Storyline

Documentary series which ranges widely over Britain's social and cultural history, its narrative-led storytelling offering a richly immersive and varied window onto the past.

First Aired

2002-10-10
Last Aired

2017-04-20
Creator
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

17
Episodes

184
Status

Returning Series
Language

English
Network

BBC Four

Keywords:

great britain society culture

Stream and watch Timeshift

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Season 9

Season 10

Season 11

Season 12

Season 13

Season 14

Season 15

Season 16

Season 17

1. The Grunwick Strike

Documentary recalling the industrial dispute at the Grunwick film processing business in North London ...More

Documentary recalling the industrial dispute at the Grunwick film processing business in North London in 1976. Featuring film archive from the time and interviews with key players.Less

60mins 2002-10-10

2. The Cannabis Years

An in-depth examination of how the debate surrounding cannabis has evolved over the past 50 years.

An in-depth examination of how the debate surrounding cannabis has evolved over the past 50 years.Less

60mins 2002-10-12

3. The Writer's Trade

Examining the changing image of the novelist over the last 50 years.

Examining the changing image of the novelist over the last 50 years.Less

60mins 2002-10-19

4. The Sailing Sixties

In the mid 1960s Britain went boating mad. This documentary tells the story of how an extraordinary ma...More

In the mid 1960s Britain went boating mad. This documentary tells the story of how an extraordinary maritime revolution that was kick-started by waterproof glues developed for bomber aircraft led to a whole generation of DIY dinghy builders, and ended in tragedy with the suicide of amateur yachtsman Donald Crowhurst.Less

60mins 2002-11-09

5. Attenborough: The Controller Years

Charting the time of our favorite presenter at the head of the then struggling and controversial BBC2....More

Charting the time of our favorite presenter at the head of the then struggling and controversial BBC2. Packed chock full of interviews, clips and reminiscences both old and new, including the very tasty Joan Bakewell of the 60s... Sir David Attenborough's reign as controller of BBC TWO, from 1965 to 1973, is still thought of as the golden age of television.Less

60mins 2002-11-16

6. he Rise and Fall of the Comedy Straight Man

Timeshift celebrates the comedy double act's unsung half, with archive footage of Morecambe and Wise, ...More

Timeshift celebrates the comedy double act's unsung half, with archive footage of Morecambe and Wise, Benny Hill and the Monty Python team. Contributors include Syd Little and Barry Cryer. Narrated by Mark Lamarr.Less

60mins 2002-11-30

7. A Shadow Over Europe

In 1945, two and a half million ethnic Germans were driven from their homes in Czechoslovakia. Thousan...More

In 1945, two and a half million ethnic Germans were driven from their homes in Czechoslovakia. Thousands died. Now, as the Czech Republic heads for EU membership, Charles Wheeler reports on how the Czechs made the Sudeten German minority pay for Nazi occupation, and why it became a hot political issue. This is a story about Germans as victims of World War II.Less

60mins 2002-12-03

8. Whatever Happened to the Working Class?

This programme in the Time Shift strand explores the history of the current conflict over class

This programme in the Time Shift strand explores the history of the current conflict over classLess

60mins 2003-02-11

9. Notting Hill Riots

Examining the west London riots of August 1958, which were the catalyst for black actMsm in Britain an...More

Examining the west London riots of August 1958, which were the catalyst for black actMsm in Britain and inspired the annual carnival.Less

60mins 2003-01-18

10. What Have the Germans Done for Us?

From VW Beetles to Blue Nun and Kraftwerk, a look at Germany's conrtibution to British life

From VW Beetles to Blue Nun and Kraftwerk, a look at Germany's conrtibution to British lifeLess

60mins 2003-02-16

11. Greenham Common Changed My Life

The story of the women who occupied the Greenham Common Peace Camp from 1981 to 2000 - what brought th...More

The story of the women who occupied the Greenham Common Peace Camp from 1981 to 2000 - what brought them to Greenham, their protests, conflicts with authority and the life they led at the camp. Contributors include Fiona Bruce, Fay Weldon and Joan Ruddock, all of whom visited the site to show their support.Less

60mins 2003-02-23

12. Car Crazy

The story of the British love of the motor car from the earliest days of mass production in the 1920s ...More

The story of the British love of the motor car from the earliest days of mass production in the 1920s to today's MPVs and post-modern Minis told through a succession of classic models from the Austin 7 and Morris Minor to the Ford Cortina.Less

60mins 2003-03-02

13. The Magic Roundabout Story

Created by a French animator, the show was reinterpreted for Britain, with classic characters like Dou...More

Created by a French animator, the show was reinterpreted for Britain, with classic characters like Dougal. It transformed the careers of actor Eric Thompson and animator Ivor Wood and has spawned a movie.Less

60mins 2003-03-16

14. Malcolm Muggeridge: Swimming Against the Stream

The controversial broadcaster is profiled by Time Shift. How did the son of a Croydon clerk become one...More

The controversial broadcaster is profiled by Time Shift. How did the son of a Croydon clerk become one of TV's geniune originals? Interviewees include Cormac Murphy O'Connor.Less

60mins 2003-03-24

15. Gurus

Time Shift examines how the philosophy of the Indian guru has travelled into mainstream British societ...More

Time Shift examines how the philosophy of the Indian guru has travelled into mainstream British society.Less

60mins 2003-03-30

16. A Brief Interlude

A short film about "The Interludes" - a series of short films made by the BBC in the 1940s and 1950s t...More

A short film about "The Interludes" - a series of short films made by the BBC in the 1940s and 1950s to fill in during technical breakdowns and gaps in the schedules. The most famous ones showed a potter's wheel, a cat playing with a ball of wool and a horse-drawn plough.Less