BBC Four

World News Today

The latest news and business developments.

World News Today: 17/08/2009

17/08/2009

BBC News Channel - World News Today, 17/08/2009

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.

Legends

A look at some true legends from the world of music.

Legends: James Last: Non Stop Dancing

23/12/2005

James Last: Non Stop Dancing

BBC Four - Legends, James Last: Non Stop Dancing

Profile of the hugely successful, easy listening bandleader James Last.

Profile of the hugely successful bandleader James Last. Contributors include Paul Morley, Ron Last, Richard Clayderman and Richard Darbyshire.

James Last is one of the most successful bandleaders and arrangers in the history of popular music. In a career lasting more than 50 years, he has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

This documentary goes behind the James Last phenomenon to ask why his music is loved by the public but often loathed by the critics. The music is often described as easy listening or happy music, but what is the James Last sound? Is it just a string of revamped Beatles hits, non-stop Abba medleys, updated classics and polka parties, or is his achievement in popular music being under-estimated and dismissed unfairly by the musical elite?

Influenced by jazz, swing, the Beatles and rock and roll in 1960's Hamburg, Last would soon become one of the most famous bandleaders of all time. This programme explores the music, the musicians and the life of the man who invented the non-stop party and re-invented the classics.

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.

Legends: James Last - Non-Stop Dancing

A profile of the bandleader and composer, considering his contribution to popular music. Although "Hansi" sold more than 100 million records worldwide, his medleys of classic hits were often dismissed by critics - but he is now credited for inventing the non-stop party sound.

Only Connect

BBC Two

Quiz show in which connections must be made between apparently unconnected things.

Deliciously devious and maddeningly abstract. Victoria Coren Mitchell hosts the brain-teasing quiz where knowledge only gets you so far.

Only Connect: Series 2

Only Connect: Series 2: Episode 6: Chessmen v Rugby Boys - Semi-Final

Episode 6

Episode 6: Chessmen v Rugby Boys - Semi-Final

Series 2

Chessmen v Rugby Boys - Semi-Final

BBC Two - Only Connect, Series 2, Chessmen v Rugby Boys - Semi-Final

Three chess players pit their wits against the brawn of the Rugby Boys.

Quiz in which connections must be made between seemingly random elements. How does Carmilla link to Neo via Lord Voldemort and Sir Leigh Teabing?

Quiz show presented by Victoria Coren in which knowledge will only take you so far, as patience and lateral thinking are also vital. 

In the second semi-final, three quietly strategic chess players pit their wits against the brawn of the Rugby Boys. Who will win the battle, as they compete to draw together the connections between things which, at first glance, seem utterly random? How does Carmilla link to Neo via Lord Voldemort and Sir Leigh Teabing?

Quiz show in which patience and lateral thinking are as vital as knowledge

New. 6/9. Three chess players pit their wits against the Rugby Boys to make connections between things that initially do not appear to be linked. Victoria Coren presents the second semi-final of the quiz show. 
Repeated tomorrow at 7.30pm

Wallander

Swedish drama series about a maverick detective.

Swedish drama series about a maverick detective, based on the novels by Henning Mankell. (In Swedish with English subtitles.)

Wallander: Series 1

Wallander: Series 1: Episode 8: The Photographer

Episode 8

Episode 8: The Photographer

Series 1

The Photographer

BBC Four - Wallander, Series 1, The Photographer

A woman is found dead after the opening of a war photographer's exhibition.

Swedish detective series. A woman is found dead after the opening of a war photographer's exhibition. Wallander and his team investigate.

A woman is found dead after the opening of a war photographer's exhibition. Murder is suspected, as is the photographer. Wallander and his team of police investigate.

In Swedish with English subtitles.

New. The Photographer. When a woman is found dead following the opening of an exhibition, Wallander suspects she was murdered by the war photographer whose work is on display. Starring Krister Henriksson , Johanna Sallstrom , Ola Rapace, Angela Kovacs and Fredrik Gunnarsson. In Swedish with English subtitles. See panel. 
For cast see page 94 Rptd Thu at 11.10pm

The Grandparent Diaries

The Grandparent Diaries: Episode 1: Ian Batten

Episode 1

Episode 1: Ian Batten

Ian Batten

BBC Four - The Grandparent Diaries, Ian Batten

A liberal 1960s dad takes his seven grandchildren for a day at the seaside.

Documentary series about grandparents in Britain today introduces Ian Batten, a 1960s dad who brought his own children up in the liberal spirit of the time.

Documentary series about grandparents in Britain today introduces Londoner Ian Batten - fashion designer, father of four and grandfather of seven.

Ian takes all seven of his grandchildren, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, for a weekend by the sea for the first time. As a 1960s dad who brought his own children up in the liberal spirit of the time, his approach seems to be a hit with the children. Bedtimes are relaxed and the kids happily chip in, but do his own children recall their upbringings as similarly idyllic, and how has the free, liberal approach influenced their own views on parenting?

Through interviews spanning three generations, the family's archive footage and observation, the film looks at how the philosophies of the 1960s influence Ian as a grandfather whilst celebrating the enduring traditions of grandparenting through the 20th century.

Documentary series looking at the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren

Documentary series looking at the relationships between three very different sets of grandparents and their grandchildren

1/3. Three documentaries looking at the relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren. Pensioner Ian Batten takes his family to the seaside.

The Grandparent Diaries: Episode 2: The Littles

Episode 2

Episode 2: The Littles

The Littles

BBC Four - The Grandparent Diaries, The Littles

The Littles have looked after two grandchildren after the death of the children's mother.

Documentary series about grandparents in Britain. Val and Ron Little brought up Molly and Mitch, two of their seven grandchildren, after the death of their mother.

Molly Little is a typical 15-year-old - pushing boundaries, battles at home as she rallies for later curfews, shorter hem lines and more phone credit. But her living situation is not, as she and her 10- year-old brother Mitch are brought up by their grandparents in Kent. 

Val and Ron have been looking after these two of their seven grandchildren for eight years after their mother Tammy died unexpectedly in 2001 and their father left the family. They are among the 200,000 grandparents in this country bringing up their grandchildren, numbers which are rising. 

Tammy was murdered at her home in Cornwall by her estranged partner - the children's father, a paranoid schizophrenic. The children were in the house at the time and Molly was the person who pressed the panic button which brought the police to the house. 

Mitch has grown up with his grandparents as surrogate parents, but for Molly, who already had a very close bond with and strong memories of her mother, it has been harder to adjust. 

The desire to keep absolute normality for the children has been paramount since Tammy died. Living with the generation gap is not easy, as well their own private struggles to deal with the loss of a mother and a daughter. But clinging to the normal routine of every day life has helped get them through. 

Through family archive, actuality, interview and the children's video diary, the film builds up an intimate picture of the family, past and present. It explores how far the love of these two doting (and grieving) grandparents has gone to repair a family coping with a tragic loss. Through the laughter, routines and arguments of daily life, we observe to what degree grandparental love can and cannot fill the breach of a lost member of the middle generation.

2/3.

An unusual family that uses the daily routine to cope with grief. Teenager Molly and her brother have been brought up by their grandparents following the death of their mother.

The Grandparent Diaries: Episode 3: Avril Pengilly

Episode 3

Episode 3: Avril Pengilly

Avril Pengilly

BBC Four - The Grandparent Diaries, Avril Pengilly

Avril Pengilly reflects on her decision to move in with her daughter and her grandsons.

The documentary series about grandparents in Britain introduces Avril Pengilly, who moved in with her daughter and grandsons in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

When a widowed elderly grandmother moves in with one of her children and grandchildren, it is usually assumed it is because she is too old and frail to continue to look after herself. But three years ago, when 78-year-old Avril Pengilly sold her bungalow to live with her youngest daughter Liz, her son-in-law Dave and her grandsons Jake and Mike, it was because they needed her help, both financially and practically, as much as she needed them. 

Through interview and observation, the film explores both the advantages and challenges for all three generations living under one roof. Using personal photographs and Avril's memories of the her life in a small north Devon farming community, Avril looks back at her own history and how it has informed her role as a grandmother and mother today.

. Examining the struggles faced by 78-year-old Avril Pengilly and her daughter's family.

Style on Trial

Style on Trial: Episode 3: 1960s

Episode 3: 1960s

1960s

BBC Four - Style on Trial, 1960s

Designer John Bates, model Jill Kennington and journalist Eve Pollard discuss 60s fashion.

To discuss 1960s fashion, Stuart Maconie and Lauren Laverne are joined by designer John Bates, top sixties model Jill Kennington and veteran fashion journalist Eve Pollard.

Stuart Maconie and Lauren Laverne put British style and fashion between the 1940s and the 1990s into the dock. To discuss the 1960s they are joined in the studio by designer John Bates, the man who created Diana Rigg's catsuits for The Avengers, top 1960s model Jill Kennington and veteran fashion journalist Eve Pollard.

British style and fashion from the 1940s to the 1990s is put into the dock

Style on Trial: double bill

Style on Trial: Episode 4: 1970s

Episode 4

Episode 4: 1970s

1970s

BBC Four - Style on Trial, 1970s

Zandra Rhodes, Terry de Havilland and Wayne Hemingway discuss 1970s fashion.

To discuss 1970s fashion, Stuart Maconie and Lauren Laverne are joined by fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, shoe designer Terry de Havilland and fashion boss Wayne Hemingway.

Stuart Maconie and Lauren Laverne put British style and fashion between the 1940s and the 1990s into the dock. To discuss the 1970s they are joined in the studio by British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, the maker of three-tier wedge sandals for the 70s rock aristocracy Terry de Havilland, and Wayne Hemingway, a teenager of the decade who went on to create his own fashion label.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Style on Trial

Episode 4: 1970s

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC Four

About BBC Four

Appears in

About this data

About this data