THE UNKNOWN FOREST

Jan 1961 / BBC.

The first BBC nature documentary to feature animals in the wild rather than in controlled settings. Film-maker, Eric Ashby pioneered the filming of animals in their natural habitat and went on to make "The Major" (1963 - first BBC nature documentary in colour), "A Forest Diary", "A Hare's Life", "The Silent Watcher" and "The Private Life of the Fox".

The Unknown Forest (WildFilmHistory)

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

1962 - 1987 & 1995 - Present / BBC2.

General knowledge knockout quiz show featuring competing University teams. The questions are challenging, the question-master uncompromising and the show always entertaining.

Question Master: Jeremy Paxman (originally Bamber Gascoigne).

University Challenge fansite.

UNREPORTED WORLD

2007 - date (25 mins per prog.) / Channel 4.

Courageous and informative investigative documentary series reporting on world issues largely ignored by the rest of the british media.

Unreported World (C4).

THE UNSINKABLE TITANIC

3 Nov 2008 (75 mins) / Channel 4.

Quality drama-doc detailing the chain of events that led to the sinking of the illustrious passenger liner.

VERSAILLES: THE DREAM OF A KING

18 July 2009 / BBC2.

Director/Producer: Paul Burgess.

Drama-documentary about Louis XIV of France (reigned 1643-1715) and the building of the Palace of Versailles. Computer Graphics are used to recreate some of the historical interiors and exteriors.

Narrator: Cheri Lunghi. With Samuel Theis as LOUIS XIV.

A VERY ENGLISH GENIUS: HOW MICHAEL VENTRIS CRACKED LINEAR B

6 Aug 2004 / BBC2

Superb drama-documentary about how a young architect, Michael Ventris, came to decipher "Linear B", the earliest known writing system in Europe.

BBC Website.

VICTORIA AND ALBERT

Aug 2001 / BBC1

Excellent historical drama about the private life of Queen Victoria and her husband - the Prince Consort, Albert.

With: Victoria Hamilton, Jonathan Firth.

VICTORIAN FARM

8 Jan - 12 Feb 2009 (6 x 60 Mins) / BBC2

Observational documentary series. A team of historical experts reconstruct and reenact a Shropshire farm as it would have been in Victorian times (1880's) using the agricultural technology and animal and crop varieties of the period. All aspect of rural culture are explored including cuisine, building techniques, domestic work etc. A truly fascinating and educational series - follow up to the equally succesful "Tales from the Green Valley". See also: Edwardian Farm.

With: Ruth Godman, Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn.

VICTORIAN FARM CHRISTMAS

11 - 24 Dec 2009 (3 x 60 Mins) / BBC2

See entry above. The team returns to the farm to make preparations for Christmas.

With: Ruth Godman, Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn.

THE VICTORIAN KITCHEN GARDEN

1987 (13 pts) / BBC2.

Producer/Director: Keith Sheather.

Evocative and inspiring series showing the restoration of the kitchen garden at Chilton Foliat (a large house in Wiltshire, England) and the plant varieties, techniques, tools and structures used by Victorian gardeners. The success of the program led to three sequels: The Victorian Kitchen, The Victorian Flower Garden and The Wartime Kitchen and Garden.

Presented by Peter Thoday.

THE VICTORIANS

15 Feb - 8 Mar 2009 / BBC1

Documentary series exploring the social history of 19th century Victorian England - using the paintings of artists of the period as a starting point.

Presented by Jeremy Paxman.

The Victorians (WIKI).

VIKINGS

11-25 Sep 2012 (3x55 mins)/ BBC2.

A history of the legendary Nordic people who went on to build a huge trading empire from AD 800-1100. The popular image of them as bloodthirsty, freebooting warriors does not do justice to their considerable technological and artistic achievements. Presented by Neil Oliver.

VINCENT VAN GOGH: PAINTED WITHOUT WORDS

5 Apr 2010 / BBC1.

Outstanding drama-documentary about the life and work of Van Gogh. Benedict Cumberpatch gives an involving and emotional performance as the tortured genius. This deserves to win a few awards.

Starring Benedict Cumberpatch as VAN GOGH. Narrated by Alan Yentob.

THE VOYAGE OF CHARLES DARWIN

31 Oct - 12 Dec 1978 (7x50 mins) / BBC2.

Period drama series about the world-famous English naturalist, his travels around the world on "The Beagle", and how he came to write "The Origin of Species".

Starring MALCOLM STODDARD as Charles Darwin.

Note: There was an accompanying book of the same name - edited by Christopher Ralling (Parkwest Publishers).

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY

July - Aug 2008 (5 pts) / BBC2 (originally BBC4)

Documentary series about pioneering voyages of discovery - featuring explorers such as Ferdinand Magellan, Captain Cook, Fridjtof Nansen and others.

Narrated by Paul Rose.

Voyages of Discovery (BBC).

WAINWRIGHT'S WALKS

2007 - 2009 (3 series) / BBC4 (repeated on BBC2).

Series 1: Mar - Apr 2007 (4 pts).
Series 2: 29 July - 2 Sep 2007 (6 pts).
Series 3 - Coast to Coast: 6 Apr - 14 May 2009 (6 pts).

Documentary series inspired by the guidebooks of Alfred Wainwright. Julia Bradbury takes the viewer on a series of walks across the Lake District (Series 1 & 2) and from the west to east coast of England (series 3). See also, "Canal Walks" and "Railway Walks".

WAINWRIGHT: THE MAN WHO LOVED THE LAKES

20 July 2007 (60 mins) / BBC2 (first shown on BBC4).

Director: Josh Halil / Exec. Producer: Eric Harwood.

Engaging and evocative drama-doc about Alfred Wainwright, whose beautiful hand-written and hand-drawn guidebooks to the Lake District have become famous the world over (available on DVD - "Wainwright's Walks - Vol. 1").

The Wainwright Society

Note: There was also an excellent Radio 4 documentary about Wainwright called "Archive on 4: The man behind the mountains" (16 Oct 2010) - presented by Eric Robinson.

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS

1999 (6 x 30 mins) / BBC1.

Spectacular recreation of life in prehistoric times using landscape footage populated by CGI dinosaurs.

Narrated by Kenneth Branagh.

Walking with Dinosaurs (WIKI).

WARLORDS

31 July - 21 Aug 2005 (4 eps) / Channel 4.

Documentary series focusing on the relationships between the most powerful historical figures of Word War 2: Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt.

WARTIME FARM

6 Sep - 25 Oct 2012 (8 episodes) / BBC2.

Director: Stuart Elliott / Exec. Producer: David Upshall

Three experts recreate an English farm (Manor Farm, Hampshire) as it would have been before and during WW2. Only authentic period farming and cooking techniques, breeds and varieties are used and the program also explores how the events of history impacted on country life at the time. From the same team (Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn) who gave us Tales from The Green Valley, Victorian Farm and Edwardian Farm - landmark BBC series.

WARTIME KITCHEN AND GARDEN

5 Nov - 24 Dec 1993 (8 episodes) / BBC2.

Evocative documentary series (sequel to The Victorian Kitchen Garden, above) looking at how the British fed themselves during World War II. Food was strictly rationed and the populace exhorted to "Dig for Victory" by growing their own vegetables. Featuring Ruth Mott (cook) & Harry Dodson (gardener).

Presented by Peter Thoday.

WAR WALKS

26 July - 30 Sep 1996 (Series 1, 6 eps) & 14 Nov - 19 Dec 1997 (Series 2, 6 eps) / BBC2

History documentary series presented by Professor Richard Holmes. Each week he recounts the story of a famous battle, visiting the actual site of the conflict and using maps and reenactments to bring the history to life. He also looks at the hardware used on the battlefield, firing period longbows, muskets etc.

War Walks (BBC Factual).

WASP

April 2004 (repeated several times) / Channel 4

Writer & Director: Andrea Arnold / Producer: Natasha Marsh.

Gritty and beautifully-observed Oscar-winning (British) short film. A young single mother living on the breadline tries to reconcile her love life with the needs of her children.

With Natalie Press, Danny Dyer.

WEAPONS THAT MADE BRITAIN

10 July - 7 Aug 2004 (5 x 50 mins) / Channel 4.

Informative and entertaining documentary series looking at how military technology during the medieval era shaped the outcome of historic Bristish battles. Weapons expert Mike Loades demonstrates how the weapons performed under battle conditions. The episodes were: (1) Sword (2) Longbow (3) Lance (4) Shield (5) Armour.

Written and presented by Mike Loades.

"Weapons that made Britain (C4).

THE WEDNESDAY PLAY

28 Oct 1964 - 27 May 1970 / BBC1.

Highly-regarded, long-runnning series of one-off dramas which gave us productions such as Cathy Come Home, Up The Junction, The War Game etc. Occasionally hard-hitting and controversial, it launched the careers of playwrights such as Ken Loach and Dennis Potter etc.

The Wednesday Play (BFI).

WHAT THE ANCIENTS DID FOR US

16 Feb - 13 Apr 2005 / BBC2 (Open University)

Documentary series exploring the technological achievements of Ancient civilisations, such as the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians etc. History is brought to life by building working models of original inventions.

Presented by Adam Hart-Davis.

"What the Ancients did for us" (BBC).

WHAT THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DID FOR US

7 Oct - 11 Nov 2003 (6 progs)/ BBC2.

Documentary series exploring the technology behind the industrial revolution.

Presented by Dan Cruickshank.

WHAT THE ROMANS DID FOR US

6 Nov - 11 Dec 2000 / BBC2.

Documentary series exploring the technological innovations introduced to Ancient Briton by the Romans. Covers military technology, farming practices, buildings, roads, cities etc.

Presented by Adam Hart-Davis.

The Romans in Britain (Open University).

WHAT THE VICTORIANS DID FOR US

3 Sep - 15 Oct 2001 / BBC2.

Documentary series exploring the technological achievements of the Victorian age. Subjects covered include the Railways, Science and medicine, Leisure, Architecture and Engineering.

Presented by Adam Hart-Davis.

Victorian History (BBC).

What the Victorians did for us (BBC factual).

WHY BEAUTY MATTERS

28 Nov 2009 / BBC2.

An essay in the form of a documentary celebrating the importance of platonic beauty as a vital spiritual quality both in art and in life generally.

Written and presented by Roger Scruton.

WHY THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION HAPPENED HERE

14 Jan 2013 / BBC2.

Documentary explaining why Britain was the first country in the world to develop an industrial society in the 18th century, becoming the richest and most powerful nation on the planet. The development of a strong liberal, democracy allowed the free exchange and development of ideas and inventions unfettered by state bureaucracy. Presented by Professor Jeremy Black.

WILD CARIBBEAN

16 Jan - 6 Feb 2007 (4 x 50 mins) / BBC2.

Beautifully filmed nature documentary series featuring the Wildlife of the Caribbean - both on land and in the sea.

WILD CHINA

11 May - 15 Jun 2008 (6 x 60 mins) / BBC2.

Beautifully filmed and revealing nature documentary series about China and its wildlife.

Narrated by Bernard Hill.

Wild China.

Wild China (WIKI).

THE WILD WEST

23 Feb - 9 Mar 2007 (3 x 60 mins) / BBC2.

Excellent drama-doc highlighting aspects of the history of the American "wild west".

(1) Custer's last stand: The events leading up to the Battle of the Big Horn.

(2) Billy the Kid: The short life (he died aged only 21) of the infamous outlaw William Bonny.

(3) Gunfight at the OK Corral: The story of the legendary showdown involving Wyatt Earp.

With: TOBY STEPHENS as General Custer, DAVID LEON as Billy the Kid, LIAM CUNNINGHAM as Wyatt Earp

WILFRED OWEN - A REMEMBRANCE TALE

11 Nov 2007 / BBC1.

Director & Producer: Louise Hooper.

Powerful and engaging drama-documentary about the highly-regarded First World War poet - tragically killed in action a few days before an armistice was declared

Presented by Jeremy Paxman. With Samuel Barnett as Wilfred Owen.

BBC History - Wilfred Owen.

WODEHOUSE IN EXILE

27 Mar 2013 (82 mins) / BBC4.

Interesting historical drama telling the story of how P G Wodehouse (famous English author of the comical "Jeeves and Wooster" stories) was interned and used as an unwitting stooge by the Germans during WW2 - leading to accusations of treason by the British. A sensitive and convincing performance by Tim Pigott-Smith with fine support from Zoe Wannamaker, Julian Rhind-Tutt etc.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ALBERT KAHN:

2007 - 2008 / BBC2 (first on BBC4)

The Edwardians in Color (16 Nov 2007 - 14 Dec 2007)

The Twenties in Colour (18 Feb - 10 Mar 2008)

Director & Producer: Louise Hooper.

Documentary series looking at early 20th century life as recorded in the photographic and moving picture archive established by millionaire philanthropist, Albert Kahn.

Albert Kahn.

WOODPECKERS

1955 / BBC

Program about Heinz Sielmann's acclaimed and groundbreaking nature documentary - "Woodpecker" (1954). For the first time, viewers saw film of the birds close up, inside the nest hole, and in the dark using infra-red light.

Presented by Peter Scott.

THE WORLD ABOUT US

1967 - 1983 / BBC2.

Long-running natural history series, originally commissioned by David Attenborough, and forerunner to Natural World.

WORLD IN ACTION

1963 - 1998 / ITV (Granada).

Award-winning, investigative current affairs series noted for its intelligent journalism and exposés of corruption and wrong-doing.

World in Action (Wikipedia).

THE WORST JOBS IN HISTORY

Aug - Oct 2004 (6 pts) & April - May 2006 (5 pts) / Channel 4.

Interesting and entertaining social history series. Each program illustrates graphically the awful conditions under which many of our ancestors had to work, with Tony Robinson getting salutary hands-on experience of some truly terrible jobs.

Presented by Tony Robinson.

The Worst Jobs in History.

THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD

17 Mar 2008 / BBC2 (originally BBC4)

Writer: Mark Gatiss / Director: Damon Thomas / Producer: Suzanne Lavery.

Drama documentary recalling British explorer Captain Scotts doomed expedition to the Antarctic in 1912. Told in retrospective by Apsley Cherry-Garrard - one of the surviving members of the support group - it reveals some of the critical failures of planning which may have contributed to the deaths of Scott and his team.

Starring: Mark Gatiss.

The Worst Journey in the World (BBC).

The Worst Journey (WIKI).

A YEAR IN THE WILD

27 July - 10 Aug 2012 (3x60 mins) / BBC2.

Beautifully-filmed nature documentary series about Britain's National Parks: (1) Snowdonia (2) New Forest (3) Cairngorms. Narrated by Hermione Norris.

A Year in the Wild (Wikipedia).

ZOOQUEST

21 Dec 1954 - 31 May 1963 / BBC.

Wildlife series which documented the efforts of teams of staff from London Zoo as they travelled around the world capturing new animals for the Zoo's collection. Presented by David Attenborough.

Zooquest (Wikipedia).

Zooquest (BBC archives).