Boys watching TV in the 1950s

Historical film TV and radio

From binge-worthy period dramas to award-winning documentaries, find out why historical movies, TV and radio programs are more popular than ever, with this series of articles, podcasts and video

Tom Hiddleston and Genden Phuntsok stand side by side in mountaineering clothes, surrounded by snow and steep, ice-covered peaks. They portray Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in Tenzing.

20th Century

“I wouldn’t recommend anyone attempt Everest”: Tenzing director Jennifer Peedom on Everest queues, reclaiming lost narratives and dropping Loki into a crevasse

MembershipvideoI tried on THE dress from Pride and Prejudice. Here's how it felt

A bearded medieval figure in dark cloak stand in a misty landscape, holding a staff.

Medieval

We asked Hugh Jackman what it was like to play Robin Hood – and his answer was surprisingly dark

An older, bearded man in a heavy fur cloak faces the camera against a bleak mountain landscape.

Medieval

Who killed Robin Hood? The dark legends that inspired the new Hugh Jackman blockbuster

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Frida Kahlo: life of the week. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Hedy Lamarr: life of the week. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Cepheus, Odysseus and Eurylochus stand on a sandy ridge in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, wearing crested helmets, armour and cloaks, with swords at their sides. Odysseus stands prominently in the centre, with a military encampment visible behind the three warriors.

Ancient Greece

What is 'Zeus's Law'? The ancient moral code of The Odyssey explained

A large group of Mycenaean warriors marches through a misty pine forest in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Armoured soldiers wearing bronze helmets and cloaks advance with swords, spears and shields, led by commanders at the front.

Ancient Greece

Who are those giant soldiers in The Odyssey? The Laestrygonians explained

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Episode 5Walt Disney: Cartoon villain or genius leader?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Inside Pompeii with Tom Hiddleston: the hidden detail that most people miss. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An older man in a dark suit stands confidently at the centre of a dim pub, holding a pint of beer. Around him, several people sit or stand with drinks, watching him closely. A pool table with scattered billiard balls sits behind the group, lit by a stained‑glass lamp. Warm, vintage décor—framed pictures, dark wood, soft amber lighting—creates a classic bar atmosphere that suggests a tense or dramatic moment.

20th Century

"They caused a great deal of mayhem": The Westies creators on bringing the 1980s gangster drama to life

A dimly lit pub interior where four people sit around a worn wooden table. Several pint glasses filled with dark beer, a couple of shot glasses, an ashtray, and a packet of cigarettes are scattered across the tabletop. The group appears relaxed and deep in conversation; one person leans forward with their hands clasped, another rests an arm on the table, while the others sit back slightly. Behind them, framed pictures hang on the wall and a stained‑glass lamp casts warm, amber light over the scene, giving the space a cosy, intimate atmosphere.

20th Century

Is The Westies a true story? Here's the real history behind the Ronald Reagan-era gangster drama

Tom Hiddleston examines evidence of the events that unfolded at Pompeii. (National Geographic/Christian Black)

Roman

"Just like us and not at all" – what Tom Hiddleston wants us to remember about Pompeii

Illustration by Kate Hazell

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What is the most inaccurate historical movie? 8 experts pick the worst offenders. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Matt Damon appears as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. The bearded warrior stands in a coastal encampment dressed in dark armour, with rows of tents, soldiers and moored longships stretching into the background.

Ancient Greece

Is The Odyssey based on a true story? The movie's historical accuracy explained

Robert Pattinson as Antinous in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, seated in Odysseus’s palace wearing dark armour with ornate gold detailing. He clasps his hands together and looks intently to one side, surrounded by other figures in the dimly lit hall.

Ancient Greece

Was Antinous a real person? The history behind The Odyssey character explained

Tom Holland as Telemachus sits in a dimly lit hall in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Wearing bronze armour and a cloak, the prince stares pensively into the distance, surrounded by blurred figures in the background.

Ancient Greece

Was Telemachus a real person? The history behind The Odyssey character explained

Anne Hathaway as Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The queen looks ahead with a calm, resolute expression, wearing a dark blue gown and an intricate gold necklace.

Ancient Greece

Was Penelope a real person? The history behind The Odyssey character explained

Matt Damon portrays Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The battle-worn king stares anxiously into the distance, his face lit by firelight as cloaked figures stand behind him in the mist.

Ancient Greece

Was Odysseus a real person? The hero of the The Odyssey explained

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Historian reacts to the most painful part of The Odyssey trailer. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Tom Hiddleston in Pompeii, Out of Time

Roman

The Pompeii mystery Tom Hiddleston wants to solve

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Better than Bridgerton: the real Georgian masquerade. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A series of the same image of a woman wearing a white dress layered over each other, against a blue background

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Marilyn Monroe at 100: why the blonde bombshell was so much more than a sex symbol. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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The death of Adolf Hitler. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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David Attenborough and the evolution of nature documentaries. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Late 19th and early 20th-century 'lock-up mugshots' show style-conscious villains staring down the camera

Victorian

Who were the real Peaky Blinders?

Halle Berry holds up her Oscar statuette while posing in a sheer embroidered evening gown beside a large gold Oscar statue at a press backdrop.

20th Century

16 remarkable moments in the history of the Oscars

Two men sat outside a cafe with drinks on a table

First World War

How the work of American folk song collectors inspired The History of Sound

Trixie in 'Call the Midwife'

Period

History TV and radio in the UK: what's on our screens this week?

Georgian

Could Benedict and Sophie have lived happily ever after? The true history behind Bridgerton's cross-class romance

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