Apart from the two ‘documentaries’ fronted by James May, this season of programmes across various BBC channels looks very promising indeed.
It’s a shame that so many documentaries these days have to be conceptualised as a ‘personal mission’ on behalf of some ‘celebrity’ presenter, rather than relying on the subject matter itself to sell the show. Why on (or off) Earth does James May have to “makes his own very personal mission to travel to the ends of the Earth in two one-off documentaries” in order to “celebrate this most momentous historical event”? I doubt I’ll be watching those two efforts, but the rest sound interesting:
NASA – Triumph And Tragedy (2 x 60 minutes)
BBC Two
Examining NASA's achievements and humankind's race to understand the universe. Two 60-minute films see award-winning archivists uncover forgotten material as well as featuring original first-generation negatives of more familiar footage, digitally restored to its original glory. The restored footage reveals space walks, moonwalks, exaltation and despair through the eyes and ears of a special band of brothers. Blended within the footage are revealing and insightful interviews with those who were there: the astronauts, family members, staff and journalists.
Being Neil Armstrong (working title) (1 x 60 minutes)
BBC Four
In the four decades since he first set foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong has become increasingly reclusive. Andrew Smith, author of the best-selling book Moondust, sets out across America to find out who the true Neil Armstrong is, and why he won't speak to anyone about his historic journey.
Apollo Wives (working title) (1 x 60 minutes)
BBC Four
Ten extraordinary women, all in their 70s, come to Arizona for a very special reunion. They are very different from one another, but all have one amazing thing in common – each was married to an Apollo astronaut.
Space Dogs (1 x 60 minutes)
BBC Four
The secret history of dog cosmonautics in Russia is revealed, featuring unique archival footage, including the first "dog flight" into space, taken inside the space capsule.
The Moon (1 x 60 minutes)
BBC Four
1972 was the year a great love affair ended and the human race fell out of love with the Moon – just three years after the world was gripped by Neil Armstrong's giant leap for mankind, the last man left the moon. We've never been back. This film tells the epic story of our love affair with the Moon – what inspired it, how it faded away and how we're now falling in love all over again.
Sky At Night – Mapping The Moon (1 x 30 minutes)
BBC Four
Look at the moon – you can easily pick out craters, mountains and lava seas. In this special Sky At Night Sir Patrick Moore guides us through the most familiar celestial object in the night sky while Dr Chris Lintott gives tips on how to observe the moon.
Sky At Night – Moon Special (1 x 30 minutes)
A new and exciting era of lunar exploration is dawning, with more and more probes being launched to try to unlock the Moon's darkest secrets. Sir Patrick Moore finds out about British ambitions to go to the Moon, while Dr Chris Lintott travels to NASA. He investigates plans to blast a crater in the lunar surface and meets the astronauts who may be the next men on the Moon.
Sky At Night – A Night To Remember (1 x 120 minutes)
BBC Four
July 1969 saw what is possibly humankind's greatest achievement, the first landing on the Moon. Using archive sound, satellite footage and rare film taken by the Apollo astronauts, Sir Patrick Moore presents the story of our first journey to another world.
Days That Shook The World – First Man On The Moon
BBC Four
It is 20 July 1969 and in Houston, Texas, man is about to take his first steps on the Moon. In a gripping anatomy of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing – one of the most important days in human history – viewers can see the events hour by hour as they unfold.
All-in-all, a very tempting line up…
Image Credit: BBC
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