Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art

Original version

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

The rebellious art students who took on the old guard and changed the art world forever.

Rebellious, provocative and unapologetic. The Young British Artists crashed the 90s art scene, making Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and others household names. This is their story.

Series 1

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two England

England

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

BBC Two Wales

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Keith Allen

Min Clough

Todd Austin

Bohemia Films

Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art: Series 1: Is It Art?

Is It Art?

BBC Two - Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art, Series 1, Is It Art?

In the explosive 90s, young creatives change the face of art in Britain forever.

In the 90s, young creatives, grouped together by advertising guru Charles Saatchi, respond provocatively to the decade's wave of optimism. The results are explosive - but is it art?

In the 1990s, young artists, musicians and creatives use the recession in Britain to their advantage, putting on their own shows in abandoned spaces and warehouses and moving to the run-down and deserted East End of London to live, work and play.

In an age of marketing and branding, advertising guru Charles Saatchi groups together a series of young, contemporary British artists to provide their experience of Britain, which leads to  the first female winner of the Turner Prize, a pickled shark that creates waves, as well as eggs, kebabs and rotting meat – all in the name of art.

It culminates in Sensation, the iconoclastic exhibition of Saatchi’s private collection at the Royal Academy, where the young rebels are placed at the heart of the establishment. The results are explosive - but is it art?

Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art: Series 1

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art

Series 1

Is It Art?

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two