The Black West: A Counter History Of The Wild West

It is one of the West’s most powerful myths. The story of how the American West was won - by great heroes and white men. BLACK WEST tells the flip side of that myth. In 1875, one of four American cowboys was Black—Black sheriffs, Black trappers and Black soldiers. Some were adopted by Native American tribes, while others became slaves. These anonymous heroes were the inspiration for many great Westerns; yet Hollywood has erased them from the silver screen. Pieced together from archives, carefully crafted re-enactments and first-hand historical accounts, BLACK WEST restores these invisible heroes to their rightful place in history.

Bettany Hughes' Lost Worlds: The Nabataeans

For decades, historian Bettany Hughes has been fascinated by the enigmatic kingdom of Nabataea. Petra, their iconic capital, was part of a vast empire that is only now revealing its secrets. Seemingly lost to history, it's time to tell their story and show they were as important as Ancient Greece, Rome, or Egypt. Bettany traces their incense trade routes from the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean, accessing newly revealed research across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Greece, Italy and Oman. From towering tombs to underwater temples, Bettany unveils the Nabataeans' spectacular story from the periphery of their world to its very centre.

Passage

PASSAGE charts the fatal true story of John Rae (1813-1893), The Hudson’s Bay Company doctor, who solved the two great mysteries of the 19th Century: the fate of the doomed Sir John Franklin expedition, and the location of the last navigable link in the North West Passage. Rae’s findings included the tragic news that the Franklin crew had resorted to cannibalism, and it was this truth that was his undoing.

History Unsolved: The Investigation Files

A team of historians and criminologists tackle the past’s most enduring mysteries. From the legendary curse of King Tutankhamun to the truth behind the Mona Lisa heist, each episode presents three cases that play out like real-time forensic investigations, filled with twists, intrigue, and unexpected revelations. At the core of every story is the evidence board - a dynamic visual device that helps chart the investigation’s shifting landscape. As new clues emerge and theories evolve, our detectives connect the dots, expose hidden motives, and peel back the layers of history with the urgency, suspense, and drama of a modern thriller.

The Real Hunt For Red October

This two part docu-drama reveals, for the first time, the astonishing secret story behind the Russian submarine, Red October. The blockbuster movie The Hunt for Red October tells the story of a rogue Soviet nuclear submarine attempting to defect to the US while being hunted by both the American and Soviet Navies. Based on the best-selling novel by Tom Clancy, it reveals the technology, drama and character of an underwater battle. What few realise is that the book and film were inspired by a classified nuclear confrontation that some believe changed the course of world history.

Cold War Spies

COLD WAR SPIES pulls back the iron curtain on the Cold War, a conflict fought by spies, not soldiers. From miniature cameras and coded messages to stealth operations - and even poisoned umbrellas - spies operated in a world of constant risk and subterfuge. Featuring insights from former CIA, MI5, and KGB agents, each episode explores a theme: Double Agents, Most Wanted, Licence to Kill, Doomsday, Special Ops, and Sexpionage, revealing the thrilling and shadowy world of espionage at the height of the Cold War.

Warbird Workshop

They are the planes that wrote history in the sky. Military aircraft long since pensioned off – outdated, corroded or wrecked beyond repair. But now WARBIRD WORKSHOP is prising open the hangar door to join the pilots and engineers fighting to return rare aviation relics to the skies decades – even a century – after their last flight.

Tombs Of Egyptian Priestesses

A team of Egyptian archaeologists has discovered a previously unknown cemetery that opens a window onto a unique period in the history of ancient Egypt - a time when the country was ruled by rich and powerful princesses, "The God’s Wives of Amun." We follow the excavation of the tombs in real time and witness the discovery of amazing artifacts belonging to these elite women. It was a time when Egypt was ruled by the Kushites from Nubia. To cement their rule, the Nubian kings sent their wives and daughters to rule over their new Egyptian conquests. These women embraced the local culture and religion and became known by the name of the all-powerful Egyptian god Amun. They ruled like kings, but having female rulers empowered women throughout Egyptian society. Through the discoveries in the cemetery, we explore one of the most mysterious periods of Egyptian history, when power was in the hands of women.

Operation Oblivion

In the darkest days of WWII in the Pacific, the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) faced a critical obstacle to their operations in the Far East: How could their agents infiltrate Japanese-occupied territories and establish links with the Chinese resistance without sticking out like a sore thumb? This documentary film will uncover the stories of a group of 12 Chinese-Canadians and their secret training under the guidance of British SOE operatives. OPERATION OBLIVION combines newly shot interviews and never-before-seen images with animated sequences that vividly recreate the remarkable stories of Force 136.

Buried Evidence

This groundbreaking series uncovers the world’s most extraordinary archaeological discoveries, from legendary treasures and lost temples to cursed graves. Each episode explores three remarkable finds, revealing their hidden secrets and how they’ve transformed our understanding of history. With stunning 3D reconstructions and immersive storytelling, viewers are transported back through time as historians and scientists decode evidence and spark bold new theories. Fast-paced and visually spectacular, the series shows how buried wonders continue to shape our view of the past and the world we live in today.