FRI 1/10/10: 9pm Downfall on More4

In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat. "Downfall" explores these final days of the Reich, where senior German leaders (such as Himmler and Goring) began defecting from their beloved Fuhrer, in an effort to save their own lives, while still others (Joseph Goebbels) pledge to die with Hitler. (15) Subtitles

ALSO 10pm WWI Aces Falling on The Yesterday Channel

THU 30/9/10: BLACKADDER NIGHT from 8pm on Gold

8pm Blackadder the Third
Robbie Coltrane guest stars in this episode of the superb sitcom. When Dr Samuel Johnson's new dictionary is used for firewood, Edmund must rewrite it overnight.

8:40pm The Blackadder
Edmund is appointed as Archbishop. Great Thomas Becket Episode, but watch out for a few dirty jokes.

9:20pm Blackadder Goes Forth
Private Plane shows the war from the air.
Blackadder Gold Site
Be Careful when showing Private Plane episode due to the sexual innuendo.
.

WED 29/09/10: 9pm Michael Wood's Story of England on BBC3

Michael Wood leads a group of local helpers in an archaeological excavation in the village of Kibworth.

BBC Site
Telegraph Review


The reaction to the Norman Conquest and the building of a castle are examined. To show in class, editing is required. Repeated tomorrow on Thursday at 10pm.

ALSO on More 4 9pm World War II: The Unseen Films

TUE 28/9/10 4:55pm Valkyrie on Sky Crime/Thriller

The most famous attempted assassination of Hitler is a great Tom Cruise movie.
The film depicts the 20 July plot in 1944 by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country. The attempt itself and an early attempt at the beggining of the movie are great ways to draw students into Anti-Hitler sentiment within Germany.

ALL WEEK: 8pm Hitler's Bodyguard on Yesterday

A close insight into the Fuhrer’s everyday life, HITLER’S BODYGUARD offers a rare opportunity to get a glimpse from the tyrant’s own perspective - his phobias, obsessions and weaknesses included. He reveals how he survived over 40 assassionation attempts. Showing clips during World War Two teaching can be a great closer.

MON 27/9/10: 9pm Titanic: The Mission on Channel 4

The team reproduce a 30-foot section of the steel bow to scale, and erect it at the Belfast dock from where Titanic was launched, as a gift to the people of Belfast and a lasting tribute to the shipbuilders who made her. They find out about the working culture of 100 years ago, when men were paid per rivet, and not for their time, and the incredible dangers of shipbuilding before our age of health and safety.
Useful for showing working conditions in the late Industrial Revolution or as a pramble to the class division on the ship itself.

SUN 26/9/10: 9pm 300 on FIVE

In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian army in the mountain pass of Thermopylae. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. Persian King Xerxes lead a Army of well over 100,000 (Persian king Xerxes before war has about 170,000 army) men to Greece and was confronted by 300 Spartans.
Great film only suitable for Sixth Form or University students

SAT 25/9/10: 8pm Aircraft Stories WWI on Knowledge Discovery

How the US has played a major role in protecting Western Europe since the First World WarDocumentary

Fri 24/9/10: 10pm Secrets of Stalingrad on Yesterday

One of the most pivotal conflicts of World War II, the Battle of Stalingrad is shrouded in mystery. Experts use archive footage to attempt to shed some light on this bloody battle.
Dunkirk Final at 8pm

Thur 23/9/10: 7:30pm Five - Escape from Auschwitz

The stories of those who managed to escape the World War II death camp.
ALSO
The Black Adder 8pm on Gold
Blackadder II 8:40pm on Gold
Blackadder the Third 9:20pm on Gold
ALSO
Dunkirk Part 2 8pm Yesterday Channel

Weds 22/9/10 8pm - Dunkirk - Yesterday Channel

Dramatised account of the World War II evacuation of Allied Forces from France, starring Simon Russell Beale.
Useful show to highlight the "heroic victorious defeat". The emotional context provides a reality for students to cling to and allow them to decrypt the odd term for Dunkirk.
CONTINUES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT 8PM

Tue 21/9/10: 8:30pm BBC4 A Time to Remember

Episode 1 of 12. Archive footage of aviators who took to the skies in the 20th century. Interesting show and useful when showing technological or design development. Gems in the rough.

THU 16/09/10: 8:40pm GOLD - Blackadder Goes Forth

Despite problems with communications, orders for another mission arrive and Blackadder breaches regulations by eating the messenger. With George as his attorney in a court martial, and with only one night to live, can the Flanders pigeon murderer avoid death by firing squad using Baldrick's smuggled escape kit? Guest starring Jeremy Hardy as Corporal Perkins and Stephen Frost as Corporal Jones.

WED 15/09/10: 10pm MORE 4 - The Lost World War One Bunker: A Time Team Special

This Time Team Special explores one of the best-kept secrets of the yesteryear of World War I: the story of a war waged underground. Tony Robinson joins an unprecedented archaeological expedition in search of a perfectly preserved, massive bunker, or dugout, called the Vampir.

TUE 14/09/10: 9pm BBC2 - First Light

Drama-documentary. At the age of just 18, Geoffrey Wellum was one of the youngest Spitfire pilots to go into combat in the Battle of Britain. A boy, barely out of school, he is determined to fight for survival. The price of victory will be more than he can bear.

Sun 12/9/10: 7pm ITV David Jason: The Battle of Britain

Sir David Jason has flown in a Spitfire for an ITV1 tribute to the Battle of Britain.

The Only Fools and Horses star, 70, explained: "I was only six months old then but I owe my freedom to the 1940 RAF aces in such planes. So I'm humbled and proud to be in this documentary."

In David Jason: Battle of Britain (Sunday, 7pm), he also meets pilot Bill Green, who flew 29 missions in nine days before being gunned down.

SAT 11/9/10: ALL DAY Seven Ages of Britain on the Knowledge Channel

THE ENTIRE SERIES IS ON ALL DAY AND IT IS REPEATED AGAIN FROM 7PM

FRI 10/9/10: 12:15am AMAZING GRACE on ITV 3

GREAT FILM ON THE HORRIBLE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY
Amazing Grace is a 2006 film directed by Michael Apted about the campaign against the slave trade in 19th century Britain, led by William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. The title is a reference to the hymn "Amazing Grace" and the film also recounts John Newton's writing of the hymn and highlights his influence on Wilberforce.

Thur 9/9/10: 8pm GOLD Blackadder Goes Forth

8pm Blackadder Goes Forth - Field Marshall Haig plans a new offensive. Great way to teach the condition of soldiers during the First World War.

8:40pm Blackadder the Third - The Prime Minister Plans to bankrupt the Prince Regent. I use this episode to teach 19th century voting and how bad it was. Interesting lead in to Chartist, Pocket Boroughs and more.

9:20pm Blackadder II - Edmund decides to take in a young lad as his manservant.

..... and its my birthday!

WED 8/9/10: 10:35pm ITV Words From The Blitz

A cast of actors including Dominic West, Romola Garai, Sheila Hancock, Russell Tovey, Alex Jennings, Joseph Beattie and Steven Berkoff read the diaries and letters of men and women from teenagers to fire-fighters, nurses and senior government officials, offering a rich insight into how the impact of the Blitz was felt on a deeply personal level, but also evoking how it affected all levels of society.

Dominic West reads from the diary of John Colville, Assistant Private Secretary to Sir Winston Churchill.
Bringing the words to life with their passion and performance. This will reveal the desires, concerns and fear of various people that lived through the Homefront Horror of World War Two.

TUES 7/9/10: 10pm Nazi Hunters on The History Channel

Tracking down the evil Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, who conducted all sorts of evil experiements.
He even stitched twins who were not conjoined together to see if they could stay alive just sharing one organ.
Evil.

MON 6/9/10: 9pm BBC 1 Who Do You Think You Are?

8/9 Holby City actor Hugh Quarshie investigates his Dutch Ancestry.

MONDAY HISTORY MADNESS

Channel 5 - 9pm - The Last of the Mohicans (15)
The History Channel - 8pm - America: The Story of Us explores the American Revolution
Yesterday Channel - 9pm - Battlefied Britain: Bonnie Prince Charlie's Rebellion

Sun 5/9/10: ALL DAY Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? is on all day and it is repeated again at...

7pm Julian Clary looks into the Imperoal War Museum
8pm Jane Horrocks explores her northern roots
9pm Shelia Hancock looks into her Italian roots
10pm Steven Fry delves into his Jewish Background

Sat 4/9/10: ALL DAY Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? is on all day and it is repeated again at...

7pm Vic Reeves researches his bigamist grandfather

8pm Jeremy Paxton explores his Bradford roots

9pm Lesley Garrett explores her musical heritage

10pm Meera Syal examines a forbissen romance

Fri 3/9/10: 9pm Mastermind "Tudors"

Don't normally go for quiz shows but I thought the specialist topic of the Tudors could be a rude awakening for students and students.

Channel 4 7:30pm Who Do You Think You Were? Past life regression

Thu 2/9/10 9pm Battlefield Britain on Yesterday

Yes it's another one in this solid series. It's a doozy in that the Battle of Naseby is brought to life. The Civil War can be seen using the latest graphics and solid dramatised first hand accounts. It probably could have be condensed into half an hour but with some judicious editing or fast forwarding you should be entertained.