Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the creative force of originality. Read more
now playing
Originality
Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the creative force of originality.
The Life of Stars
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life cycle of stars.
The Spanish Civil War
Melvyn Bragg examines the causes, events and repercussions of the Spanish Civil War.
Proust
The life and work of the celebrated 20th century French novelist Marcel Proust.
Youth
Melvyn Bragg examines the history of concepts and ideas on youth from antiquity to today.
Roman Britain
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 400 year history of the Romans in Britain.
The Jacobite Rebellion
Melvyn Bragg examines the Stuart dynasty's final attempt to reclaim the throne of England.
The Holy Grail
Melvyn Bragg examines why the Holy Grail legend has fascinated writers for centuries.
Blood
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss blood, from medical progress to the link to the divine.
Memory
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the function and significance of memory.
The Lunar Society
Melvyn Bragg examines an 18th century group of pioneering scientists and engineers.
The Art of War
The history and philosophy of warfare throughout the ages.
The Aristocracy
Melvyn Bragg examines the origins, power and eventual decline of the British aristocracy.
The East India Company
The history of the private trading company that helped forge the British Empire.
Vulcanology
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the formation and eruption of volcanoes.
Nature
Melvyn Bragg examines the attempt to define humanity鈥檚 part in the natural world.
The Apocalypse
Melvyn Bragg examines how a powerful narrative of judgement and retribution evolved.
Maxwell
The work and legacy of the often overlooked 19th century scientist James Clerk Maxwell.
Bohemianism
Melvyn Bragg examines the 19th century Parisian philosophy of life lived for art.
The Schism
Melvyn Bragg examines events surrounding the medieval division of the Christian Church.
Infinity
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the nature and existence of mathematical infinity.
Robin Hood
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the centuries old myth of the most romantic noble outlaw.
Sensation
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the novels of sensation, a Victorian literary phenomenon.
Duty
Melvyn Bragg examines duty, a concept that has excited philosophers through history.
Ageing the Earth
Melvyn Bragg examines the age of the Earth and its division into four great Eons.
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the infamous St Bartholomew鈥檚 Day Massacre in 1572.
Wittgenstein
The life, work and legacy of the 20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The Devil
Melvyn Bragg examines how the Devil became an established figure in Christianity.
The Alphabet
Melvyn Bragg investigates how sounds turned into signs and signs became the alphabet.
Lamarck and Natural Selection
Melvyn Bragg discusses Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, the 18th century French precursor to Darwin.
Cryptography
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins and history of codes.