The Open University

TV series looks at how Black musicians were exploited over time

19 September 2024

A new three-part music series The Battle for Black Music: Paid in Full airs tomorrow (21 September) showing the story of how some of most-loved artists were exploited because of their race. The Open University/BBC co-production features on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 9.25pm on Saturday and follows the story of how well-known greats […]

Saving Lives in Cardiff follows the doctors making life-changing decisions at the heart of the NHS

19 August 2024

A new six-part OU/BBC co-production from the ‘Saving Lives’ series begins on 20 August at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC One Wales. Against the backdrop of rising waiting lists and overstretched staff, Saving Lives in Cardiff follows the clinicians who face the daily dilemma of deciding who gets treated first and the impact these […]

Secrets, spies, and the nuclear war that was avoided

3 May 2024

This latest Open University/BBC co production is something you might find from the pages of a thriller novel – but it’s a portrayal of real events that depict how a Soviet double agent helped the West avoid a nuclear war with Russia in the 1980s. The three-part dramatization series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game, […]

Body in the freezer – The Real CSI is back!

7 March 2024

A new episode of Forensics: The Real CSI – an Open University/BBC co-production macabrely called Body in the freezer – begins this week. Find out on Sunday 10 March at 9pm on BBC Two how a decomposing body found in a freezer at a waste disposal site triggers the alarm and sees the West Midlands […]

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 […]

Behind the scenes of the Parole Board

20 February 2023

Academics from the Faculty of Business and Law worked behind the scenes in a fascinating OU/BBC documentary about the process involved in hearing prisoners’ parole applications. In England and Wales annually, about 16,000 of the potentially most dangerous criminals are considered for parole before the end of their sentence and around 4,000 of them are […]

OU academics’ guidance in poignant BBC programme on autistic adults

15 February 2023

A new two-part BBC series Inside Our Autistic Minds has started giving a revealing look at what goes on in the mind of autistic adults with the help of naturalist Chris Packham who was diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2005. With the contributions of two OU academics, Kieron Sheehy, Professor of education, and Fiona Henry senior […]

Rich pickings: Revealing BBC/OU series spotlights the years following the banking crash

25 January 2022

Academics at The Open University have worked behind the scenes on a fascinating two-part series The Decade The Rich Won that hears from former insiders about the 2008 financial crash and its repercussions. On Tuesday 25 January at 9pm, this gripping BBC/OU co-production lifts the lid on what was going on; from bailing out the […]

BBC series School: your questions answered

12 November 2018

Why can teachers no longer just be teachers? What are the human impacts of budget cuts on today’s school children? Is pastoral care an important part of a student journey or a symptom of the snowflake era? These are all issues uncovered following the first episode of School last week – questions then put to academic […]

Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed

OU/BBC documentary reveals the secrets of the human body

25 September 2017

In a landmark series, the BBC reveals the secrets of the human body and what biological and chemical processes support life. Produced in partnership with The Open University, Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed, will be broadcast on BBC Two on Monday 25 September 2017, 9pm. In this three-part series, doctors and presenters, Chris and […]

OU News