The Open University

Watch this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: The Truth About AI

22 December 2023

Join Professor Mike Wooldridge for this year’s Royal Institution (RI) Christmas Lectures, as he tackles arguably the most important and rapidly-evolving field of science in the world today – artificial intelligence. Beginning on Tuesday 26 December, the first of three new Open University / BBC co-produced programmes The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures – The Truth […]

Behind the scenes OU/BBC co-production with performance artist Kae Tempest

27 November 2023

English literature academic Professor Nicola J Watson has worked behind the scenes on an Open University/BBC co-production about the acclaimed rapper, poet, playwright and recording artist Kae Tempest. She brought her knowledge of the history of performance poetry to the programme, “Being Kae Tempest”, which will be aired on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday […]

OU/BBC win at Grierson awards

24 November 2023

Two Open University/BBC co-productions have been honoured at the prestigious Grierson awards, which recognise innovative and exciting documentary films. Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland won two awards – Best documentary and Best history documentary and Inside Our Autistic Minds, won Best Science Documentary. Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast and Partnerships at The […]

Stacey Dooley goes behind the scenes at an undertakers in new OU/BBC documentary

8 November 2023

Stacey Dooley: Inside the Undertakers, takes a fascinating and surprisingly uplifting look behind the doors of a funeral director to discover more about the usually hidden side of death. In this one-off OU/BBC co-production, which airs on 9 November at 9pm on BBC ONE and iPlayer, presenter Stacey Dooley immerses herself in the day-to-day work […]

Drugs Map of Britain returns for a gritty new series

8 November 2023

A new series of the hard-hitting OU/BBC co-production Drugs Map of Britain delves into the world of drug users and dealers, laying bare the evolving makeup of Britain’s youth drug culture. Airing on the 8th of November at 10.30pm on BBC Three, the documentary series focuses on how certain drugs are widespread in cities across […]

Image shows the opening titles that read The Secret Genius of Modern Life

OU/BBC series ‘The Secret Genius of Modern Life’ returns

7 November 2023

A captivating second series of the OU/BBC series The Secret Genius of Modern Life is returning to TV screens on BBC Two at 8pm on Wednesday 8 November. Series two of The Secret Genius of Modern Life follows Hannah Fry, mathematician, author, and radio and television presenter, as she uncovers the secrets behind the miraculous […]

Image shows four Metropolitan Police Officers with the words 'The Met' written across the middle of the image

OU/BBC Series ‘The Met’ Returns for a fourth series

24 October 2023

A captivating fourth series of The Met, co-produced by The Open University (OU) and the BBC, is set to air on BBC One tonight (Tuesday 24 October) at 9pm. The six-episode series provides insight into the Metropolitan Police in the face of complex cases. Filmed over ten months, the series offers an unfiltered look into […]

Sir David Attenborough explores the natural world’s history in landmark OU/BBC series, Planet Earth III

19 October 2023

Join nature historian Sir David Attenborough on a journey around the globe in a brand-new series co-produced by The Open University (OU) and BBC, Planet Earth III. Beginning on 22 October at 6.15pm BBC One and iPlayer, this eight-part series follows some of the world’s most amazing species, telling extraordinary stories that are dramatic, thrilling, […]

Explore Scotland’s Sacred Islands and inhabitants’ faiths and beliefs with Ben Fogle

17 October 2023

A new four-part OU/BBC production of Scotland’s Sacred Islands with Ben Fogle airs tonight at 8pm on BBC Scotland and will be available on BBC iPlayer thereafter. This is the second series of the programme that sees adventurer Ben Fogle travel across some of Scotland’s most beautiful islands to explore how faith and belief took […]

‘Thrilling’ BBC documentary airs about the history of the Union

2 October 2023

The turbulent history of how Great Britain evolved is dissected in an intriguing Open University/BBC co-production – Union with historian David Olusoga – which reaches the small screen tonight (Monday 2 October). The four-part series airs on BBC Two at 9pm and charts the history of the Union from the 1600s – a century defined […]

OU News

Category: TV and radio