Catch up TV

This episode is currently not available.

Series 1: 5. Activists



Sanjeev Bhaskar explore the lives of the 20th century's greatest activists, examining the lives of Emmeline Pankhurst, Mahatma Gandhi, Helen Keller and Martin Luther King Jr. He'll assess the qualities that made them great, and the groundbreaking ways in which each of them fought for their causes. \n\nThe 20th Century was the century of activism. It was a century in which a series of extraordinarily brave individuals encouraged whole swathes of society to throw off the shackles of oppression and get the rights they deserved. These activists spoke for those without a voice, often prepared to lay down their lives for the causes they believed in.\n\nAt the beginning of the century, most women couldn't vote, empires ruled much of the planet and marginalised people across the world were being persecuted. The work of these four icons would help society take huge leaps forward. Clearly, there is much more to do in a pursuit of a world in which everyone is equal, but today's activists stand on the shoulders of these giants. Each of these four greats dared to step outside the expectations society had of them. They changed what the world thought possible for women, the subjugated, disabled people and African Americans, and in doing so advanced their causes exponentially. If it weren't for these four icons, history would be very different. Often softened and sanitised by history, this documentary reminds us that these people were firebrands, revolutionaries who were unafraid to risk everything for the advancement of their causes.\n\nEmmeline Pankhurst rallied women in one of the largest protests London had ever seen, before leading them in a campaign of militancy and vandalism, which would see her cause placed firmly at the top of the social agenda.\n\n\nMahatma Gandhi employed non violent tactics of passive resistance in the face of the largest empire the world had ever known, he not only helped to secure independence for India, he created the blueprint for generations of activists to follow.\n\nHelen Keller became deaf and blind as a child, and was famous for learning to master language in spite of her disabilities. She used her fame to fight for the rights, not only of disabled people, but marginalised people everywhere.\n\nMartin Luther King Jr was arguably the most influential figure of the civil rights movement, King masterminded a campaign which fought not only to win rights for America's black population, but crucially, to enshrine them in law. He went on to launch the Poor People's Campaign, tackling the economic factors he felt were the root cause of inequality.\n\nAt the end of the programme, the public can vote for the greatest activist of the century who, along with the finalists from the other categories, is put through to the live final at the end of the series.

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of Icons

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 8. Live Final

Series 1: 8. Live Final

In this live final hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Nick Robinson, the celebrity advocates return to fight their winning icon's case, and the public vote for the person they thin ...

04-07-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 7. Artists & Writers

Series 1: 7. Artists & Writers

This episode sees actress Lily Cole examine four of the 20th century's greatest artists and writers. Lily explores the lives of Pablo Picasso, Virginia Woolf, Alfred Hitchcock a ...

04-07-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 6. Sports

Series 1: 6. Sports

Clare Balding examine the achievements of four of the 20th century's most influential sports stars. Clare will be assessing the legacies of Pele, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King ...

27-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 5. Activists

Series 1: 5. Activists

Sanjeev Bhaskar explore the lives of the 20th century's greatest activists, examining the lives of Emmeline Pankhurst, Mahatma Gandhi, Helen Keller and Martin Luther King Jr. He ...

27-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 4. Entertainers

Series 1: 4. Entertainers

The fourth in the series, this episode charts the story of entertainment in the 20th century. This episode sees Hollywood star Kathleen Turner examine the achievements and legac ...

20-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 3. Scientists

Series 1: 3. Scientists

This episode sees naturalist Chris Packham assess the lives of the 20th century's greatest scientists. Chris examines the lives of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Alan Turing and ...

20-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 2. Explorers

Series 1: 2. Explorers

Eight-part series exploring the achievements and legacies of some of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Seven well-known advocates each front an hour-long documentary arg ...

13-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 1. Leaders

Series 1: 1. Leaders

Eight-part series exploring the achievements and legacies of some of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Seven well-known advocates each front an hour-long documentary arg ...

13-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Most popular episodes of Icons

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 5. Activists

Series 1: 5. Activists

Sanjeev Bhaskar explore the lives of the 20th century's greatest activists, examining the lives of Emmeline Pankhurst, Mahatma Gandhi, Helen Keller and Martin Luther King Jr. He ...

27-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 8. Live Final

Series 1: 8. Live Final

In this live final hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Nick Robinson, the celebrity advocates return to fight their winning icon's case, and the public vote for the person they thin ...

04-07-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 7. Artists & Writers

Series 1: 7. Artists & Writers

This episode sees actress Lily Cole examine four of the 20th century's greatest artists and writers. Lily explores the lives of Pablo Picasso, Virginia Woolf, Alfred Hitchcock a ...

04-07-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 3. Scientists

Series 1: 3. Scientists

This episode sees naturalist Chris Packham assess the lives of the 20th century's greatest scientists. Chris examines the lives of Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Alan Turing and ...

20-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 6. Sports

Series 1: 6. Sports

Clare Balding examine the achievements of four of the 20th century's most influential sports stars. Clare will be assessing the legacies of Pele, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King ...

27-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 4. Entertainers

Series 1: 4. Entertainers

The fourth in the series, this episode charts the story of entertainment in the 20th century. This episode sees Hollywood star Kathleen Turner examine the achievements and legac ...

20-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 1. Leaders

Series 1: 1. Leaders

Eight-part series exploring the achievements and legacies of some of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Seven well-known advocates each front an hour-long documentary arg ...

13-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

Icons

Icons - Series 1: 2. Explorers

Series 1: 2. Explorers

Eight-part series exploring the achievements and legacies of some of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Seven well-known advocates each front an hour-long documentary arg ...

13-06-2019

BBC 2

All episodes

BBC 2

© 2024 - Catchupplayer.co.uk