BBC Two

Heart Bypass: Birmingham

Jonathan Meades offers an affectionate critique of Birmingham - home of Balti, ELO, heavy metal, conferences, 'Crossroads' and Cadbury's - from its architecture and canals to the Brummie accent and humour.

Windrush

Windrush is a 4-part series of one hour television documentaries originally broadcast on BBC2 in 1998 to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival in Britain of the Empire Windrush, the ship which brought the first wave of post-war West Indian immigrants.

In the Red

A series of killings of bank managers has London in a turmoil, all the way up to Parliament. And the killer regularly calls about his handiwork, but only to a street-wise, and usually rather tipsy, radio reporter, about to be sacked for his habitual irreverence toward his station and the BBC. And while everything seems to point to a lead singer of a rock group famous for the "In The Red" music which has been connected to the killings, in typical British mystery fashion, there are also other sub-plots to be considered.

Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round

Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round was a comedy sketch show which ran on BBC2 for a total of 6 episodes over one series in 1998. Alexei Sayle's final series was almost identical in format to The All New Alexei Sayle Show except with yet another change of writers.. Unusually, there was no studio audience. Sketches included the talents of Noel Fielding, Lee Hurst, Paul Putner, Gemma Rigg, Reece Shearsmith, Jessica Stevenson, David Walliams and Peter Serafinowicz The continuing adventures of Bobby Chariot were chronicled. Now free from any obligation to be Alexei's warm-up man, he traversed a series of other career cul-de-sacs under the appalling management of the repulsive "Edna" Denise Coffey. In one episode, the joke was turned on its head as Chariot performed for an audience of students, who enjoyed his act ironically and responded to his catchphrase "How ya diddling?" with an enthusiastic reply of "We're diddling fine!". Meanwhile Alexei Sayle himself was depicted as living in a Teletubbies-style burrow somewhere in the posh part of North London.

Stressed Eric

Eric Feeble is a middle-class divorced father of two who resides in London, England. An average man, with a less than average life, Eric is endlessly at his wits end -- stressed out with his family, coworkers, and his life in general.

The Fifty Years War: Israel and the Arabs

The main decision-makers from Israel, the Arab states, Russia and the US tell the inside story of the Arab-Israel conflict.

Our Mutual Friend

After his father's will stipulates he must marry Bella Wilfer to inherit his fortune, John Harmon fakes his death to avoid the marriage and the threats on his life. He returns as John Rokesmith and becomes the secretary for the Boffins, who inherit Harmon's estate following his alleged death.

If I Ruled the World

If I Ruled the World is a BBC comedy panel show parodying politics and politicians. Hosted by Clive Anderson, with team captains, Graham Garden and Jeremy Hardy. Guests included Mark Steel, Rebecca Front, Tony Hawks, Andy Hamilton and Doon MacKichan.

How Do You Want Me?

Following their marriage, Ian and Lisa move back to the village where she grew up, a village still dominated by her family. In order to try to fit in, Ian takes a job as the village photographer, a profession for which he is not really cut out.

Is It Bill Bailey?

Is It Bill Bailey? is a stand up/sketch comedy series written by and starring Bill Bailey. Each episode features stage performances, interspersed with skits starring himself and other actors. As well as parodies of pop songs or artists, he deconstructs music from popular television shows.

The Entertainment Biz

A vivid six-part portrait of the global entertainment industry.

This Morning with Richard Not Judy

This Morning With Richard Not Judy or TMWRNJ is a BBC comedy television programme, written by and starring Lee and Herring. Two series were broadcast in 1998 and 1999 on BBC2. The name was a satirical reference to ITV's This Morning which was at the time popularly referred to as This Morning with Richard and Judy. The show was a reworking of old material from their previous work together along with new characters. The show was hosted in a daytime chat show format in front of a live studio audience, although it featured a small proportion of pre-recorded location inserts. It was structured by the often strange obsessions of Richard Herring; examples include his rating of the milk of all creatures and attempting to popularise the acronym of the show. The show featured repetition, with regular and vigilant viewers being rewarded by jokes that would make no sense to casual viewers. The show seemed to oscillate between the intellectual and puerile. However, irony was often used, even though the citing of irony as an excuse was mocked by the show's stars in one of many self-referential jokes.

An Awfully Big Adventure

Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends

Louis Theroux which delves into the weirder fringes of American society.

The Legend of the Lost Keys

The Legend of the lost keys is an educational BBC Look and Read production, which was first aired on BBC Two on 12 January 1998, and has been shown regularly ever since.

Looking After Jo Jo

Jo Jo is an Edinburgh Goodfella with a sharp mind and a cavalier attitude to law. In the bleak, edgy climate of the 1980's Jo Jo is seen by many on the estate as a hero; out-manoeuvring the police while supporting his close-knit family. What is it that draws the charming and confident Jo Jo to Lorraine, a vulnerable woman obsessed by Marilyn Monroe? What figure from his past is fuelling his fantasies and driving him towards darker crimes and the quicksand of heroin? Can Jo Jo look after himself when he doesn't know who he is?

Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines

Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines was a six-part documentary series, originally broadcast on BBC Two in 1998. The series focused on presenter Jeremy Clarkson, testing out a series of cars, jet planes and powerboats.

Meet the Ancestors

Meet the Ancestors aka Ancestors was a BBC Television documentary series that documented the archaeological excavation and scientific reconstruction of human remains. The series was introduced by archaeologist Julian Richards and often included facial reconstructions by Caroline Wilkinson.

Robot Wars

Teams of amateur robot fighting enthusiasts battle it out over a series of rounds in a huge purpose-built arena aiming to become the Robot Wars Champion.

Operation Good Guys

Operation Good Guys is a British mockumentary, a fly-on-the-wall documentary series about an elite police unit's bid to snare one of Britain's most powerful crime lords.Blurring the line between fact and fiction, it witnesses, on camera, the total breakdown, professionally and personally, of the Operation Good Guys team. Throughout the operation, The 'Good Guys' have an unfortunate habit of embroiling into their calamitous world some of the country's best-known celebrities, from actors and footballers, to TV presenters and even the odd ex-convict.