Sam Willis explores the golden age of piracy during the early 18th century and charts the devastating impact pirates had during an age of colonial expansion. Show more

Film charting the evolution of Sherlock Holmes on screen, from silent movies to the latest film and television versions. Featuring contributions from Sherlocks past and present. Show more

Michael Symmons Roberts explores the mythic afterlife of the 18th-century poet Thomas Chatterton, whose early death was immortalised by poets, painters and photographers. Show more

The BBC opens up its vaults to reveal the forgotten files on the world's most famous secret agent. Featuring rare and candid interviews with all six actors to play 007. Show more

Writer Andrew Martin charts the evolution of the British postage stamp and examines how these sticky little labels became a national obsession. Show more

Mark Gatiss explores the brief life of Victorian artist Aubrey Beardsley, who wielded outrage as adroitly as his pen, and whose uncompromising attitude feels utterly modern. Show more

Lucy Worsley explores the Edwardian era and the golden age of detective fiction between the wars - the time of Dr Crippen, Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock films. Show more

Timeshift looks back on nearly two centuries of British firefighting, exploring how major incidents and the evolution of equipment have helped forge the modern fire service. Show more

A sculpture found at a car boot sale in Essex bears striking similarities to the work of Elisabeth Frink. Can the team prove it’s part of an edition sculpted by her in the 1950s? Show more

Sam Willis looks at how castles survived into the Tudor era. But these strategic seats of power had to become palaces to impress monarchs such as Elizabeth I. Show more