In 1997, over one million people gathered in Lagos for the funeral of Fela Kuti, Africa’s biggest artist, who gave the world Afrobeat, yet was also a thorn in the side of Nigeria’s military regimes - a revolutionary who fought injustice with his music and a libertine who married 27 wives in one ceremony. When he died from a disease that carried huge stigma in Africa, there was fear his legacy would die with him. Exclusive testimony reveals the multifaceted man behind the maverick performer.
Source: BBC 4
Salgado: The Spectre Of Hope
Documentary featuring photographer Sebastião Salgado in conversation with writer and artist John Berger, intercut with photographs from Salgado's collection Migrations, a ...
16-06-2025
BBC 4
Charlie Drake: Drake's Progress
Documentary profile of actor and comedian Charlie Drake. Drake had much to overcome - marital, financial and career troubles dogged him -but after reinventing himself as a strai ...
15-06-2025
BBC 4
Clint Eastwood: 1. Part One: Out Of The West
Clint Eastwood recalls his tough childhood and looks back at his early career, from Rawhide to Dirty Harry and the spaghetti westerns. With contributions from Don Siegel, Sergio ...
29-05-2025
BBC 4
Clint Eastwood: 2. Part Two: American Film-maker
Arena's profile of Clint Eastwood continues with his directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, which he completed in five weeks before going on to huge success in Dirty Harry. Featu ...
29-05-2025
BBC 4
Desert Island Discs
A 1982 film made to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Roy Plomley's classic radio programme, featuring his successor as presenter, Sue Lawley.
25-03-2025
BBC 4
Ken Dodd's Happiness
A tribute to Liverpudlian comic Ken Dodd, in which he discusses his 50-year career and the influences of his comedy style. Features film clips of his early performances and foo ...
24-03-2025
BBC 4
Dylan Thomas: From Grave To Cradle
Author and broadcaster Nigel Williams examines the work and the legend of one of the most famous poets of the 20th century, Dylan Thomas.\n\nBorn in 1914, Dylan Thomas was an un ...
19-03-2025
BBC 4
Andrea Dunbar And Victoria Wood
In a programme first broadcast in 1980, Arena looks at writer and performer Victoria Wood and explores her talent to amuse through her witty and engaging songs. \n\nThe film als ...
10-03-2025
BBC 4
Bob Dylan - Trouble No More
In 1979, Bob Dylan released Slow Train Coming, an album of strictly devotional songs. He declared he had found God in Christianity. For the following two years, accompanied by t ...
20-05-2022
BBC 4
Jana Bokova's Havana
1990 documentary. Havana has a dilapidated ruined beauty - decaying grandeur alongside squalor with a string atmosphere of Africa and Old Spain. Despite the political turmoil of ...
11-05-2018
BBC 4
Dire Straits
Arena cameras were on hand to film the return of Dire Straits from their triumphant 1980 Brothers in Arms world tour. The film features a superb concert they played at The Rainb ...
27-10-2023
BBC 4
Salgado: The Spectre Of Hope
Documentary featuring photographer Sebastião Salgado in conversation with writer and artist John Berger, intercut with photographs from Salgado's collection Migrations, a ...
16-06-2025
BBC 4
The Many Lives Of Richard Attenborough: Part 2
The conclusion to this two-part profile looks at Attenborough's career as Britain's most distinguished film director, whose biopic Ghandi won eight Oscars in 1982, including bes ...
27-08-2023
BBC 4
Buddy Holly
Documentary looking at the short but brilliant career of legendary rock'n'roll star Buddy Holly. Features interviews with contemporaries and fans including backing band The Cric ...
09-02-2024
BBC 4