Saving Places

Saving history - one building at a time. SAVING PLACES documents the hands-on restoration of a threatened but historically meaningful building by a team of artisans who use the materials, designs and craftsmanship of a bygone era.

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.

USS Indianapolis: The Last Chapter

This scientific detective story details the discovery of the USS Indianapolis wreck site three and a half miles below the Philippine Sea. The ship’s sinking in the final days of Second World War was the largest loss of life in US Naval history, and the harrowing survival story of 316 sailors drifting in failing life preservers is legendary. The programme combines never-before-seen archival footage and CGI with the moving accounts of the few remaining survivors, testimony of historians and spectacular footage of the well-preserved wreck.

Sex: A Bonkers History

In SEX: A BONKERS HISTORY Amanda Holden (Britain's Got Talent) and bestselling author and historian Dan Jones go on an exploration of how sexual behaviours through the ages have shaped civilizations in ways we are only now beginning to discover. Through this five-part series, Amanda and Dan uncover history's best previously unknown sex stories - from the hidden meanings embedded in the Kama Sutra and the sexual demands of Spartan men and women, to the secret sex clubs of the Georgians. Amanda and Dan immerse themselves in this titillating history to highlight how attitudes towards sex and sexuality have evolved over time, and what it tells us about our ancestors.

Should We Bomb Auschwitz?

In April 1944 two men miraculously escaped from Auschwitz and revealed to the world the shocking truth about the Holocaust. When the Allies heard their story they devised a chilling plan: to end the slaughter by bombing Auschwitz. But not everyone agreed the plan should go ahead. Meanwhile the killing machine ground on… and, in Budapest, 800,000 Jews were being held in an old brick factory awaiting transport to Auschwitz. By November, the Allies had decided to bomb the death camp. But by then, it was too late… For the first time on television, we will tell the whole of this incredible story – and ask the biggest moral question of our time: should the Allies have done the unthinkable and bombed Auschwitz?

Lost Worlds: Deeper Into The Black Sea

A journey to the depths of the Black Sea yields the greatest series of ancient shipwrecks ever discovered. In 2015, an international team of scientists began a three year exploration of the Black Sea in search of evidence of the ancient empires that sailed their ships into unknown waters in pursuit of trade, treasure and conquest. This documentary captures a series of astonishing discoveries; a treasure trove of shipwrecks uniquely preserved that date back 2500 years to the Greek and Roman empires, culminating in maritime archaeology’s greatest ever wreck. A fully intact Roman wreck, perfectly preserved in the anoxic waters of the Black Sea.

World War II: History On Trial

As WWII ended and the full scale of its atrocities came to light, the world faced a pressing question: who would be held accountable? WORLD WAR II: HISTORY ON TRIAL explores the global pursuit of justice in the aftermath of humanity’s most devastating conflict. From the landmark trials in Nuremberg and Tokyo to lesser-known but vital proceedings in countries like Norway, Poland, and France, war criminals were brought before the courts. This series uncovers the stories behind these trials, revealing how they not only delivered justice - but also laid the legal foundations for prosecuting crimes against humanity today.

Hitler's Last Stand

On June 6th, 1944, the Allies finally landed troops in Normandy to open the western front. But after the surprise of the D-Day landings and Allied advances, Nazi loyalists dig in, determined to keep a merciless grip on the towns, strongholds and fortresses to defend the Third Reich. These are the stories of desperate battles waged on the edge of defeat, not just for victory but for survival.

Queen’s Coronation In Colour

This film takes us behind the scenes of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, arguably the most elaborate ceremony of the 20th century, to celebrate not only the Royal Family and those who masterminded the Coronation but the people from all walks of life who contributed to making it a unique occasion. Presented by British actor Alexander Armstrong.

Unsinkable: Japan's Lost Battleship (Musashi)

How did this unsinkable giant go down so fast? Was it overwhelming American air power? Or a fatal design flaw? Musashi was literally the King Kong of the sea— the largest and most heavily armed battleship of its time. Built in total secret Musashi was finally unleashed in the world’s largest sea battle, which began on October 24, 1944 in the Philippines. Japan’s navy gambled on winning a decisive victory to turn the tide of World War II. Instead Musashi, the pride of the Japanese fleet, ended up at the bottom of the ocean. How did this unsinkable giant go down so fast? Was it overwhelming American air power? Or a fatal design flaw? 70 years later American deep sea explorers and Japanese military experts are determined to solve this 70-year old mystery. But first they must find the missing Musashi.