BBC Four

World News Today

The latest news and business developments.

World News Today: 15/05/2009

15/05/2009

BBC News Channel - World News Today, 15/05/2009

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.

World News TodayWeather

A Poet's Guide to Britain

A Poet's Guide to Britain: Episode 2: Sylvia Plath

Episode 2

Episode 2: Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath

BBC Four - A Poet's Guide to Britain, Sylvia Plath

Owen Sheers explores the story behind Sylvia Plath's poem Wuthering Heights.

Owen Sheers explores six works of poetry set in the British landscape. He looks at Sylvia Plath's Wuthering Heights, inspired by her time in the Yorkshire moors.

Poet and author Owen Sheers presents a series in which he explores six great works of poetry set in the British landscape. Each poem explores a sense of place and identity across Britain and opens the doors to captivating stories about the places and the lives of the poets themselves. 

Sylvia Plath is one of the most popular and influential poets of recent history but her poetry is often overshadowed by her life - the story of her marriage to Ted Hughes, her mental health problems and her tragic suicide at the age of 30.  A rich and important area of her work that is often overlooked is the wealth of landscape poetry which she wrote throughout her life, some of the best of which was written about the Yorkshire moors.

Sheers explores this rich seam, which culminated in a poem called Wuthering Heights. It takes its title from Emily Bronte but the content and style is entirely Plath's own remarkable vision of the forbidding Pennine landscape.

Sheers visits the dramatic country around Heptonstall where the newly-married Plath came to meet her in-laws, a world of gothic architecture and fog-soaked landscapes, where the locals have a passion for ghost stories that connect directly with the tales that were told in the kitchen of the Bronte parsonage. His journey eventually leads out onto the high moors and the spectacular ruin known as Top Withens. Here amongst the wind and sheep 'where the grass is beating its head distractedly', Plath found the material for some of her most impressive writing.

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.

Owen Sheers explores six great works of poetry set in the British landscape.

Poet and author Owen Sheers presents a series in which he explores six great works of poetry set in the British landscape.

2/6. Owen Sheers explores the work of Sylvia Plath, visiting the areas in West Yorkshire that influenced Wuthering Heights.
See choice, page 72.
(Shown on Monday at 8.30pm)

Dido and Aeneas from the Royal Opera House

BBC Four - Dido and Aeneas from the Royal Opera House

Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas, featuring Sarah Connolly and Lucas Meachum.

Marking the 350th anniversary of Henry Purcell's birth is a production of Dido and Aeneas, a short operatic masterpiece which brings together the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet.

Marking the 350th anniversary of Henry Purcell's birth is a new production of Dido and Aeneas, a short operatic masterpiece which brings together the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet and is directed by Wayne McGregor, the Royal Ballet's resident choreographer. 

British mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly sings the role of Dido and American baritone Lucas Meachum is Aeneas. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is conducted by the period instrument pioneer Christopher Hogwood. 

Introduced by Charles Hazlewood.

New. Henry Purcell's opera, based on the fourth book of Virgil's Aeneid, starring Sarah Connolly and Lucas Meacham. See panel.

So Hard to Beat

So Hard to Beat: Episode 3: Too Late to Stop Now

Episode 3

Episode 3: Too Late to Stop Now

Too Late to Stop Now

BBC Four - So Hard to Beat, Too Late to Stop Now

The story of Northern Ireland's rock and pop over the last four decades.

The story of Northern Ireland's rock and pop over the last four decades, featuring interviews with Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, Stiff Little Fingers and others.

The story of Northern Ireland's rock and pop over the last four decades, featuring exclusive interviews with Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, Gary Moore, Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones and others.

Two-part look at the history of Northern Irish rock and pop over the last four decades

New. The first of a two-part documentary about Northern Ireland's rock music scene over the past 40 years, including interviews with Van Morrison and Snow Patrol. Part of the Ireland on Four season. See panel.

New.

Concluding part of the exploration of Northern Ireland's rock and pop music history, featuring interviews with Ash, Neil Hannon and Clannad.

BBC Four Sessions

Leading musical artists perform live for the cameras

BBC Four Sessions: Van Morrison

25/04/2008

Van Morrison

BBC Four - BBC Four Sessions, Van Morrison

Van Morrison plays live at St Luke's in London, backed by a full band.

Series of concerts from St Luke's in London. Van Morrison showcases tracks from albums including Keep It Simple, Magic Time and Vanlose Stairway, backed by a full band.

Series of unique and intimate concerts at St Luke's in London, featuring musicians from around the world. Van Morrison showcases tracks from albums including Keep It Simple, Magic Time and Vanlose Stairway, backed by a full band and joined by guests including guitarist Mick Green and organ maestro Georgie Fame.

BBC Four Sessions:Van Morrison

Van proves he's still "The Man" at a concert recorded at LSO St Luke's in London, where he performs tracks from his album Keep It Simple.

Flight of the Conchords

Sitcom about two Kiwi folk musicians as they to try to make it big in New York

Comedy series about Kiwi folk musicians Bret and Jemaine as they to try to make it big in New York.

Flight of the Conchords: Series 2

Flight of the Conchords: Series 2: Episode 1: A Good Opportunity

Episode 1

Episode 1: A Good Opportunity

Series 2

A Good Opportunity

BBC Four - Flight of the Conchords, Series 2, A Good Opportunity

Murray doesn't have enough time to devote to the Conchords, so Bret and Jemaine fire him.

Comedy about two folk musicians. Since his success managing the Crazy Doggs, Murray doesn't have enough time for the Conchords, so Bret and Jemaine fire him.

Since his success managing the Crazy Doggs, Murray is in a big office downtown and doesn't have enough time to devote to the Conchords, so Bret and Jemaine fire him. But when they get a job doing the advertising jingle for Femident toothpaste they realise there were things Murray did behind the scenes.

Comedy series about Kiwi folk musicians trying to make it big in New York

Comedy series about Kiwi folk musicians Bret and Jemaine as they to try to make it big in their adopted home of New York

1/10; series two. Jemaine and Bret find life without a manager is more difficult than they imagined. See choice, page 72. Shown on Tuesday at 10.30pm

Flight of the Conchords: On Air

12/05/2009

BBC Four - Flight of the Conchords: On Air

Behind the scenes look at the cult comedy series about two Kiwi folk musicians.

Behind the scenes look at the cult comedy series about Kiwi folk musicians Bret and Jemaine trying to make it big in their adopted home of New York, featuring exclusive interviews.

Behind the scenes look at the cult comedy series about Kiwi folk musicians Bret and Jemaine trying to make it big in their adopted home of New York.

It follows the duo in the United States before and after the release of the first series, as they speak candidly about the road to fame, and we meet the other personalities, cast and crew that helped make their show a smash hit in America, NZ and the rest of the world.

As Bret McKenzie's long-term partner, director Hannah Clarke was in a unique position to gain access to the Conchords at their most relaxed, as well as their most frantic and exhausted, and was able to get an up-close-and-personal glimpse into this experience. Through her insider's eye we are granted an intimate look into the lives of this great comedy act and discover how they won the hearts of America.

: On Air 
How Bret McKenzie and Jemaine 
Clement took their cult show worldwide. Shown on Tuesday at 10.05pm

The New Avengers

Classic British secret agent fantasy adventure series.

The New Avengers: Series 2

The New Avengers: Series 2: Episode 9: K is for Kill: Tiger by the Tail

Episode 9

Episode 9: K is for Kill: Tiger by the Tail

K is for Kill: Tiger by the Tail

BBC Four - The New Avengers, Series 2, K is for Kill: Tiger by the Tail

Steed, Gambit and Purdey need to save the world from plunging into the third world war.

It appears that the Russian soldiers active in France were the first wave of something bigger, which may be aimed at setting off a third world war.

It appears that the Russian soldiers active in France were just the first wave of something bigger, which intelligence suggests is aimed at setting off a third world war, and that two active K-agents are the key to the plan. One K-assassin is killed while attacking a retired general. But who is the target for the second K-agent, and how might this start a major war? Steed, Gambit and Purdey need to save the world.

Van Morrison on Later with Jools Holland

BBC Four - Van Morrison on Later with Jools Holland

A selection of Van Morrison's finest performances from Later with Jools Holland.

A selection of Van Morrison's finest performances from the Later with Jools Holland and Hootenanny shows.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

New.

Contributors

So Hard to Beat

Episode 3: Too Late to Stop Now

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

as 9.10/

BBC Four

About BBC Four

Appears in

About this data

About this data