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 Landscape mysteries: In search of Irish gold Landscape mysteries: In search of Irish goldFirst in this eight-part series, Aubrey travels to Ireland in search of a Celtic Eldorado, a secret...
video record for Landscape mysteries: Figures in the chalk Landscape mysteries: Figures in the chalkIn this programme Aubrey travels to the Chalk Hills of Southern England to unravel the origins of...
video record for Landscape mysteries: Britain before the ice Landscape mysteries: Britain before the iceIn this programme Aubrey attempts to journey back nearly 30,000 years, to a Britain before the last...
video record for Landscape mysteries: Secrets of the Flood Landscape mysteries: Secrets of the FloodProgramme four of the series sees Aubrey in the Solent, off the south coast of England. It's known...
video record for Landscape mysteries: The Tower People of Shetland Landscape mysteries: The Tower People of ShetlandFor show five in the series, The Tower People of Shetland, Aubrey travels to the most northerly...
video record for Landscape mysteries: The Abandoned Marsh Landscape mysteries: The Abandoned MarshProgramme six and a trip to the bleak Romney Marsh, where, in The Abandoned Marsh, Aubrey searches...
video record for Landscape mysteries: The Riddle of the Yorkshire Tracks Landscape mysteries: The Riddle of the Yorkshire TracksProgramme seven and Aubrey ventures to a bleak and dangerous place - the North Yorkshire coastline...
video record for Landscape mysteries: The Terraces of Avalon Landscape mysteries: The Terraces of AvalonFor the last programme in this series Aubrey travels to Glastonbury to investigate the riddle of...
video record for Cast and crew : Saturday night, Sunday morning Cast and crew : Saturday night, Sunday morningKirsty Wark introducing members of the cast and crew before watching the film. After watching the...
video record for Cast and crew : Loneliness of the long distance runner / Cast and crew : Loneliness of the long distance runner /Cast and the crew of the film 'Loneliness of the long distance runner' discuss the making of the...
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 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 Big Read 1 : Pride and Prejudice ; His Dark Materials ; Birdsong The Big Read 1 : Pride and Prejudice ; His Dark Materials ; BirdsongIn this episode of the Big Read: Meera Syal nominates Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'; Benedict...
video record for The Big Read 2 : Winnie the Pooh The Big Read 2 : Winnie the PoohIn this programme Phill Jupitus nominates A. A. Milne's 'The World of Winnie the Pooh' as his...
video record for The Big Read 2 : Captain Correlli's Mandolin The Big Read 2 : Captain Correlli's MandolinIn this programme Clare Short nominates Louis de Bernieres' 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' as her...
video record for The Big Read 3 : To Kill a Mockingbird ; The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ; Gone With the Wind The Big Read 3 : To Kill a Mockingbird ; The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ; Gone With the WindIn this episode of the Big Read: John Humphreys nominates Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' ;...
video record for The Big Read 4 : Lord of the Rings ; Wuthering Heights ; Catch 22 The Big Read 4 : Lord of the Rings ; Wuthering Heights ; Catch 22In this episode of the Big Read: Ray Mears nominates J. R. R. Tolkein's 'Lord of the Rings';...
video record for The Big Read 5 : Great Expectations ; Rebecca ; 1984 The Big Read 5 : Great Expectations ; Rebecca ; 1984In this episode of the Big Read: David Dimbleby nominates Charles Dickens's 'Great Expectations';...
video record for The Big Read 6 : Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ; Wind in the Willows ; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe The Big Read 6 : Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ; Wind in the Willows ; The Lion, the Witch...In this episode of the Big Read: Fay Ripley nominates J. K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter and the Goblet...
video record for The Big Read 7 : War and Peace ; Little Women ; Jane Eyre The Big Read 7 : War and Peace ; Little Women ; Jane EyreIn this episode of the Big Read: Simon Schama nominates Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace'; Sandi...
video record for The Big Read Top 21 Revealed The Big Read Top 21 RevealedClive Anderson counts down The Big Read Top 100 novels from numbers 100 - 22 before revealing the...
video record for The Romantics : Nature The Romantics : NatureThis programme examines the birth of the modern notion of nature. The Industrial Revolution sought...
video record for Music of the primes Music of the primesPrime numbers - those figures which refuse to be divided neatly by anything other than one and...
video record for History detectives : 3. WW2 bomber; Witchbottle History detectives : 3. WW2 bomber; WitchbottleThe History detectives is a programme where history is rediscovered through investigation. Each...
video record for History detectives : 4. Seal matrix; The toolbox History detectives : 4. Seal matrix; The toolboxThe History detectives is a programme where history is rediscovered through investigation. Each...
video record for History detectives : 5. Walnutshell gloves; Montgomerie's chest History detectives : 5. Walnutshell gloves; Montgomerie's chestThe History detectives is a programme where history is rediscovered through investigation. Each...
video record for History detectives : 6. Napoleon's coffin; The eBay uniform History detectives : 6. Napoleon's coffin; The eBay uniformThe History detectives is a programme where history is rediscovered through investigation. Each...
video record for James May's 20th century : 6. Big city, bright lights James May's 20th century : 6. Big city, bright lightsTop Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century - trying out for himself some of the...
video record for James May's 20th century : 5. Inventing the teenager James May's 20th century : 5. Inventing the teenagerTop Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century - trying out for himself some of the...
video record for James May's 20th century : 2. Blast off James May's 20th century : 2. Blast offTop Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century - trying out for himself some of the...
video record for James May's 20th century : 1. Honey, I shrunk the world James May's 20th century : 1. Honey, I shrunk the worldTop Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century - trying out for himself some of the...
video record for James May's 20th century : 3. Body fantastic James May's 20th century : 3. Body fantasticTop Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century - trying out for himself some of the...
video record for James May's 20th century : 4. Take cover James May's 20th century : 4. Take coverTop Gear presenter James May takes a tour of the 20th century - trying out for himself some of the...
video record for The cosmos: 1. Life in the cosmos The cosmos: 1. Life in the cosmosThis six part series tackles the big questions about the solar system, space and the universe. This...
video record for The cosmos: 2. Building the universe The cosmos: 2. Building the universeThis six part series tackles the big questions about the solar system, space and the universe. This...