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Categories: Factual: Life Stories

  1. JLB: The Man Who Saw the Future

    Profile of John Logie Baird, the man who invented television, presented by his son Malcolm

    BBC Four

  2. Amazing Gracie: The Gracie Fields Story

    Documentary about the much-loved British singer and comic actress Gracie Fields.

    BBC Four

  3. Xiao's Long March

    Documentary following an idle urban Chinese teenager persuaded to sign up for the army.

    BBC Four

  4.

    Roy Lichtenstein: Pop Idol

    Roy Lichtenstein revolutionised art with his cartoon images of American culture. (2004)

    BBC

  5. Gerald Scarfe: Drawing Blood

    A look at the work of Britain's most scathing caricaturist, Gerald Scarfe.

    BBC Four

  6. Dolly Parton: Platinum Blonde

    Profile of the singer and actress. With contributions from friends, family and colleagues.

    BBC Two

  7. John Martyn: Johnny Too Bad

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

    BBC Four

  8. The World of Nat King Cole

    A portrait of the popular entertainer using archive footage and and interviews.

    BBC Four

  9. Hero: The Bobby Moore Story

    The story of footballer Bobby Moore, who in 1966 led England to its only World Cup win.

    BBC Four

  10. What's Going On: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye

    The turbulent story of Marvin Gaye, one of the great figures of soul music.

    BBC Four

  11. Stuart Sutcliffe: the Lost Beatle

    The tragic story of Stuart Sutcliffe, the talented young artist who died at the age of 21.

    BBC Four

  12. The Extraordinary Equiano

    The story of Olaudah Equiano, a black slave who become an English gentleman.

    BBC Two

  13. Kenneth Williams in his Own Words

    Series of archive clips in which Kenneth Williams tells his life story.

    BBC Four

  14. The Photographer, his Wife, her Lover

    Paul Yule's film uncovers the life of O Winston Link, a giant of contemporary photography.

    BBC Four

  15. Joe Zawinul: A Musical Portrait

    Profile of the late Joe Zawinul, founder of the jazz-rock band Weather Report.

    BBC Four

  16. Censored at the Seaside: The Postcards of Donald McGill

    Film about Donald McGill, whose saucy postcards became part of the seaside holiday.

    BBC Four

  17. Lloyd George: The People's Champion

    Huw Edwards presents a profile of the former Prime Minister.

    BBC Four

  18. Geisha Girl

    Documentary about a 15-year-old Japanese girl's arduous training to become a geisha.

    BBC Four

  19. The Man who Loved Sherlock Holmes

    Investigation into the death of Richard Lancelyn Green, a Sherlock Holmes expert.

    BBC Four

  20. Wildlife in a War Zone

    Biologist Sanjayan Muttulingam returns to the Sierra Leone home he fled during civil war.

    BBC Four

  21. The Wild Life of Gerald Durrell

    Profile of the conservationist and best-selling author of My Family and Other Animals.

    BBC Four

  22. Solomon Burke: Everybody Needs Somebody

    Documentary tracing the life of the late, great soul singer, Solomon Burke.

    BBC Four

  23. Johnny Cash: The Last Great American

    Documentary profiling the life of the legendary country music star Johnny Cash.

    BBC One

  24. Samuel Johnson: The Dictionary Man

    Drama documentary telling the story of the creation of the first English dictionary.

    BBC Four

  25. Hannah Glasse: The First Domestic Goddess

    Clarissa Dickson Wright presents a profile of Hannah Glasse, who wrote The Art of Cookery.

    BBC Four

  26. A Poem for Harry - A Tribute to Harry Patch

    Andrew Motion's tribute to the last veteran of the Great War trenches, Harry Patch.

    BBC Two

  27. Rebel Physician: Nicholas Culpeper's Fight for Medical Freedom

    Benjamin Woolley presents the story of 17th-century radical pharmacist Nicholas Culpeper.

    BBC Four

  28. John Buchan: Master of Suspense

    Docudrama about the life of author John Buchan, best known for his novel The 39 Steps.

    BBC Four

  29.

    Wainwright: The Man Who Loved the Lakes

    Documentary recalling the life of eccentric Lancastrian Alfred Wainwright.

    BBC Four

  30. Peter Scott: A Passion for Nature

    Documentary about Peter Scott, who swapped wildfowling for leading a conservation movement

    BBC Four

  31. Greg Dyke on Lord Reith

    Ex-director general of the BBC Greg Dyke explores the life and legacy of Lord Reith.

    BBC Four

  32. Val Doonican Rocks

    Pauline McLynn narrates an affectionate portrait of Irish entertainer Val Doonican.

    BBC Two

  33. North Korea: Crossing the Line

    Documentary about Comrade Joe, an American defector to the communist state of North Korea.

    BBC Four

  34. The Real Mr Pooter

    Documentary about George Grossmith, author of classic comic novel The Diary of a Nobody.

    BBC Four

  35. The Surgeon Of Crowthorne

    A tale of murder, madness and lexicography. A rich convict's links to the OED.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  36. Another String: So Long as Lobsters Swim the Sea

    Playwright and fisherman Nick Darke looks to his nets and pots off Padstow. From June 1997

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  37. Lucifer Matches: The Letters of Charlotte Bronte

    In her correspondence, Jane Eyre's creator rarely minced her words.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  38. Who Was Bessie Head?

    Hugh Quarshie talks to those who knew one of Africa's most brilliant writers: Bessie Head

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  39. When Harry Met Sooty

    Jack Dee presents the rags-to-riches story of Britain's most famous glove puppet.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  40. John Mortimer's Life, Love and the Law

    The novelist, playwright, QC and Rumpole creator entertains an audience.

    BBC Radio 7

  41.

    The Armstrong Tapes

    The life of Louis Armstrong as told through his archive of tape recordings.

    BBC Radio 4

  42. Charles Chilton - Another Time of My Life

    At the BBC for 46 years, Charles Chilton recalls his early career at Broadcasting House.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  43. The Dalesman

    Harry Gration explores the story of a magazine dedicated to life in the Yorkshire Dales.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  44. Fragments in Time

    Christopher Morris searches for the owner of a 1940s wartime diary, found in Sussex.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  45. The Holton Players

    Jim Broadbent revisits his Lincolnshire village roots.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  46. Who Wears the Trousers?

    Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz created a TV phenomenon, but their marriage paid the price.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  47. The First Private Eye

    Val McDermid probes the man who gave the world the term "private eye".

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

  48. The Name of the Father

    The story of William Lloyd Webber, the genius who spawned a musical dynasty.

    BBC Radio 4

  49. A Great Wall

    Jo, diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29, walked the Great Wall of China for charity.

    BBC Radio 4

  50. Sunflowers

    Tim Marlow investigates Van Gogh's late passion for sunflowers.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra

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