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

Martha Kearney retraces the footsteps of 19th-century artist George Victor Du Noyer. Martha examines the movement of power bases from Newgrange to the sumptuous Castletown House. Show more

The series about archetypal streets in three of Scotland's great cities focuses on the Fittie Squares, a housing scheme built for fishermen in 1809. Show more

Series re-examining the Ruth Ellis case. In part two, Gillian turns her attention to Ruth's trial, which took just a day and a half. Her lawyer pursued a risky defence strategy. Show more

Documentary tracing the story of the ultimate sanction, examining such matters as the protocols of the public execution and the 'science' of hanging. Show more

Film looking at the early years of the blues shows how the likes of Bessie Smith and Charlie Patton used the latest media to bring their music to the public. Show more

Performances by Island Records artists from the archives, including Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Steel Pulse, U2, PJ Harvey, Baaba Maal and Amy Winehouse. Show more

Peter Powell presents the weekly chart show, first broadcast on 9 September 1982. Includes Evelyn King, Gillan, Dire Straits, Survivor, David Christie and Shakin' Stevens. Show more

Simon Bates presents the weekly chart show. Includes appearances from Mari Wilson, Simple Minds, Shakatak, The Jam, Adam Ant and Survivor. Plus a dance performance from Zoo. Show more

Andrew Graham-Dixon examines how a period of economic boom driven by a burgeoning and secular middle class led to the Dutch golden age of the 17th century. Show more

John Cooper Clarke explores Thomas de Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater, and discovers how this addiction memoir avoids the cliches of modern 'misery-lit'. Show more

Performances from The Moody Blues, Faces and David Bowie recorded for It's Lulu, Sounds for Saturday and the Old Grey Whistle Test. Show more