Secrets of the Museum

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

Unique arts series venturing behind the scenes at the V&A.

From fine art to fads and fashions, revealing the design treasures tucked away in the V&A museum's vast collection - and the experts preserving priceless objects for the future.

Series 2

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Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

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Simon Lloyd

Matt Kennedy

Jyoti Mehta

Ekta Walia

Laura Miller

Gabriel Kizilbash

Catey Sexton

Alistair Pegg

Edmund Coulthard

Blast! Films

Secrets of the Museum: Series 2: Epic Iran

Episode 2

Epic Iran

BBC Two - Secrets of the Museum, Series 2, Epic Iran

Manuel’s costume from Fawlty Towers arrives, and the oldest teddy in the Museum turns 112.

Some of the largest paintings ever seen at the V&A are unveiled, Manuel’s costume from Fawlty Towers goes on show, and the museum’s oldest
teddy bear has a special visitor.

As the V&A's Museum of Childhood in east London prepares to undergo a major refurbishment, its collection of over 30,000 toys and games must be packed away - including the museum's oldest teddy bear, the 111-year-old Little Tommy Tittlemouse. Curator Will must ensure its good condition before it can be put into storage.

With the V&A preparing for a new exhibition on the art of Iran, curator Tim hopes to display some of the longest artworks ever unveiled at the museum: three ten-metre-long replicas of the painted interiors of mosque domes from central Iran, dating from the 1850s and created by local Iranian craftsmen. After more than a century in storage, these vast objects need extensive conservation, but conserator Nicola has only 16 weeks before the they are installed.

In the Jewellery Gallery, curator Clare has two new pieces she is hoping to add to the collection. The first is known as the Vulcan ring, made by contemporary British designer Emefa Cole as part of a series inspired by the power and majesty of volcanoes, while the second is the Peony Brooch by Taiwanese designer Cindy Chao, fashioned from 105 large oval rubies held in purple titanium.

In the British Galleries, curator Simon has found the perfect object for the Laughing Matters display, which celebrates the history of Britain through comedy: the costume worn by Andrew Sachs in Fawlty Towers. The outfit is being donated to the museum by Sachs’s daughter Kate, who recalls memories of visiting her father on set and reflects on how her father’s own immigrant background escaping from Nazi Germany in 1938 would have informed his portrayal of Barcelonian waiter Manuel.

Secrets of the Museum: Series 2

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

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

Behind the scenes at the Victoria and Albert Museum is a hidden world.

Behind the scenes at the Victoria and Albert Museum is a hidden world. This series follows its experts, as they conserve and care for more thantwo million precious objects.

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Secrets of the Museum

Series 2

Epic Iran

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