Documentary about life in the town of Deri, near Mertyr Tydfil in South Wales, d ealing with Dilys Hardacre's struggle to be admitted to the Working Man's Club t o play snooker, Howie's unemployment problems and with Deri's everyday life.
Documentary on Sister Genevieve, head teacher of the largest girls' comprehensive school in Europe, St. Louise's, in the notorious Falls Road district of Belfast. Made at the time of Bobby Sands' hunger strike: the effect on the school of Sands' action is evident from the film, which looks at how Sister Genevieve, her staff and pupils cope with the pressure of working and going to school in such circumstances.
Documentary abour the "Kennedy Hijack", which happened in July 1977, when the Ne w York-Maine coach was hijacked by a gun-man at Kennedy Airport, and about the s ubsequent siege and arrest of the man, Louis Robinson, who also appears in the film.
Documentary on the attempts by the residents of Calderstones, a home for the men tally sub-normal in Lancashire to register on the electoral register, following the process of the public hearing at which they give evidence to the local Registration Officer.
Documentary about Lol(Lorri Lee) who earns his living as a drag artist and stand -up comedian in London pubs, looking at Lol's life, past and present, his friend s and at Lol himself.
Documentary on the attempt by Ken Heathcote from Bolton, to beat the running rec ord for the journey between John O'Groats to Landsend.
Documentary abour the project concieved by Gerry Cottle to feature rock-star Gar y Glitter in his own show under the big top, following the development of the pl an over a 14 day period up to the first performance.
Documentary on the pregnancy of the gorilla at Jersey Zoo, N'Pongo, and the delicate operations which have to be performed on the Jersey Zoo gorillas to ensure the survival of the species which is dying out in the wild.
Documentary which looks at the education of Newall Harrison and his two sisters, who are educated at home by their parents. Assessed as dyslexic, Newall is now subject to a crown court hearing on a school attendance order.
Documentary about an important time in the life of 18 year old spaspic girl, Alison, about to leave college and make various steps towards an independent life.
Documentary which looks at the methods used by reporter and cameraman David Potts and Ian Cutler to present an expose to their editor Barry Askew at the News of the World.
Documentary in which various forms of children's parties are investigated from the point of view of those participating in them, from a small domestic birthday party to the longest street party in the world.
Documentary about baldness and the way in which four men seek to disguise their hair-loss from the outside world.
Documentary following the fortunes of three competitors in the RAC London-Bright on veteran car rally 1981; Johnny Thomas Amanda and Deborah Bennett and Lord Montagu with Stirling Moss.
Documentary on Glenthorne, a high-security prison for young offenders in Birmingham, and one of only two such units in Britain.
Documentary profile of entertainer George Formby, in which Michael Dean attempts to solve some of the mysteries surrounding the life of the Lancashire entertainer.
Documentary which looks at a three day period in the London suburb of Richmond On Thames and at the burglaries which occurred in that time in the area.
Documentary about Herol "Bomber" Graham, Sheffield Boxer and his trainer Brendan Ingle, and about their preparations for last November's big fight for Herol, against Kenny Bristol for the Commonwealth light-middleweight title.
Documentary which looks at the story of the arrest of 192 British soldiers in a field in Salerno in September 1943, who were later court-martialed and found guilty of mutiny, with interviews with three of the convicted mutineers.
Documentary which looks at the work of Nick Mead who is dedicated to the collect ion and preservation of buildings and parts of buildings which have been made up of parts of older buildings which have been dismantled.
Documentary which looks at a theory of childbirth developed by Dr. Michel Odent in Pithiviers in France which challenges the accepted methods in the western world. He believes women should rely on their basic instinct during child birth. No anaesthetics or drugs are ever used and caesareans are rare. Mother and child are not separated immediately after birth, and fathers are encouraged to join in. Post natal depression is virtually unheard of. This documentary follows the unit through the crisis and calm of a busy week.
Documentary on the events of a winter's day in rural Sussex on which a group of hunt saboteurs are out to "hit" the local hunt.
Documentary series filmed at Harefield Hospital which looks at the way in which patients there are given new hearts and the problems that surround heart transplant surgery.
Documentary on Britain's most famous girls public school from the point of view of the pupils.
Documentary which looks at the skinhead "culture" in 1982 England and in particular at four skins from London and their lifestyle; John, "Brownie", "Chubby" and Eddie.
Documentary about the increasing militancy of those dedicated to the prevention of experiments on animals and vivisection.
Documentary which looks at the process of decisions made by Durham County senior education officer to close certain schools in his area, from the point of view of the officer, Mr Grimshaw.
Documentary which looks at the problems of loneliness. Five people who are trying to find their own ways to deal with and overcome loneliness are in a compartment in a train. They tell their stories to us, but do not communicate with each other, despite their shared problem.
Documentary which looks at the work of one of the 250 NSPCC inspectors in Britain, investigating cases of cruelty to children. It looks at a typical week for Howard Wolfenden, both at work and outside.
Documentary which looks at the lives and beliefs of miners in a small Yorkshire mining community in the Barnsley area.
Documentary which profiles the entertainer Frankie Vaughn looking at his life and career and the way in which the packaging of his image affected his life.
Documentary which looks at the traditional pre-Christmas charity dinner for the Stable Lad Welfare Trust. The Horse Racing fraternity raise thousands of pounds for the otherwise lowly paid stable lads, but the evening is not without its more bizarre rituals.
Documentary about three women and their weight problems, looking at the ways in which Gaynor, Sandra and Jane attempt to change their figures.
Documentary which looks at the life of Bernard Perks, about to be released from Cardiff Prison where he has spent 15 of his 20 adult years, and his problems in surmounting a chronic alcoholism problem.
Documentary which looks at the holiday makers on a flight from Manchester to Alicante in Spain, and at their impressions of their subsequent holidays in Benidorm and their return to Manchester.
Documentary on the varied uses, domestic and commercial, of from an Indian family keeping contact with their distant culture to the makers of PRIVATE SPY, to surveillance to piracy.
Documentary which looks at a period of the last few months of 1982 in the fortunes of Tranmere Rovers FC, a football club fighting for survival in the fourth division of the Football League in their centenary season.
Documentary which looks at the problems of children who have to look after their elderly parents and the violence and resentment this sometimes causes.
Documentary which looks at the experiences of the new arrivals at Liverpool University in autumn 1982 as they start their first experience of life away from home, with a special focus on the problems of blind student Gillian Wake.
Documentary which looks at the lives of nine Polish seamen who left their ship in Port Stanley, Falklands to seek political asylum, only to be involved in the Falklands War and later shipped to London where they live a stateless existence on the fringe of the British Polish Community.
Documentary which looks at the reasons and the effects of female circumcision as practised in the Sudan, with a look at evidence that the ritual is perpetuated all over the western world.
Documentary which looks at the lobby of the EEC by fishermen of the North-East, who attempted to influence EEC bureaucrat John Pearson's thinking on the issue of EEC fishing rights and the Common Fisheries Policy.
Series of documentaries filmed at the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, which uses a unique form of psychological and philosophical treatment for cancer.
Documentary in which three "mistresses" of married men are interviewed about the function and practicalities of their relationships with other people's husbands.
Documentary about the controversial M.C.C. cricket tour of Australia in 1933, where the tactics of M.C.C. captain Douglas Jardine caused a huge controversy.
Documentary which looks at various competitions for men, ranging from "bachelor of the year" to "Mr Universe".
Documentary which looks at the religious cult of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and the lives of his followers in the Suffolkheadquarters of the cult.
Documentary which looks at the inadequacy of the remand system in the UK and the effects which this date has on the lives of the untried prisoners who live in our overcrowded prisons.
Documentary about the lives of the inmates of the maximum security unit at Maids tone Prison, with interviews with many of the prisoners who are there, who are, for various reasons, at risk in the main prison.
Documentary which follows the progress to find "Miss Pears 1983."
Documentary which looks at the blossoming trade in professional pranksters and singing telegrams in London
Documentary which looks at the reality of living in 1984 in comparison with the society described in Orwell's novel 1984.
Documentary about a week at a health farm
Documentary which looks at the "finishing" education of three English girls, Natalie, Sarah and Francesca at Institut Videmanette, Rougemont, Switzerland.
Documentary which looks at the breakdown of the marriage between Eric and Lesley, and how it affects their lives and their children's lives.
Documentary which examines the processes by which access to children of a broken marriage is assessed and carried out, with study of a case under the jurisdiction of the Leicester Court Welfare Officers.
Accents and dialects provoke strong prejudices and reactions. In a 40 Minutes film that examines why this should be, broadcaster Janet Street-Porter, Radio 4 announcer Susan Rae and actor Peter Bowles are among those who have suffered because of the way they speak. Meet the Queen's English Society, which keeps a candle burning for the purity of the spoken word, and the Devon Dialect Society, which has very different ideas about how vowels should sound. Eavesdrop on an elocution class, hear from Scottish schoolchildren whose accents might affect their job prospects, and go behind the scenes at the BBC Pronunciation Unit and the northern auditions for the Speaking Clock. See how fashions have changed over the years, and how trends are likely to develop in the future as we enter a world of talking robots and computers.
Roaring through the streets in dirty denims and leather, The Outcasts present a menacing appearance to the respectable folk of East Anglia. Theirs is an alternative world of wild parties, arrest and sudden death. This film shows a group most people would cross the street to avoid. It's a life which borders on the edge of society and the law, but one which is governed by strict rules and traditions. There are two faces to The Outcasts. One exists in the pounding of heavy metal music and the exhaust fumes of powerful customised motorbikes. The other lies in the day-to-day grind, where even Outcasts have livings to earn, children to feed and bills to pay.
All over Britain are strange and delightful buildings with one thing in common - they were created for animals. Lucinda Lambton is your guide to such follies. Castles, temples, palaces, obelisks and pyramids, they are a happy by-product of the British passion for animals.
The Hebrides - idyllic isles of wild beauty, majestic, remote, peaceful? That's not how Neil Gillies, 23 years old and unemployed, sees his island home of Vatersay. For him it's a place of isolation, boredom and drink. He can't wait to leave Vatersay, his widowed mother and his eight brothers and sisters, to try his luck in Glasgow. His prospects aren't good. Jobs are scarce, accommodation hard to find. There are compensations - Vatersay has few girls; Glasgow seems alive with them. Over the months, the demands of fending for himself begin to tell. When Neil leaves his hard-won job he escapes into the illusory comfort of alcohol. Should he have stayed on the island? Or can he come to terms with this uncompromising city of bed-sits, the dole and bars?
'I'm British', says the young lady with strawberry blonde hair and a Midlands accent, 'but I don't have a drop of British blood in me.' Carmen Laanemagi is from Leicester - and Estonia. Pauline Riemers is a nurse in Epsom; her parents are Latvian. Algis Kuliukas, a British Airways computer programmer, lives in Hounslow; he's part-Lithuanian. Last July they embarked on the Baltic Star in Stockholm. It was the beginning of an emotional and exciting voyage. The aim was to sail as close as they could get to the coasts of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - now part of the Soviet Union. Forty years ago their parents had fled as refugees when the three Baltic states lost their short-lived independence. Now the lost children were returning - hoping for a distant glimpse of home. Narrator Ian Holm
Carrick is a dirty British coaster - a 30-year-old tramp carrying unglamorous cargoes from port to port in the Channel and the North Sea. Her skipper and owner is Rick Waters , once part-time butler to Edward Heath: 'I resent people calling my ship a rust-bucket. She's an old lady who needs the occasional helping hand.' George Norman, the mate, looks after the cargoes. The ship could capsize if a cargo shifts at sea. Tom Owen, ex-Royal Navy, struggles with Carrick's dodgy engine. 'Most other merchant seamen regard coaster crews as the scum of the earth,' he says. Carrick makes uncertain progress through the mad March days, carrying fertilizer to Exmouth, grain to Antwerp, and spuds, improbably, to Wisbech. Coasters like Carrick can reach the ports that other ships can't....
A cigarette holder dropped by Queen Mary when she came to tea, a fragment of wallpaper that may have killed Napoleon, a pet chameleon, a book bound in a murderer's skin.... Lucinda Lambton conjures up curiosities from the dark corners of museums and collections throughout the land. With her irrepressible sense of fun, she tells the story of the eccentrics who gathered these treasures.
Riding the Iron Horse - a roaring, full-throated Harley Davidson - across the open prairie is an American dream. Fifty thousand leather-clad bikers make romance come true as they converge, from all over the States and beyond, on Sturgis, a sleepy farming town in South Dakota. The 48th annual Black Hills Motorcycle Rally brings together weekenders on little Japanese bikes and hard-core, all-American Wild Ones. It's a raucous summer week of racing, drinking, partying and generally raising hell. 'The Sons of Silence' is one of the many bikers' chapters here. The Sons believe in America, freedom, white power, and loyalty to each other. They've got their own chaplain; women are not members, but 'property'. Rebels against convention, they live by their own strict code - 'We are the Sons of Silence until death'.
The public image is glamorous - warm smiles and crisp uniforms, good looks and faraway places. No wonder thousands of hopefuls apply each year to become air stewardesses or stewards. What happens to the few who succeed? Helen MacLeod , from Dunfermline, and Neil Dover , from Durham, both aged 21, are two of the latest batch of 15 trainees to join British Airways. They've hardly ever travelled before. Now there's a demanding six-week course and a lot to learn - how to put out fires and push people down chutes, how to deal with difficult passengers and flirtatious ones. What if there's a hijack - or a heart attack? How much are the duty frees in Japanese yen? If they pass their tests, Helen and Neil can look forward to a nerve-racking fledgling flight on a 747. After that - the excitement, insecurity and hard physical work of being 'waiters in the sky'.
'We've been told to watch out for pinko, leftist, gay-lib, one earring-wearing teachers....' Mark is a sixth-former at Rugby, a famous public school. It is the setting of Tom Brown's Schooldays. He's one of ten boys and girls from Rugby and ten from a comprehensive school, Ruffwood, who for two weeks change places. Ruffwood is a successful comprehensive in Kirkby, on the edge of Liverpool, where unemployment is high and opportunities are few. Rugby is steeped in tradition and rich in facilities. Parents pay fees of at least £6,600 a year. What will the Merseyside students make of the cadet force, chapel and May ball? How will the public-school pupils react to fish and chips in Kirkby? The boys and girls from Rugby and Ruffwood will glimpse a world that is unknown to them - can the barriers of class and wealth be overcome?
A journey by Intercity into the world of the supernatural. Do you believe in ghosts? Helen McCormick does. She found an ancient crucifix in her cellar - and then saw a medieval monk walk past her kitchen window. Ambulanceman Ken Lobley rescued his aunt after a warning from an apparition. Nichola Thompson, aged 13, was reading, looked up, and saw her grandmother - wearing the pink shroud she'd been buried in two years earlier. Rev Jack Richardson investigates spooky Harnham Hall in Northumberland. He blesses the earthly remains of Kate Babington, who died a prisoner at Harnham in 1670. Eddie Burks, a 'clairsentient', is summoned to an RAF base to contact the ghost of an airman. Eerily, he describes how the man died and why he returns. And four nurses spend the night in 'the most haunted house in Britain' - with strange tales to tell the following morning....
John PITMAN looks at the residents of Cardross Street, Hammersmith W6. Young prof people are living side by side wth the older residnts who have rented their houses all their lives. Is it a cause for disharmony or do they all get along?
This acclaimed observational documentary by BAFTA award winning director Molly Dineen is set at London’s Angel tube station in 1989, three years before its desperately needed renovation. The programme provides a humorous account of 48 hours in the life of the tube station, from the daily round of fraught commuters, overburdened lifts and cancelled trains to the nightly activities when 'fluffers', women who clean human hair and rubbish of the tracks to avoid a fire hazard and ‘the Permanent Way’, gangs of men who work with pickaxes in almost pitch-black conditions to renovate parts of the track, spring into action to prepare the line for the following day.
Ten of the most dangerous and disruptive men in the prison system have been brought together in an experimental unit at Hull Jail. A new softly-softly regime is being tested on inmates like Fred Low, who is serving three life sentences - one for killing a fellow prisoner - and Patrick Mackay, serving five life sentences for manslaughter and robbery. 40 Minutes gained access to the unit as the prisoners started to reveal themselves to the hand-picked staff, and as conflicts began. The most serious clash was over the only woman working full time in the unit, and it involved David McAllister, serving 19 years for armed robbery and assault, who later escaped from the unit and was on the run for five days. This film tells the story of the most controversial unit in our prisons.
For 47 years Alec Krawczynski has lived in Scotland. He is known as Alec the Pole. But his real name is not Krawczynski and he has never been to Poland. He came from the Ukraine and for nearly 50 years has kept a deadly secret. Now, as the Ukraine reaches out for independence, he discovers members of his family are still alive. He returns to the Ukraine to discover if his country and family are ready to forgive him for being, in his own words, a traitor.
A rape in the Irish village of Bray divides the community. Local man Gerry is sent to prison, separated from his wife Saundra and his children. But the rape victim is also isolated by her neighbours. "Nobody believed her. In Irish society it's all black and white, virgin or whore." Fifteen months later, Gerry's appeal draws near, raising new hopes in Saundra and old conflicts in the small world torn apart by the crime.
An adventure story by international Emmy award-winning film-maker Nigel Evans. Into the jungles of a small Pacific island, Dr Danforth Artie Bookout leads his team of intrepid Texans to search for an aircraft and the body of Weyland Bennett, a "home-town boy" missing in action 50 years ago. Deep in the bush sits Chief Jean Marc waiting for his Texan pay packet to lumber into view. And two days' walk behind the Texan strides a local explorer who knows the secrets of Dr Dan's past.
What has happened to Essex Man in the 90's? Martin Smith and his girlfriend Mandy epitomise many young people whose champagne lifestyle has suffered in the recession-hit 90's. How do they feel about the country now?
Independence, self-reliance, confidence. These are some of the qualities that the traditional single-sex English boarding school gives the children in its care. 40 Minutes follows some 8-year-old boys off to different boarding schools for the first time. Their parents and headmasters are confident that they are doing the right thing. But some ex-boarders are not so sure. These men feel that the experience of boarding at a young age was damaging.