The 80s was also an age of innovators and icons, of style and substance. In this chapter, Dylan Jones celebrates some of the stars who created the timeless legacy of the 1980s. From stellar BBC archive performances from the likes of Madonna, Depeche Mode, Sade, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Tina Turner to iconic MTV-era gems from Billy Idol, Eurythmics, U2, Janet Jackson, Prince and many more. It also features rarely seen archive television footage from the BBC vaults, including Terry Wogan interviewing Grace Jones, Bruce Springsteen on the Old Grey Whistle Test and Adam Ant performing his own stunts in a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Prince Charming video.
The 1980s was a time when artists in both the UK and US were delivering powerful social commentary in their songs. Dylan Jones selects some of the finest alternative voices from this era. From The Cure on Top of the Pops at the beginning of the decade to The Stone Roses' debut TV performance in 1989, this episode takes a comprehensive look at the alternative music of an entire era. It also features powerful live performances from Billy Bragg, Tracy Chapman, Bronski Beat and The Selecter. In addition, there are archival gems from Pixies, The Smiths, Suzanne Vega, The Fall, REM and many more.
The 1980s was an era in which a fusillade of new genres emerged, and many are still with us today, such as hip-hop and house. Dylan Jones has mined the archives to select some of the most crucial tracks in the rise of these two genres. From a young Kurtis Blow making his Top of the Pops debut to the sonic bombardment of Public Enemy and the sampling skills of Bomb the Bass, this episode showcases the evolution in rap and house music across the decade. There are rare archival interviews and stellar performances from Run-DMC, Salt 'N' Pepa, S'Express, Cookie Crew and Neneh Cherry, as well as iconic videos from Herbie Hancock, The Beastie Boys, M/A/R/R/S, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and many more.
High on cocaine, Hitler hatches an audacious plan to turn the tide of the war. He has been prescribed the drug for injuries sustained when Stauffenberg tried to kill him. Colourised archive depicts the Germans’ opening salvo artillery barrage and George Patton’s arrival in Bastogne to break the German siege. The film also looks at the role played by commando Otto Skorzeny, who put English-speaking German soldiers behind the lines to sow confusion, spreading the rumour that they try to kill or capture Eisenhower.
This documentary delivers a penetrating examination of Sean Combs, charting his rise from visionary hitmaker to one of the most powerful figures in hip-hop, and the growing controversies that now surround his legacy. Through archival footage, insider testimony, and investigative reporting, it exposes both the revolutionary impact of Bad Boy Entertainment and the darker allegations that have cast a long shadow over his empire, raising urgent questions about power, accountability, and image in the music industry. In the first two episodes, viewers see how a driven kid from New York reinvented himself as Puff Daddy, building Bad Boy Records into a cultural force. As fame and wealth accelerate, the series explores how the embrace of celebrity ignites a dangerous rivalry with Death Row Records, setting the stage for an era defined by excess, conflict, and unresolved questions. The lingering mystery surrounding the shooting of Tupac Shakur looms large, framing a story where ambition, rivalry, and consequence collide.
This intimate documentary explores Rafael Nadal’s extraordinary tennis career from the inside, revealing not only the champion who conquered the sport, but the man behind the intensity, discipline and sacrifice. Through unseen archives, family moments, behind-the-scenes access and personal reflections, it follows his rise from Mallorca to global legend, his battles with pain and injury, and his difficult journey back to competitive play in 2024 after a devastating 2023. More than a record of victories, it is a powerful portrait of resilience, legacy and the emotional cost of greatness. In the first two episodes, the story begins with an emotional Nadal preparing to announce his retirement to the world, while looking back at the Davis Cup final that launched his career two decades earlier. As he chases one final triumph, his body becomes both his greatest obstacle and the reminder of everything he has given to the game. The series then returns to the early years of his rivalry with Roger Federer, when one unforgettable match ignites one of the greatest duels in tennis history, setting the stage for a story of ambition, respect, suffering and glory.
It also features rarely seen archive television footage from the BBC vaults, including Terry Wogan interviewing Grace Jones, Bruce Springsteen on the Old Grey Whistle Test and Adam Ant performing his own stunts in a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Prince Charming video.