The Open University

Bettany at Berlin Wall - East-side Gallery

Meet the geniuses of the modern world in OU/BBC programme

16 June 2016

Three of the greatest minds of the modern world are explored in a three-part series, presented by broadcaster and historian, Bettany Hughes. Broadcast on BBC Four at 21:00 from Thursday 16 June 2016, Genius of the Modern World considers the lives of three men born in a 19th century world – a period dominated by […]

Meet the OU academics behind The Big C and Me TV series

3 June 2016

OU academics are often nominated to work as consultants on Open University TV and radio co-productions which align with their areas of professional expertise. But what does this mean? They’re nominated by their faculty to consult on co-productions and work closely with the programme makers throughout, advising on research topics, commenting on draft scripts, fact checking and providing […]

Who Really Rules Us? Programme ponders the EU question

18 May 2016

Presenter Jeremy Paxman will take TV viewers on a journey to the heart of the European Union in a one-off hour-long programme co-produced by BBC and The Open University. Called Paxman in Brussels: Who Really Rules Us? it will ask, quite simply: Have we handed over the power to rule the UK to Europe? And if […]

BAFTA success for OU documentary

11 May 2016

TV series The Hunt has scooped two awards at the prestigious BAFTAs. The haul of awards included two BAFTA Craft awards for Best Photography in a Factual Programme and Best Original Music and was nominated for a TV award for Best Specialist Factual programme. The critically acclaimed BBC nature documentary series was made in partnership […]

The Hairy Bikers (Si King & Dave Myers) at The Oxford Academy

New TV series: Old School with the Hairy Bikers

9 May 2016

The first episode of Old School with the Hairy Bikers, a new three-part OU/BBC series will broadcast at 9pm on Tuesday 10th May on BBC TWO at 9pm. The Hairy Bikers, otherwise known as Si King and Dave Myers, have a big new challenge. At a struggling school in Oxford, they are taking two groups – […]

Dementiaville scoops Learning on Screen Award

6 May 2016

The Open University and Channel 4 co-produced documentary series that explored a radical approach to dementia care has won the General Education Broadcast Award at the Learning on Screen Awards. Now in its 12th year, the Learning on Screen Awards is the UK’s only celebration of media production in learning, teaching and research. Held by the […]

Dame Judy Dench performance on Shakespeare Live!

For one night only: Shakespeare Live!

22 April 2016

A once-in-a-lifetime cast of actors and musicians will perform in front of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of the greatest playwright in history. Shakespeare Live! From the RSC, an OU/BBC co-production in partnership with the RSC, will be broadcast on Saturday 23 April […]

The Prosecutors: behind the scenes with Julian Webb

19 February 2016

A unique OU/BBC documentary series, which goes behind the scenes to reveal how our Crown Prosecution Service really works, begins on BBC Four next week. ‘The Prosecutors: Real Crime and Punishment‘, the first episode of which is on Wednesday 24 February 2016 at 21:00, invites audiences to experience the challenging, and often harrowing environment in which […]

Documentary on personal story of a choice to die

9 February 2016

An observational documentary, co-produced by The Open University and BBC, follows the journey of a man considering assisted suicide. Simon is a successful businessman with a loving family and large circle of friends. His world falls apart in January 2015 when he is diagnosed with an aggressive form of Motor Neurone Disease and given two […]

OU/BBC series explores the language of William Shakespeare

23 January 2016

Have you ever wondered why a person might wear their heart on their sleeve? Or why the world is your oyster? These literary expressions – and hundreds more – that still feature in everyday conversations are the invention of one of the greatest writers and the subject of a new OU/BBC series, Shakespeare Speaks. 20 […]

OU News

Category: TV and radio