BBC Four

World News Today

The latest news and business developments.

World News Today: 20/03/2009

20/03/2009

BBC News Channel - World News Today, 20/03/2009

The latest news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.

The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.

BBC News Channel

An impartial and independent news service offering breaking news, analysis and insight.

A 24-hour impartial and independent news service offering breaking news, analysis and insight. It provides fast and comprehensive coverage of local, UK and international events.

Once a Soldier

Documentary following the lives of the pensioners at the Royal Chelsea Hospital

Once a Soldier: Series 1

Once a Soldier: Series 1: Episode 9: Girls Allowed

Episode 9

Episode 9: Girls Allowed

Series 1

Girls Allowed

BBC Four - Once a Soldier, Series 1, Girls Allowed

Documentary about the first female war veterans to join the Chelsea Pensioners.

Documentary charting the arrival of the first female veterans to join the ranks of the Chelsea Pensioners, which has been an all-male institution for over three centuries.

Documentary charting the arrival of the first female veterans to join the ranks of the Chelsea Pensioners, which has been an all-male institution for over three centuries. Eighty-five-year-old anti-aircraft gunner Dorothy Hughes and 82-year-old warrant officer Winifred Phillips are the newcomers, but are the 320 old boys ready for such a dramatic change?

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Documentary following the lives of pensioners at the Royal Free Hospital in Chelsea

Chelsea Pensioners:Women Allowed

Jew. Over 300 years of tradition end as temale veterans enter the Royal Hospital Chelsea. See panel.

Handel's Water Music

08/05/2004

BBC Two - Handel's Water Music

A recreation of the premiere of Handel's Water Music using documentary and performance.

A recreation of the spectacular premiere of Handel's Water Music when, in 1717, King George I sailed down the River Thames accompanied by a band of musicians.

A recreation of the spectacular premiere of Handel's Water Music when, in 1717, King George I sailed down the River Thames accompanied by a band of musicians. 

In a mix of documentary and performance, musicians, designers, historians and river experts converge to struggle with wigs, boats and tides and portray the sensational political story behind one of London's most memorable concerts.

BBC Two

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

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

Documentary following the efforts of musicians to re-create the premiere of Handel's popular piece.

Sissinghurst

Sissinghurst: Episode 1

Episode 1

BBC Four - Sissinghurst, Episode 1

Things don't go smoothly for Sarah as she tries to supply produce for the restaurant.

Series about the attempts to bring farming back to the Sissinghurst estate. Things don't go smoothly for Sarah as she tries to supply produce for the National Trust restaurant.

Documentary series about the attempts of writer Adam Nicolson and his wife Sarah Raven to bring farming back into the heart of the estate and garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, their historic home which is owned by the National Trust and was moulded into its present form by Nicolson's grandmother Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson back in the 1930s.

Adam and Sarah have big ideas about how to change the management of the place, to regain a sense of its authentic atmosphere and rural life, but they are under no illusions as to the amount of control they will have. 

An important aspect of the plan is to enable the farm to provide fresh produce that will be served in the National Trust restaurant. Finally, after some 50 meetings they get the green light, but for Sarah, acting as consultant on the restaurant, things don't go as smoothly as she'd hoped.

Meanwhile Adam is halfway through researching his latest book - a history of Sissinghurst. He introduces us to the rich cultural milieu of his grandmother Vita who, aside from creating the most influential garden of the 20th century, had affairs with 45 other women.

Series about the attempts to bring farming back into the heart of the Sissinghurst estate

Series about the attempts of writer Adam Nicolson and his wife Sarah to bring farming back into the heart of the estate and garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent

1/8. Life at the National Trust-owned stately home.  
9.30 2/8. The National Trust gives Adam discretion over renovations.

Sissinghurst: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC Four - Sissinghurst, Episode 2

Adam seizes the opportunity to make Sissinghurst look more like a farm from the front.

Series about the attempts to bring farming back to the Sissinghurst estate. Adam seizes a chance to alter first impressions of Sissinghurst so that it looks more like a farm.

Documentary series about the attempts of writer Adam Nicolson and his wife Sarah Raven to bring farming back into the heart of the estate and garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, their historic home which is owned by the National Trust and was moulded into its present form by Nicolson's grandmother Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson back in the 1930s.

The property manager at Sissinghurst wants Adam to come up with a plan to change the area at the front of the house. Adam seizes the opportunity to alter first impressions of Sissinghurst so that it looks more like a farm than just another visitor attraction. It's a watershed moment, the first time the National Trust have asked him for any input and things seem to be moving in the right direction. 

For Sarah, though, there is increasing resistance from the restaurant staff, in particular head chef Steve who is feeling uneasy about having a consultant in his kitchen. 

Adam and his sister Juliet trace their grandmother Vita's aristocratic roots and return to her impressive ancestral home of Knole in Kent. 

Sissinghurst opens its gates to hordes of loyal pilgrims eager to worship at the shrine of Vita on the first day of the garden-opening season.

John Martyn: Johnny Too Bad

28/05/2004

BBC Four - John Martyn: Johnny Too Bad

Profile of the late singer-songwriter whose vocals and guitar wizardry have inspired many.

Profile of the singer-songwriter whose drawling vocals and guitar wizardry have inspired many. Contributors include Phil Collins, Ralph McTell, Beverley Martyn and Beth Orton.

BBC FOUR pays tribute to musical maverick John Martyn, who died at the age of 60 on 29th January 2009, with an intimate documentary portrait originally transmitted in 1994. This honest and often blackly hilarious film shows Martyn at home in Ireland, during the lead-up to and aftermath of an operation to have one of his legs amputated below the knee. 

Contributors include sometime collaborator and buddy Phil Collins, the late Robert Palmer, Ralph McTell, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, fellow hellraiser bassist Danny Thompson, John's ex-wife Beverley Martyn and younger generation fan Beth Orton. 

We see a man incapable of compromising his creative vision, from his folk club roots in the Sixties, through a career of continuous musical experimentation. Along the way there is a surreal roll-call of accidents and incidents, including a collision with a cow.

Profile of the singer/songwriter, first shown in 2004, charting his often dramatic life and career.

The Old Grey Whistle Test

Influential music show of the 1970s and 80s presented by Bob Harris and others.

The Old Grey Whistle Test: John Martyn In Concert

29/05/2004

John Martyn In Concert

BBC Four - The Old Grey Whistle Test, John Martyn In Concert

From 1978, jazzy singer-songwriter John Martyn performs at University College London.

Bob Harris introduces jazzy folk singer-songwriter John Martyn at University College London in 1978. Songs include Couldn't Love You More and May You Never.

Bob Harris introduces John Martyn in concert at the collegiate theatre, University College London. It's just Martyn, a bottle of beer, his guitar and Echoplex in a trademark jazzy folk-rock concert recorded in 1978. Songs include Couldn't Love You More, Small Hours and May You Never.

Classic studio performances by the innovative singer/songwriter 
John Martyn.

Mad Men

Drama series set in the world of advertising in 1960s New York.

Drama series which takes an unflinching look at the world of advertising in 1960s New York.

Mad Men: Series 2

Mad Men: Series 2: Episode 6: Maidenform

Episode 6

Episode 6: Maidenform

Series 2

Maidenform

BBC Four - Mad Men, Series 2, Maidenform

Duck's family turn up at the office, while Don and Bobbie continue to get involved.

Drama series set in the 1960s New York advertising world. Don and Duck try to bury the hatchet. Peggy tries to join in the execs' after-hours meetings at a strip joint.

Drama series which takes an unflinching look at the world of advertising in 1960s New York. Don and Duck try to bury the hatchet and Peggy attempts to join in on the execs' after-hours meetings at a strip joint. Duck's family turn up at the office, while Don and Bobbie continue to get involved.

6/13; series two. Maidenform. Peggy tries a change of image when her colleagues are invited to a strip club. See choice page 81. 
For cast see BBC2. page 88

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