Broadcast Programmes

The Open University works with broadcasters such as the BBC to produce television and radio series such as 'Frozen Planet', 'Wartime Farm' and 'Child of Our Time'. The archive collection of these broadcasts includes the programmes and related documentation, such as transcripts, where available. The OU Digital Archive collection of broadcast programmes includes a small sample of the archive. The collection will grow as more content is added.

Image of Broadcast Programmes
Thumbnail Title Description Date
video record for Eurofighter - Weapon of Mass Construction Eurofighter - Weapon of Mass ConstructionThis is the story of Europe's biggest ever defence programme. Surrounded by controversy, billions...
video record for Flooded Britain Flooded BritainThis programme looks at the defences put into place after the 1953 flood in Essex and the recent...
video record for Hollywood science 2: Gross out - Fire club; The great outdoors; Waterworld Hollywood science 2: Gross out - Fire club; The great outdoors; WaterworldThis programme looks at 3 Hollywood stunts and scientifically proves if they are possible. A scene...
video record for Hollywood science 2: Tricky situations; Last Castle; View to a kill; Deep blue sea Hollywood science 2: Tricky situations; Last Castle; View to a kill; Deep blue seaThis programme looks at 3 Hollywood stunts and scientifically proves if they are possible. A scene...
video record for Hollywood science 2: Escapes - Chain reaction; Escape from Alcatraz; Hollow man Hollywood science 2: Escapes - Chain reaction; Escape from Alcatraz; Hollow manThis programme looks at 3 Hollywood stunts and scientifically proves if they are possible. A scene...
video record for Science shack 2 : How tall could you make a building? Science shack 2 : How tall could you make a building?This programme looks at the engineering and psychological challenges of making skyscrapers.
video record for Cast and crew : If.... (studio discussion) / Cast and crew : If.... (studio discussion) /Kirsty Wark discusses the making and impact of the film 'if....' with members of the cast and crew.
video record for Cast and crew : My Beautiful Laundrette Cast and crew : My Beautiful LaundretteCast and the crew of the film 'My Beautiful Laundrette' discuss the making of the film and it's merits
video record for Stardate : Transit of Venus TV1 Stardate : Transit of Venus TV1This programme contextualises the transit of Venus on 8th June 2004. It describes previous transits...
video record for Stardate : Transit of Venus TV2 Stardate : Transit of Venus TV2This programme tracks the transit of Venus on 8th June 2004. It follows teams across the U.K. and...
video record for Rough science 5 : Lost at sea Rough science 5 : Lost at seaThe scientists in this programme have to build a distress flare, a buoyancy aid and a beacon
video record for Rough science 5 : Call of the wild Rough science 5 : Call of the wildThe scientists in this programme have to build an underwater microphone, mosquito repellant and a...
video record for Rough science 5 : To the lighthouse Rough science 5 : To the lighthouseThe scientists in this programme have to build a lighthouse which emits a flashing light
video record for Rough science 5 : The reef Rough science 5 : The reefThe scientists in this programme have to build an alarm system to warn passing boats they are...
video record for Rough science 5 : beneath the waves Rough science 5 : beneath the wavesThe scientists in this programme have to build an underwater diving kit for Kate Humble
video record for Running for your life Running for your life"Primary School Head, Mr Ntairaho is taking part in a survey of displaced children in the Masindi...
video record for The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Ludwig van Beethoven The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Ludwig van BeethovenMark Steel turns up the volume on Beethoven with his tribute to a man who was the nearest...
video record for The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Mary Shelley The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Mary ShelleyLike Dr Frankenstein himself, Mark Steel has taken the cold-cuts of the traditional TV lecture and...
video record for The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Albert Einstein The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Albert EinsteinA great physicist but a lousy father, Einstein played with the nature of space and time as easily...
video record for The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Sylvia Pankhurst The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Sylvia PankhurstTracing her life from schooldays in radical Manchester to retirement in rural Essex, when Haile...
video record for The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Thomas Paine The Mark Steel Lectures Series 2 : Thomas PaineSurely Britain's greatest unknown international revolutionary, best-selling author and hobbyist...
video record for Stardate : Close Encounters Stardate : Close EncountersClose Encounters, hosted by Adam Hart-Davis, delves into the mysterious world of asteroids, meteors...
video record for Nation on film 1 : The body beautiful Nation on film 1 : The body beautiful'During the inter-war period, Britain went from being a nation of unhealthy weaklings to a country...
video record for Nation on film 1 : Sex and marriage Nation on film 1 : Sex and marriageEven before the era of AIDS, sex could have fatal consequences for many men and women. For women,...
video record for Nation on film 1 : At the chalk face Nation on film 1 : At the chalk faceUsing films made by teachers, government and unions, this programme charts the twenty year reign of...
video record for Nation on film 1 : Selling salvation Nation on film 1 : Selling salvationFor over a quarter of a century from the end of the Second World War, the Church battled with what...
video record for Nation on film 1 : Make yourself at home Nation on film 1 : Make yourself at homeThis is the story of how film captured the emergence of Britain's Asian communities. We start in...
video record for Stardate : Mission to Titan TV2 Stardate : Mission to Titan TV2This update and highlights programme looks at the initial results of Huygens descent through the...
video record for Ever wondered about food 3... Seafood? Ever wondered about food 3... Seafood?'Ever Wondered dives to the bottom of the ocean to bring to you the story of seafood. The Romans...
video record for Ever wondered about food 3.... Potato? Ever wondered about food 3.... Potato?The potato has been around for about 6000 years and is the most popular vegetable on Earth. Ever...
video record for Science shack 2 : Could you make yourself invisible? Science shack 2 : Could you make yourself invisible?Adam challenges the team to make him invisible!
video record for Science shack 2 : Can you live underwater? Science shack 2 : Can you live underwater?The team build an underwater home, but will Adam trust their engineering skills when it's his life...
video record for Science shack 2 : Could you fly like a bird? Science shack 2 : Could you fly like a bird?Adam gets in a flap, as he and the team try to fly like a bird.
video record for Science shack 2 : How high can you jump? Science shack 2 : How high can you jump?Science takes on sport as Adam challenges a variety of athletes to leap over the Science Shack.
video record for Ever wondered about food 2.... Coffee? Ever wondered about food 2.... Coffee?From filter, to percolator, to instant, we drink 600 billion cups of it a year - Ever Wondered...
video record for Ever wondered about food 2....Hamburgers? Ever wondered about food 2....Hamburgers?The Americans claim it...but where did this food icon actually come from? What has the price of a...
video record for Ever wondered about food 2....Pancakes? Ever wondered about food 2....Pancakes?In France it's a crepe, in Russia it's a blini - this simple recipe has flipped it's way around the...
video record for Ever wondered about food 2.... Sushi? Ever wondered about food 2.... Sushi?From Japanese art form to the ultimate in lean cuisine, Ever Wondered brings you the story of sushi.
video record for Ever wondered about food 2.... Soup? Ever wondered about food 2.... Soup?The history of tomato soup from its origins to the soup we know today
video record for Ever wondered about food 2.... Pizza? Ever wondered about food 2.... Pizza?The history of pizza from its origins to the pizza we eat today
video record for Ever wondered about food 2.... Beans? Ever wondered about food 2.... Beans?The history of beans from its origins to the beans we eat today
video record for The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : Newton The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : NewtonThe Comedian Mark Steel looks at the lives and works of historical figures
video record for Ever wondered about food 2.... Beer? Ever wondered about food 2.... Beer?The history of beer from its origins to the beer we drink today
video record for The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : Freud The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : FreudThe Comedian Mark Steel looks at the lives and works of historical figures
video record for The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : Aristotle The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : AristotleThe Comedian Mark Steel looks at the lives and works of historical figures
video record for The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : Darwin The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : DarwinThe Comedian Mark Steel looks at the lives and works of historical figures
video record for The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : Marx The Mark Steel lectures series 1 : MarxThe Comedian Mark Steel looks at the lives and works of historical figures
video record for Beagle 2: a mission to Mars 2 Beagle 2: a mission to Mars 2This programme follows the progress of the Beagle 2, mission to Mars
video record for Beagle 2: a mission to Mars 3 Beagle 2: a mission to Mars 3This programme follows the progress of the Beagle 2, mission to Mars
video record for Caterham - survival of the fastest: BBC4 version/ Caterham - survival of the fastest: BBC4 version/This is the story behind Caterham cars and their hopes for future car production