Off-air recordings for week 20-26 August 2011

Please email Rich Deakin rdeakin@glos.ac.uk , or fchmediaservices@glos.ac.uk if you would like any of the following programmes / series recording.*

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Saturday 20th August

Factual; History; Documentaries

The Normans

BBC2, 9:00-10:00pm, 1/3 - The Men from the North

In the first episode of an exciting three-part series, Professor Robert Bartlett explores how the Normans developed from a band of marauding Vikings into the formidable warriors who conquered England in 1066. He tells how the Normans established their new province of Normandy -'land of the northmen' - in northern France. They went on to build some of the finest churches in Europe and turned into an unstoppable force of Christian knights and warriors, whose legacy is all around us to this day. Under the leadership of Duke William, the Normans expanded into the neighbouring provinces of northern France. But William's greatest achievement was the conquest of England in 1066. The Battle of Hastings marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy and monarchy. The culture and politics of England would now be transformed by the Normans.


Factual; Natural History; Documentaries

Great Migrations

Channel 4, 8:00-9:00pm, 1/4 - Born To Move

The first episode of the series spans the globe, revealing four of the most remarkable animals' movements: sperm whales travelling over a million miles in a lifetime; red crabs overcoming horrific obstacles on a daily basis; monarch butterflies taking four generations to cross a continent; and wildebeest that, against all odds, avoid the gaping jaws of ravenous crocodiles.

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Sunday 21st

Ocean Giants

BBC1, 9:00-10:00pm, 2/3 - Deep Thinkers

Humans have long wondered if the universe may harbour other intelligent life forms. But perhaps we need look no further than our oceans?
Whales and dolphins, like humans, have large brains, are quick to learn new behaviours and use a wide range of sounds to communicate with others in their society. But how close are their minds to ours? In the Bahamas, Professor Denise Herzing believes she is very close to an answer, theorising that she will be able to hold a conversation with wild dolphins in their own language within five years.
In Western Australia, dolphins rely on their versatile and inventive brains to survive in a marine desert. In Alaska, humpback whales gather into alliances in which individuals pool their specialised talents to increase their hunting success. We discover how young spotted dolphins learn their individual names and the social etiquette of their pod, and how being curious about new objects leads Caribbean bottlenose dolphins to self-awareness and even to self-obsession. Finally, the film shows a remarkable group of Mexican grey whales, who seem able to empathize with humans and may even have a concept of forgiveness.

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Monday 22nd August

Factual; Science and Nature; Science and Technology

Horizon: The Nine Months That Made You

BBC2, 9:00-10:00pm, 3/6

Horizon explores the secrets of what makes a long, healthy and happy life. It turns out that a time you can't remember - the nine months you spend in the womb - could have more lasting effects on you today than your lifestyle or genes. It is one of the most powerful and provocative new ideas in human science, and it was pioneered by a British scientist, Professor David Barker. His theory has inspired a field of study that is revealing how our time in the womb could affect your health, personality, and even the lives of your children.

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Wednesday 24th August

Factual; History; Religion and Ethics; Documentaries

Seven Wonders of the Buddhist World

BBC2, 9:00-10:15pm

In this fascinating documentary, historian Bettany Hughes travels to the seven wonders of the Buddhist world and offers a unique insight into one of the most ancient belief systems still practised today.

Buddhism began 2,500 years ago when one man had an amazing internal revelation underneath a peepul tree in India. Today it is practised by over 350 million people worldwide, with numbers continuing to grow year on year.

In an attempt to gain a better understanding of the different beliefs and practices that form the core of the Buddhist philosophy and investigate how Buddhism started and where it travelled to, Hughes visits some of the most spectacular monuments built by Buddhists across the globe.
Her journey begins at the Mahabodhi Temple in India, where Buddhism was born; here Hughes examines the foundations of the belief system - the three jewels.
At Nepal's Boudhanath Stupa, she looks deeper into the concept of dharma - the teaching of Buddha, and at the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka, Bettany explores karma, the idea that our intentional acts will be mirrored in the future.

At Wat Pho Temple in Thailand, Hughes explores samsara, the endless cycle of birth and death that Buddhists seek to end by achieving enlightenment, before travelling to Angkor Wat in Cambodia to learn more about the practice of meditation.
In Hong Kong, Hughes visits the Giant Buddha and looks more closely at Zen, before arriving at the final wonder, the Hsi Lai temple in Los Angeles, to discover more about the ultimate goal for all Buddhists - nirvana.

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Thursday 25th August

Factual; History; Documentaries

The Story of British Pathe

BBC4, 9:00-10:00pm, 2/4

Series delving into film and newsreel company British Pathé's treasure trove of images, which documented almost every aspect of everyday life in Britain and around the world in the 20th century.


Factual; Families and relationships; History; Documentaries

Too Much, Too Young: Children of the Middle Ages

BBC4, 10:55-11:55pm

Medievalist Dr Stephen Baxter takes a fresh look at the Middle Ages through the eyes of children. At a time when half the population was under eighteen he argues that, although they had to grow up quickly and take on adult responsibility early, the experience of childhood could also be richly rewarding. Focusing on the three pillars of medieval society - religion, war and work - Baxter reveals how children played a vital role in creating the medieval world.

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Friday 26th August

Factual

Fraud Squad

ITV1, 9:00-10:00pm, 1/2

Fraud Squad - a new documentary series on ITV1- shadows Detectives as they investigate one of the biggest share frauds in Britain. The hunt for the Nigerian ringleader and his gang takes detectives across the playgrounds of Europe.

Will they recover the £20 million stolen from British victims before the gang spend it on their lavish lifestyles?
With unique access over two years, Fraud Squad shows the challenges British police face in dismantling a global criminal network and sheds light on the devastating impact fraud has on the British victims.
Fraud is the new goldmine for organised crime. 3.2 million people in Britain have become victims to an ever growing number of mass marketing scams. The gangs’ most lucrative enterprise is Boiler Room fraud. People are conned into buying worthless shares in fictitious companies. Some victims lose their homes, others have committed suicide...
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*This applies to staff members and students at the University of Gloucestershire only. Any recordings made are to be used only for educational and non-commercial purposes under the terms of the ERA Licence.