Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

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Reel History of Britain: Episode 4: Britain's Black Diamonds

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Episode 4

Episode 4: Britain's Black Diamonds

Britain's Black Diamonds

BBC Two - Reel History of Britain, Britain's Black Diamonds

In south Wales, Melvyn Bragg looks back to the 1930s and salutes Britain's coal miners.

Melvyn Bragg reveals archive footage telling the history of modern Britain. In south Wales, he looks back to the 1930s and salutes Britain's coal miners.

Melvyn Bragg, accompanied by a vintage mobile cinema, travels across the country, to show incredible footage preserved by the British Film Institute and other national and regional film archives, to tell the history of modern Britain. 

At the Big Pit Mining Museum in south Wales, Melvyn looks back to the 1930s and salutes Britain's 'black diamonds', brave miners who risked their lives digging for the coal that powered an empire. Vicky Stradling tells the shocking truth about one of the worst disasters in coal mining history. Melvyn goes underground to learn about the limited safety equipment used by coalminers in the 1930s. And David Bogg reveals the occupational hazards of working with pit ponies.

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BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

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BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

A showcase of British life in the 20th century told via film archive and viewers' memories

Presented by Melvyn Bragg, a social history of 20th-century Britain. Fascinating stories of how people worked and lived, via viewers' personal memories and rare film archive.

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