Reel History of Britain - Season 1

In Torquay, Melvyn looks back to the 1940s and the largest mass movement of people in British history - wartime evacuation. Bunty Tait shares her epic adventure as a runaway evacuee. EastEnders star Derek Martin tells stories of his time as an evacuee, and relives the terror of the Blitz. And Derek Capel recounts his harrowing experience of surviving a torpedo attack by the Nazis when he was evacuated overseas.

In Soho, Melvyn looks back to the 1950s and a time when Britain broke free of the burdens of the Second World War and the teenager was born. One of the original trendsetters, Wee Willy Harris, talks about the rockers who ripped up the dance floor. Molly Lowton and Jennie Prescott glimpse a much-loved friend and sister in films of their village dance. And 50s heartthrob Marty Wilde explains how the new music scene brightened up postwar Britain.

At the Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum and Barracks in Preston, Melvyn looks back to the First World War, when British men answered the call to fight for king and country. Rita Humphrey shares the remarkable story of her uncle, Walter Tull, who overcame great prejudice to become the first black officer in the British Army. Richard Bell talks about his great uncle Donald who received the highest award for valour during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. And Accrington man Les Bond gives his verdict on the sacrifice made by the men of his home town's Pals Battalion, including his uncle Harry, who died at the Battle of the Somme.

At the Big Pit Mining Museum in south Wales, Melvyn looks back to the 1930s and salutes Britain's 'black diamonds', brave miners who risked their lives digging for the coal that powered an empire. Vicky Stradling tells the shocking truth about one of the worst disasters in coal mining history. Melvyn goes underground to learn about the limited safety equipment used by coalminers in the 1930s. And David Bogg reveals the occupational hazards of working with pit ponies.

At Cliveden House in Berkshire, Melvyn looks back to the Roaring Twenties to discover how the other half lived, when a group of bright young people created Britain's first modern cult of celebrity.

The tragic story of Britain's original 'it girl', Elizabeth Ponsonby, is told by her niece Elizabeth. The current Lord Astor returns to his ancestral home to give a guided tour. And Martin Blaber explains what life was like below stairs for Cliveden's renowned head butler, his uncle, Edwin Lee.

This episode comes from at Osterley Park in Middlesex, the site of the first Home Guard training school, to look back to the Second World War and a time when millions of ordinary men were prepared to die for their country.

Home Guard recruit Robert Brown comes face to face with his father as a Home Guard Company Commander; Dad's Army creator Jimmy Perry explains why he signed up to the Home Guard; and Ken Chambers shares us his own extraordinary stories from his time in the Home Guard, some of which could have been taken straight from Dad's Army.

This episode comes from Columbia Road in the East End of London and looks back to the 1930s, a time when millions of people across Britain lived in the squalor of urban slums.

Two cousins, Pat and Carole, come face to face with their grandfather, who was captured in a remarkable 1935 film of Stepney tenement slums. Childhood friends Roger Packer and Brian Davies talk about the sense of community which existed amongst the slum dwellers, and Stan Hardy shares his incredible story about his years in the workhouse as a young boy.

This episode comes from the Haynes International Motor Museum in Somerset, and looks back to the 1960s when dreams of the open road became a reality for the first time for millions of people.

Joan Wright remembers the impact on her family when her father acquired his first car, and Joe Moran talks about being one of the thousands of men who travelled from Ireland to build Britain's motorways. And Anna Purkiss sees footage of her parents that evokes emotional memories of the time they were forced to make way for the motorway.

This episode comes from Great Yarmouth, once home to the world's largest herring fleet, and looks back to the 1920s and the heyday of British fishing.

Melvyn speaks to Fred Normandale, whose family have been fishing since the early eighteenth century, and Ronnie King who first went to sea in a steam drifter in 1937. Maritime historian and writer Mike Smylie talks about the heyday of herrings before the fish finger got us hooked. And fishing lassie descendant, Irene Watt provides an unexpected musical treat with a sea shanty about the work of her ancestors.

This episode comes from Bristol airport and looks back to the 1970s when package holidays really took off and millions of British holidaymakers headed abroad.

Former Pontins entertainer, Paul James remember when this most British of holiday chains first set up camp in the Mediterranean. Jean Pitt and Jane Hosegood talk about what it was like being some of Bristol airport's first package holiday reps. And Stephen Manley-Clarke recounts how his passion for air travel, beginning with his first package holiday, led to a life spent in the air.

This episode comes from the College of Medical and Dental Sciences in Birmingham and looks back to 1948 and the formation of the NHS.

June Rosen shares a childhood memory of serving breakfast to the health secretary Nye Bevan on the day he announced the birth of the NHS, while Aneira Thomas reveals her remarkable claim to fame: she was the first baby born on the NHS. And one of Britain's top nurses, Nola Ishmael, shares her experiences on arriving from Barbados to start her training.

Melvyn Bragg tours the country to show films from the BFI's collection to tell the history of Britain. In Glasgow, he looks at the ship building industry in the 1930s.

Melvyn Bragg tours the country to show films from the BFI's collection to tell the history of Britain. In Leicestershire, he looks at the events of the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Melvyn Bragg tours the country to show films from the BFI's collection to tell the history of Britain. At the Museum of Kent Life, he looks at rural life in the 1930s.

Melvyn Bragg tours the country to show films from the BFI's collection to tell the history of Britain. In Watford, he looks at films relating to school days in the 1960s.

Melvyn visits London's Horse Guard's parade to look back to the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and remember an event when the nation celebrated and television took off.

Lady Jane Rayne shares her memories of being one of the six young women chosen to carry the royal train. Sandra Reekie is transported back to coronation day, when she watched the event live on television with twenty people crammed into the same room. And Ron Bygate recounts his memories of being one of the thousands of military troops lining the parade route as the Queen passed by.

Melvyn Bragg tours the country to show films from the BFI's collection to tell the history of Britain. In Sheffield, he looks at films about 1970s housing redevelopments.

Melvyn visits Sheringham in Norfolk, home of the North Norfolk Heritage Railway, to look back to the 1960s when the Beeching Axe led to the closure of 4,000 miles of track, over 2,000 stations and the loss of 67,000 railway jobs.

Susan Hawkes sees her beloved uncle on film for the first time in twenty years, tending his station garden at Aldeburgh. Lifelong signalman Michael Gatenby comes face to face with his younger self on screen. And there is a trip down memory lane with pop mogul and lifelong train enthusiast Pete Waterman.

In Manchester, Melvyn looks back to the 1900s and the dawn of a new era, when the invention of the film camera put everyday people in the picture.

Margaret Koppens talks about her grandfather who was one of the thousands of children who risked life and limb in the cotton mills of Lancashire. Fairground owner Peter Sedgwick comes face to face with his great grandfather who started the family business back in 1900. Plus, how a discovery of film stock in a Blackburn basement ended up a world treasure.

Melvyn Bragg tours the country to show films from the BFI's collection to tell the history of Britain. The last stop is Blackpool, as we look at seaside holidays in the 1950s.