Railways: Then and Now

How the railways have changed over the years from the days of steam to diesel and electric.
Chapter 1: Great Western Railway
A nostalgic look at the Great Western Railway and a reminder of the brilliant engineers and designers from the company who brought us such wonderful locomotives as King George V and Gloucester Castle.
Chapter 2: Southern Railway
We see evocative footage of the engines and lines on the Southern Railway, including commuter and holiday routes of London and South East England.
Chapter 3: London Midland and Scottish Railways
We look at the largest railway company in the country, and the diverse ways that it covered its needs from heavy workhorses for long distance freight work to steam engines.
Chapter 4: London North Eastern Railway
Archive film of the second largest of the Big Four companies. We look at the high speed locomotives of Sir Nigel Gresley and views of King's Cross and York Stations in the days of steam.
Chapter 5: British Rail
We travel along the Woodhead Route, a flagship electrification project for BR and the Metropolitan Line running out of London to the suburbs and beyond.

100 Years of British Buses

The Bus has served Britain well for over a hundred years however its future role is uncertain. We take a look at the its history over many decades at work in both urban and rural settings.

Tintoretto: A Rebel in Venice

Tintoretto: A Rebel in Venice tells the story of the painter Jacopo Robusti (1519-1594), the only great Renaissance artist to never leave Venice (even during the plague years) who earned the moniker of Tintoretto, or the Little Dyer, thanks to his father's profession.
Tintoretto: A Rebel in Venice celebrates the 500th anniversary of the birth of the last great artist of the Italian Renaissance. Through the life of the painter, the film outlines the socio-political context of 16th century Venice. It was a culturally flourishing century, during which other giants of the art world also played a leading role, such as Titian and Veronese, Tintoretto's eternal rivals. At that time, the Serenissima Republic was confirming its maritime supremacy by becoming one of the most powerful merchant ports in Europe and facing the tragic plague of 1575-77, which wiped out most of the population, and left an indelible mark in the Lagoon.
The documentary also closely observes the thorough and complex analysis carried out by an Italian team of experts in order to restore two of Tintoretto's masterpieces: "Mary in meditation" (1582 - 1583) and "Mary reading" (1582 1583). The two pieces have been restored in time to be exhibited as part of the monographic exhibition on Tintoretto taking place at the National Gallery of Art in Washington to celebrate the 500th of his birth in 2019.
Tintoretto is in almost every museum in the world and yet it is only in Venice that one can understand and love him. Tintoretto is the true mirror of Venice. In life and work, he reflects the spirit of the lagoon city. He's a one of a kind genius: open-minded, restless, brave and with a strong love for freedom - unstable and elusive, just like Venice.
With stunning visuals, this art film showcases Tintoretto as an exceptional embodiment of Venice. A one-of-a-kind genius, open-minded, restless, brave and with a strong love for freedom, unpredictable and enigmatic, he truly mirrored the essence of the lagoon city.
Directed by Giuseppe Domingo Romano ; Except House Production with Sky Arts Production Hub and Nexo Digital

The Black Italian Renaissance

In the halls of the Uffizi Gallery, the great Venetian Palaces, or among the naves of the most important churches in Rome, Renaissance artworks conceal countless faces, hidden in plain sight: those of African and Afro-descendant characters. Who were they? Where did they come from? Why were they portrayed, and why did they remain unobserved until these days?
The Black Italian Renaissance discovers the stories of these mysterious characters' showing a whole new side of the Renaissance: a complex, multi-ethnic era, layered in many different social classes.

Hindenburg: The Cover Up

In May 1937, the largest aircraft ever flown became a raging fireball and was destroyed in under 40 seconds. Three generations later, there are still no definitive answers as to why. This documentary reveals new theories and documents that shed light on a possible cover-up that spans two continents. As well as being a tragic story about the airship and its demise, it's a tale of the sinister secrets of those in charge and their ties to the Nazi party.

The Tank Museum: The Tiger Files

From the inception, trails and then to the battlefield, this documentary takes a forensic look at the history of Germany's Tiger Tank, using outstanding and innovative computer animation to bring the facts vividly to life, and backed by testimonials from the men who crewed it and the men who fought against it throughout World War II.
Gain exclusive behind the scenes access to the Bovington Tank Museum's "Tiger 131", captured intact in 1943 and then recently operationally restored to running condition, the only operational Tiger I in the world!
Plus interviews with actual Tiger veterans and the British crews who fought against them. A wealth of pictures from The Tank Museum's archives. Dramatic reconstruction of Jo Ekins' destruction of three Tigers in one engagement.
Program Highlights:
-- The theory and design which led to the Tiger I's development and manufacture.
-- Detailed animated sequences provide an in-depth look at the Tiger I's construction and capabilities.
-- First-hand accounts from tank crew veterans on both sides of the conflict.
-- Investigative account and animated recreation of Tiger Tank Ace Michael Wittmann's final tank battle.
Written & Produced by Peter Axten ; Directed by Nick da Costa ; Wide Angle Productions, UK, in association with The Tank Museum, Bovington, UK

China and Japan

Monty Don continues his extraordinary journey to see the world through 80 of its most inspiring gardens, as he samples the very different approach of two of the world's great gardening cultures: China and Japan. First, he travels to China, to uncover the deeper history of the oriental garden. His researches lead him to the ancient scholars' gardens of Suzhou, as well as the awesome Yellow Mountains of Huangshang that inspired them, where he meets the revered Welcome Guest Pine. By the time he reaches the Imperial Summer Palace Gardens of Beijing, he is beginning to get a little insight into the secrets of oriental gardening, and with his long-standing interest in Zen Buddhism, Monty relishes the chance to visit the temple gardens of Japan. Finally, he crosses the Yellow Sea to Kyoto - Japan's city of gardens - to try to unravel its enigmatic Zen gardens with his new-found understanding.

Northern Europe

In northern Europe Monty is spoiled for choice in an area he knows so well. He views the floral wonders of Britain's Sissinghurst Castle and the vivid palette of impressionist painter Monet at Giverny. He enjoys the quirky individuality of the garden of one of his favourite Belgian designers. Finally, Monty goes to Norway to see what can grow 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Bangkok Singapore and Bali

Monty Don visits the world's 80 most inspiring gardens, this time in south east Asia. Since the 19th century, western gardeners have loved tropical gardens. Monty visits the archetype - the mysterious Jim Thompson's Garden in Bangkok. He seeks something more authentic in the Royal Palace gardens and the floating gardens of the canals of Bangkok. In Bali, his preconceptions are challenged again. Is the western picture of the exotic garden a construct?

Spain Morocco and Italy

Monty Don continues his extraordinary journey in the Mediterranean - the cradle of European civilization. In Italy, Monty visits some of the elaborate high Renaissance gardens of stone and water which have hugely influenced western garden design. He also visits the remains of Emperor Hadrian's palatial retreat. Monty then looks at the artistic achievements of the Moorish culture. He travels to Marrakesh, where he visits The Aguedal - one of the oldest continuously maintained gardens in the world; and in Spain he visits The Alhambra, thought by many to be the most perfect garden in the world.

South Africa

At Cape Town's famous Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens he sees the king protea, South Africa's national plant. In the Drakensberg Mountains he sees some native flora in its natural environment. His favourite garden is a school vegetable patch in Thembisa, one of Johannesburg's townships. Monty is intrigued by how gardening styles have changed here since the Dutch first settled in the 19th century.

USA

Monty Don continues his extraordinary journey to see the world through 80 of its most inspiring gardens with a visit to the richest and most powerful nation in the world: the United States of America. His plan is to see how America expresses its vast wealth and incredible energy through its gardens. And at a time when the USA is grappling to define its environmental goals, Monty inevitably hopes to find a powerful movement towards sustainable gardening. Beginning in New York, where garden guerrillas are creating community gardens from derelict land, he then travels south to Virginia, to visit a garden that reflects the birth of the nation's relationship with the land. Finally, he travels west to California, to see if gardens there reflect more than the glitz of the movie industry.

South America

This time he is in South America, a continent twice the size of Europe and the home of more than 50,000 endemic plant species. In Rio de Janeiro, Monty visits the private garden of Brazil's most famous artist, Burle Marx. He views the ingenious floating gardens of the Amazon. He visits a crumbling estancia (ranch) in the windy Pampas. He ends his journey on the Pacific coast of Chile in a garden that sits harmoniously in its landscape.

India

In India, Monty visits the majestic tomb gardens of the Mughal emperors and the pleasure gardens of the Hindu Maharajahs. He looks at the quaintly British gardens of tea country and visits the famous architectural gardens at the Taj Mahal. Finally, Monty visits a little known rock and sculpture garden. It was created in secret by one man out of found objects and rubbish and it turns out to be Monty's favourite Indian garden.

Australia and New Zealand

Monty Don continues his extraordinary journey to see the world through 80 of its most inspiring gardens. This week he travels to Australia and New Zealand, two of the youngest gardening cultures in the world. But it is not just about dreamy climates and wonderful plants. Monty sets out from the aptly named Botany Bay to uncover a story of culture clash and plant invasion, where the gentle habits of the indigenous people and the extraordinary natural landscapes have been dashed aside in favour of imported plants and a surprisingly English style of garden. By the time he finds his feet in New Zealand he's soon gasping for native plants and sets off in search of the wild heart of New Zealand, where he revels in a magical rainforest garden created entirely of native plants.

Mexico and Cuba

This epic garden adventure starts when Monty travels to two very different but neighbouring countries. Mexico is one of the most plant-rich and artistic cultures on the planet, from the ancient water gardens of Mexico City, to the modernist extremes of Luis Barragan and a surrealist fantasy hidden in the rainforest. Travelling to the Caribbean island of Cuba, Monty discovers that the crumbling colonial grandeur of its urban landscape is now host to a very green revolution.

Monty Don's Spanish Gardens

Monty Don travels to Spain, discovering gardens across the countrys diverse landscape and exploring its rich and varied history and culture.
Chapter 1: Central
Monty visits spectacular gardens in the Central region of Spain, from its important historic Imperial palaces to modern designs adapted to the challenges of climate change. By starting in the central part ofthe country, Monty sees the importance that history plays in the culture of Spain. He begins at the Escorial - a vast imposing palace and garden.
Chapter 2: Southern
Monty's journey continues across the southern part of the country, taking him from the island of Mallorca, across the Costa del Sol and ending in Seville. Along the way he visits a historic garden with elements of water and fantasy enjoyed in past times, another lovingly made from the harshest of landscapes, an iconic modern plot created by one of Spain's leading designers and one created for parties and the holiday lifestyle.
Chapter 2: Northern
Monty travels across the north of Spain, from west to east, and explores five distinct regions, including Cantabria, Asturias, the Basque country and Catalonia. He begins in the heartland of Galicia in Santiago de Compostela, where thousands of pilgrims gather every year in front of the city's famous Cathedral, a symbol of the historic importance of the Catholic church to Spain.

The Romance of Indian Railways

In 1975, the 150th anniversary of global rail transportation is marked by a visit to India to survey one of the world's most impressive railway networks. For rail enthusiasts India's railway system, which has continued to utilize steam locomotives, represents one of the most spectacular systems the world has to offer.The World About Us team join forces with Michael Satow, who in 1970 took up the post of honorary adviser to the Rail Transport Museum in New Delhi, Asia's first railway museum.As they set out to explore the Indian subcontinent in search of railway memorabilia, ranging from minute objects to full scale steam locomotives, the spectacular beauty of India's railway system is revealed in all its glory.