during the Second World War. Illustrated with archive footage and Captain Brown's own photos.

World War One At Home (2014)

World War One At Home reveals how the momentous events of the war affected life on the Home Front. Around 1400 stories will be broadcast throughout 2014 and beyond, on BBC local and national radio and television, and online.

Illegal Immigrants And Proud (2014)

Every day, hundreds of immigrants risk a potentially fatal journey in order to enter the UK illegally. Following on from the Channel 5 programme ‘Gypsies on Benefits’, this documentary film follows some of the 800,000 illegal immigrants who are thought to have settled in the UK and who have managed to live their lives largely below the authorities’ radar.

The American Invasion (2014)

The arrival in Britain of the aircraft and crews of the US air force the largest air force in the world - had a profound effect on the military and social history of World War Two. Presented by renowned actor Michael Brandon, this revealing documentary provides a powerful record of a momentous period in American and British history. The memories and experiences of the local population and surviving US airmen provide the key to understanding the courage of men plucked from home and plunged into the terror of combat in the air.

* Gandhi (2009)

The first definitive series on the life of the great Mahatma Gandhi. This 3 part series charts Gandhi's Establishment beginnings, his move into politics and his campaign to bring independence to India. While he remains, unquestionably, India's revered 'Father of a Nation', there is another and less well known side to Ghandi and this series examines his relationship with his wife, his controversial views on race and his role on the path to Indian independence.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

* The 800 Million Pound Railway Station (2007)

St Pancras station sits at the end of a massive £5.8 billion railway line - the first major British line to be built for over a century. This new series tells the story of the architects, engineers and spin doctors who entered a frantic two year race to make the Royal Opening on time. There were huge financial incentives, but many personal reputations at stake.

Episode 1: The Devil in the Detail
This episode tells the story of architect Alastair Lansley, whose expensive artistic vision unnerved the engineers.

Episode 2: Deadline
The engineers and builders are about to hit the biggest deadline on the project so far. The tracks which bring the trains into St Pancras must be moved from the east to the west side of the station, over the course of a single weekend. If they fail, the entire £5.8 billion project will be thrown off-schedule.
Meanwhile, Chief Architect Alastair Lansley receives some terrifying news that may prevent him from seeing the project through.

Episode 3: The Inspections
Engineers race to finish the base build of the station. Huge bonuses are at stake and if the engineers don't meet their deadline they could incur penalties of £50,000 a day until their work is finished. For 30 year old engineer Claire Clarr this is the biggest project of her career and a series of gruelling inspections will determine whether or not work on her section is signed off as complete. To add to the pressure Claire's boss Mark Allison delivers news which will change the course of her working life.

Episode 4: The Icon Men
With the base build complete, St Pancras must start its face lift. Commercial Director Mike Luddy dreams of creating a new style of station and of transforming St Pancras into a luxury destination in its own right.
Instead of fast food outlets he wants to install gastro pubs and fine dining. The highlight will be the longest champagne bar in Europe and a nine metre high bronze statue which he hopes will be an iconic centrepiece for the station.

Episode 5: The Sharp End
A team of spin doctors and marketing gurus have to sell Commercial Director Mike Luddy's vision for St Pancras station. They need to convince press and public that a place synonymous with prostitution, drugs and violent crime has been transformed into the chic destination station for Europe.
But deadlines are slipping and the picture looks very different on the ground. The builders are behind schedule, the 60 shops may not finish work on time and there are critical problems with the cherry on the St Pancras cake - a 9 meter statue specially commissioned for the station. And with the station opening in just a few weeks time and Eurostar already selling tickets from their new destination will St Pancras be ready in time?

Episode 6: The Unveiling
The culmination of 11 years work and £5.8 billion of public and private money.
While the builders and engineers labour 7 days a week to try and finish major construction works Head of Marketing Jon Teeman is planning an enormous opening ceremony. A 1,000 seat arena is being erected and Her Majesty the Queen has agreed to open the station. With an invitation list boasting the great and the good and the eyes of the world's media upon them the opening night has to be a success.
Meanwhile the station is still not finished and the builders must complete works in order for Eurostar to start running. With an expected 50 million passengers per year due to start travelling from the station on November 14th the deadline must be hit at all costs.

* The Birth of Empire: The East India Company (2014)

Dan Snow travels through India in the footsteps of the company that revolutionised the British lifestyle and laid the foundations of today's global trading systems.

Part 1:
400 years ago British merchants landed on the coast of India and founded a trading post to export goods to London. Over the next 200 years, their tiny business grew into a commercial titan. Using the letters and diaries of the men and women who were there, this documentary tells the story of the East India Company, which revolutionised the British lifestyle, sparked a new age of speculation and profit and by accident created one of the most powerful empires in history. Yet inexorable rise ended in ignominy. Dogged by allegations of greed, corruption and corporate excess, by the 1770s the company's reputation was in tatters. Blamed for turning its back as millions died in the Bengal famine, and thrown into crisis by a credit crunch in Britain, the world's most powerful company had run out of cash, sparking a government intervention.

Part 2:
By 1800 the East India Company had grown from a tiny band of merchants into a colossal trading empire. But scandal and corruption in the 18th century had led to a curtailment of its powers by the British government. The state now controlled the company's affairs in India and, throughout the 19th century, would chip away at its remaining powers and trading privileges. The company was transformed from a trading enterprise into the rulers of India, and governed vast swathes of the subcontinent on behalf of the British Crown. Its territory expanded enormously and an empire was born. As the company traded opium to a reluctant Chinese Empire, in India a dangerous chasm opened up between the British rulers and the Indian people. Alienated and disaffected, significant numbers of the company's massive army of Indian soldiers finally revolted and the Company's handling of the mutiny was its final undoing. In 1858 British India passed into Queen Victoria's hands and the Raj was born.

* Danny Boyle: Man of Wonder (2013)

Oscar winning director Danny Boyle talks to Mark Kermode about his new film Trance, London 2012's afterglow and the highs and lows of an extraordinary film-making career.

As an explosive visual stylist with an enduring punk attitude, Danny Boyle has reinvented British cinema several times over, proving we can do populist, anarchic, violent and disturbing as well as American cinema. From epochal moments like Trainspotting to low-budget horror 28 Days Later and the brutal romance of Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle inhabits a uniquely kinetic style that has a poetic and surreal side too. All of these qualities were on spectacular display at last summer's Olympic opening ceremony, a creative triumph that brought Danny's name to a much wider audience.

Danny gives Mark the inside story on his wildly diverse films and also reveals how his working class, left-wing upbringing helped shape his vision for London 2012.

* A Boy in Harris (2011)

Donnie MacSween was a schoolboy when the BBC made 'A Boy in Harris' in the 1960s. This programme looks at his life since then, plus an opportunity to see the original acclaimed documentary once more.

* Edward VIII: The Lion King (2013)

Edward VIII is a maligned figure in recent British history, widely seen as the playboy prince who refused to conform to establishment rules, and remembered as the King who threw away the throne and turned his back on his country, all for the love of a twice-divorced American woman. But newly released home movies shot in 1928 and 1930 by Edward himself tell an extraordinary story and show him in a new light. The films reveal the untold story of his safaris in East Africa with the real life cast of Out of Africa, and his role in changing the future of African wildlife. In the early part of the 20th century, safari meant hunting. When he arrived in the bush, Edward was shocked by the scale of the uncontrolled slaughter he encountered: elephants, rhinos, lions and leopards were being killed in their thousands. He put down his gun, picked up a movie camera instead and led the first celebrity conservation campaign to protect African wildlife. His legacy is the creation of the iconic Serengeti National Park – the jewel in the conservation crown, and the start of a royal tradition of supporting wildlife causes.

* Harold Shipman (2014)

On the tenth anniversary of his death, this two-part documentary claims to be the definitive account of Doctor Harold Shipman's notorious crimes. It certainly offers a thorough examination of how a respected pillar of the community was eventually exposed as Britain's most prolific serial killer.

One of the most astonishing aspects of the case is how Shipman got away with it for so long. Despite being outed as a drug addict in the '70s, he only ever received a fine and a warning for his conduct. Most agree that he should've been struck off. And yet he continued to practice and prey upon his patients for years thereafter.

Filled with contributions from former colleagues and relatives of his victims, the programme also contains several dramatic reconstructions. So often the risible bane of true-crime documentaries, on this occasion they're relatively restrained.

Part 1: Driven to Kill
The first instalment of this two-part programme looks at what drove Shipman to kill over a period of almost 30 years, examining his early school days as a model pupil up to his time as a junior doctor in Pontefract Hospital. Featuring interviews with Margaret Sivorn, who worked with him in Pontefract, and consultant forensic psychiatrist Richard Badcock, who was the only psychiatrist to assess Shipman.


Part 2: Catching Dr Death
The concluding edition of this two-part docu-drama looks at how Shipman covered his tracks and examines the unravelling of decades of lies that subsequently led to his conviction. In March 1998, staff at the local crematorium became suspicious of the deaths signed off by Shipman and alerted the coroner, but a police investigation was stopped after just three weeks. It was the subsequent death of Kathleen Grundy that triggered his downfall, and her daughter and son-in-law Angela and Phil Woodruff describe their reactions when they discovered that Shipman was bizarrely the sole benefactor of Kathleen's estate.

* Ian Hislop's Olden Days (2014)

Ian Hislop explores the British obsession with the past. He reveals how and why, throughout our history, we have continually plundered 'the olden days' to make sense of and shape the present.

Part 1

Ian Hislop explores two of Britain's most inspiring monarchs, King Arthur and King Alfred.

Part 2

How the Victorians turned to the Middle Ages to make sense of their era of progress.

Part 3

Ian Hislop looks at the rural olden days - Britain's idealised vision of the countryside.

* Dirty Weekenders in France (2014)

Self-confessed curio hunter Richard E. Grant takes a trip to the continent to reveal the world of the people who spend their time rifling through the barns, cowsheds and French farm attics, looking for pre-war treasures to bring back home. The show explores the world of professional antique hunters and dealers who seek out hidden treasures at flea markets and antique shops all over France; hoping to find curios like absinthe glasses, horse linen and vintage traffic lights that will sell like wildfire in the UK. Richard and two dealers storm the continent to plunder its treasures and discover the stories behind their amazing vintage finds, as well as the history and culture of the areas they visit. But can they recover their outlay in a weekend? And as Richard revels in the land of dusty cafes, beautiful B&Bs and the perfect citron press窠can these dealers actually make a living from their weekend of treasure hunting?

* Barbershop Punk (2010)

Is "The Man" controlling the vertical, the horizontal and the channel you'll be on? In a privatized American Internet, is big business "Big Brother" or does the free market protect and serve the needs of the average citizen with its invisible hand? With the simple act of swapping files, barbershop quartet baritone Robb Topolski finds himself at ground zero of a landmark case whose outcome will affect the rights of every American citizen. Following one man's personal quest to defend what he believes to be his inalienable rights, BARBERSHOP PUNK examines the critical issues surrounding the future of the American Internet and what it takes to challenge the status quo. Contemplating the future of the American Internet and the inalienable rights under review.

* Victoria's Empire (2007)

Victoria Wood travels to the corners of the globe in search of the essence of the former Victorian Empire. Wood's irreverent humour shines through as she travels to far-flung former Victorian outposts, many of which share her name, in search of how people today view the days of the Empire. From Fort Victoria in Ghana, to Victoria, Nova Scotia, taking in Australia, New Zealand and many more besides, she finishes her journey in majesty at Zambia's Victoria Falls. Wood reveals her childhood fascination with the old Queen who bore her name, explores her character and family life and talks to locals in these far places about their views on being colonized by a country they'd never heard of.

Episode 1 - India/Hong Kong/Borneo
Victoria Wood visits countries that used to be part of Queen Victoria's British Empire. In Calcutta she takes a taxi through the city to see the extent of the British residue and discovers very well preserved Victorian buildings amongst the colours and textures of this marvellous city. She chats with Indian resident Toby Sinclair and discovers the intriguing way we learned local languages, and the legacy that will allow India to become an economic super power.

Then it's up to Darjeeling, where British women would avoid the intensity of the Calcutta summers, and where taking tea wasn't the only diversion in the long, often lonely, summer nights.

In Hong Kong, Victoria visits a vet to discuss the Chinese and British polar attitudes towards pets and gets her love life analysed by a fortune teller, before in Borneo, Victoria comes face to face with the descendent of a chief head hunter, a local solidified bird spit delicacy and a baby Orangutan's first attempts at climbing.

Episode 2 - Ghana/Jamaica/Newfoundland
Victoria Wood visits countries that used to be part of Queen Victoria's British Empire.

The first stop this episode is Ghana, once known as the Gold Coast, where slaves were purchased to be transported across the Atlantic to work on the Jamaican sugar plantations.

Victoria travels inland to visit Assin Manso. Here the slaves were washed and sold before being marched to the Cape Coast Castle dungeons, where they were held before being dispatched.

Visiting Cape Coast herself, Victoria discovers how the Ghanaians live now and how they are moving away from the stain of the slave trade.

Then it's on to Jamaica, the slave's grim destination, and a chat with Aleric Josephs about how the slaves resisted their harsh treatment and ultimately participated in infanticide to prevent their children being born into slavery. Victoria sees how they fought for and joyously celebrated their freedom and meets Freddie Macgregor to discuss the African roots of reggae.

Finally it's on to Newfoundland, a foggy rock on the furthest eastern edge of Canada where Victoria has tea with a monarchist and meets Michael, who takes her up a hill to try and spot fairies.

Episode 3 - New Zealand/Australia/Zambia
Victoria Wood visits countries that used to be part of Queen Victoria's British Empire. In New Zealand she meets Hone, a Maori, and learns about the start of the interracial troubles, before heading to Alice Springs, in the heart of Australia, where countless aborigines were massacred. Victoria's journey ends at Victoria Falls in Zambia, where she takes a trip down the Zambezi river and meets a herbalist who can cure almost anything.

* The English Defence League - When Tommy Met Mo (2013)

When Tommy Robinson, then leader of the EDL, met Mo Ansar, the Muslim who campaigned to ban the EDL, on BBC One's The Big Questions, it turned out to be the encounter that changed everything.

* My Brother the Terrorist (2014)

Filmmaker Robb Leech attempts to understand his stepbrother's journey from middle-class white boy in Weymouth to convicted terrorist. In 2010 Robb spent a year filming his stepbrother Rich after he turned his back on the world in which he grew up to become a fundamentalist Muslim called Salahuddin. Robb began filming with his stepbrother as he entered a strange new world where everyone talked about fighting jihad and implementing Sharia law. The result was Robb's acclaimed BBC Three documentary, My Brother the Islamist. When, in 2013, Salahuddin is convicted of preparing terrorism acts and jailed for six years, Robb is desperate to know what triggered his stepbrother, and others like him, to cross the line. Robb seeks out imam and psychologist Alyas Karmani to understand what drives young British-born men and women into radical jihadism. And he confronts Anjem Choudary, the man who converted Rich, about his role in Salahuddin's radicalisation.