Boys watching TV in the 1950s

Historical film TV and radio

From binge-worthy period dramas to award-winning documentaries, find out why historical movies, TV and radio programs are more popular than ever, with this series of articles, podcasts and video

Queen Anne, based on a work by Sir Godfrey Kneller, c1702–10. Anne's reign saw women take centre stage in fierce political debates. (Photo by Bridgeman/National Trust Photographic Library)

Queen Anne's feuding favourites.

Bernard Cornwell. (Photo by Felix Clay)

Bernard Cornwell on The Last Kingdom.

Ross Poldark in London in the BBC's drama. The capital city was described in contemporary magazines and newspapers as the "vortex of dissipation", says Hannah Greig. (Image Credit: BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

From politics to pleasure gardens: the real history behind Poldark's 18th-century London.

The American War of Independence: Three Films

Young women labour on a farm during the First World War. The radio series Home Front explores life in Britain during the conflict. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Sanitising the past: should historical drama reflect modern sensibilities?.

World War One at home.

Rupert Everett as Oscar Wilde in 'The Happy Prince'. "The image of Wilde in Paris at the end of the 19th century is full of fantasy and sadness, tragedy and humour," says Everett. (Lionsgate)

The Happy Prince: Rupert Everett on Oscar Wilde's life in exile.

Winston Graham’s central relationship – between the gentlemanly Ross Poldark and Demelza Carne, an illiterate young kitchen maid – is highly unusual. But was there a real ‘Ross and Demelza’ in history? (Photo by Mammoth Screen/BBC)

Poldark series 3 recap – what happened and what is the real history behind the hit TV series?

The Vietnam War on film.

The real history behind ‘The Crown’ with Robert Lacey.

The history of today.

Charlie Chaplin, in a still from his 1936 film 'Modern Times’. (Photo by American Stock/Getty Images)

My history hero: Charlie Chaplin.

The Sultanahmet district in Istanbul, Turkey, which is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. (Photo by DOZIER Marc via Getty Images)

A new civilisation rises.

Radio Times cover, 1931. (Photo by Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo)

Radio nation

Vikings on screen.

‘Vikings’ creator Michael Hirst on the real history behind the hit drama.

BBC Arabic at 80.

Journey’s End: behind the scenes of the new First World War film.

What’s the real history behind ‘Britannia’?

The real history behind Victoria series two

'Darkest Hour': an interview with director Joe Wright.

Q&A: When were the first film trailers shown?

The real history behind ‘The White Princess’

In ‘Venus Uncovered’ on BBC Four, Wednesday 15 November at 9pm, Bettany Hughes investigates the mythological figure of Venus. (© Sandstone Global/Image by Tim Knight)

Bettany Hughes on the symbol of Venus

The Prince of Wales loading a rifle in the Grenadiers, First World War, 1914. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Edward VIII: How war scarred the playboy prince.

Winston Graham's Poldark novels remind us of aspects of the past that might otherwise remain in the shadows, says Hannah Greig. (Image credit: Mammoth screen/BBC)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode nine

George Warleggan. (Image credit: BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode eight

In the recent episode of Poldark, Dwight Enys once more displayed modern medical skill. (Image credit: Mammoth Screen / BBC)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode seven

'Poldark' character Aunt Agatha (left) draws our attention to the often-ignored figure of the 18th-century spinster, says Hannah Greig. (Image credit: BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode six

Ross Poldark takes on a dangerous mission to liberate his friend Dwight from Quimper prison in France. Quimper was a real prison, which was "notorious for its terrible conditions", says historian Hannah Greig. (BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

The real history behind ‘Poldark’ series three: episode five