Mysteries of China

Archaeologist Agnes Hsu, a director of New York-based China Institute goes on a quest to answer some of ancient China’s most beguiling mysteries.

Ultimate Tutankhamun

Nearly a century after Howard Carter’s momentous discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, Egyptologist Dr Chris Naunton returns to Carter’s vast excavation files. Hidden amongst thousands of notes he has uncovered clues that point to a mysterious burning of the Boy King’s mummy. But this mystery of the burnt mummy also provides a fresh new clue to the greatest enigma of Ancient Egypt – what caused the young pharaoh’s death. Combined with new, historical evidence of Tutankhamun leading the charge in Egypt’s foreign wars what emerges is a new image of this young ruler – and a tragic death.

The Remarkable Miss North

In the late 1800s, Marianne North traveled to the far corners of the world in search of exotic botanical life, paintbrush in hand. This documentary tells the life and adventures of this gifted Victorian trailblazer. Unbound by social convention she embarked on a project to paint the world’s plants, a legacy that is still as mesmerising today as it was when her gallery at Kew Garden was first revealed in 1882.

In The Footsteps Of Marco Polo

Stanley Johnson - author, environmentalist, and father of ex-PM Boris Johnson – and his youngest son Max set off from China’s far western border with Pakistan to undertake an epic 5,000km journey down the Silk Road. Following the trade route taken by Marco Polo 700 years ago, Stanley and Max’s seven week journey reflects on both ancient and modern China as they weave a path through what was the Yuan Dynasty’s land, ruled by Emperor Kublai Khan and to the capital city of Dadu, now known as Beijing. Stanley and Max throw themselves into every adventure along the way, embrace every encounter and share an unforgettable – and often hilarious – experience that brings them closer together and unites them in their love for Chinese culture. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARCO POLO is a perfect blend of history, adventure, and a father and son’s once-in-a-lifetime journey.

China's Ghost Army

Uncovering the secret of how Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s army of terracotta warriors was made reveals the true extent of the First Emperor’s power.

The Lost Colony Of Roanoke: New Evidence

A definitive investigation into one of the biggest mysteries of all time - what happened to the English colonists of Roanoke Island who seemingly disappeared without a trace. This two part special follows the work of British archaeologists who try to weed through the conspiracy theories and speculation, and find the truth.

Trains That Changed The World

In this series, we reveal how four iconic trains revolutionised rail travel – and inspired incredible railway projects the world over. For over 200 years, trains have transformed our lives. They have changed the way we travel, the way we work…even the way we holiday. In this series, we reveal how four iconic trains revolutionised rail travel – and inspired incredible railway projects the world over. We’ll journey aboard legendary railway engines such as The Flying Scotsman and Stephenson’s Rocket. Each episode will explore an area of life that saw dramatic transformation thanks to the train. We’ll learn how trains made us go faster; how they transformed our cities; how they powered industry and how they helped us to get away.

Mao’s Cold War

Mao’s Cold War is a stunning and unique historical angle on China’s involvement in the Cold War, told through the declassified top-secret Chinese army film record of their campaigns. There are always two sides to every story, and the PLA archive combined with first person accounts and expert commentary paints a far more complex picture of the Cold War than has ever been told before.

Caesar

This is the story of a Roman youth at the end of the republic, Gaius Julius, who, with guts and good fortune reaches the heights of triumph. His story leads us to travel through six countries around the Mediterranean and retell the story of his military, political and love life unravelling. Told in the present tense, CAESAR creates a young hero that viewers can relate to - showing his humanity, struggles, doubts, hopes and flaws - in a way that today’s young audience can identify with. It is the man behind the statue that interests us. The orphan, the civil war outcast, the young impoverished conscript on the frontline, the hostage of pirates in the Aegean Sea, the bisexual lover of a Turkish king, the conqueror of Gaul and of Great-Britain, Cleopatra’s companion in Egypt, etc. This series follows Caesar’s footsteps along the shores of “mare nostrum.” From the Carthage ruins in Tunisia to the Lutece arena in Paris and Antakya’s victory arches in Turkey, we will explore the common history of three continents where the Roman heritage lives on.

A Kingdom In Chaos

A KINGDOM IN CHAOS looks at the turbulent events of Stuart England’s Civil War and its ripple effects across Europe. A story of bloody battles, daring resistance and merciless revenge, this documentary explores how in just a few years, England plunged into conflict, abolished the monarchy, and briefly became a republic - only for the crown to be restored. Through expert historians and cinematic reconstructions, A KINGDOM IN CHAOS brings to life the pivotal stories of James I, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, and Charles II, revealing a world of power struggles, resistance, and political upheaval.