Browse - Most popular shows on BBC Four

How the invention of writing gave humanity a history. From hieroglyphs to emojis, an exploration of the way in which the technology of writing has shaped the world we live in.

A gripping anatomy of some of the most important days in history, hour by hour as they unfolded. Recreated by using first-hand accounts, forensic detail, and personal records, the programmes included the moon landings, the assassination of the Romanovs, Hiroshima, the freeing of Nelson Mandela, the assassination of JFK and Chernobyl.

A candid look at what life was really like for those living in, and under Hitler's Swastika - at home - and abroad, a record not only of what they saw, but of what they knew.

Dr. James Fox looks at the art and culture of Japan. James journeys through Japan's mountainous forests, marvels at its zen gardens and admires centuries-old bonsai, to explore the connections between Japanese culture and the natural environment.

Janina Ramirez discovers how monasteries shaped all aspects of medieval Britain and created a dazzling array of art, architecture and literature, a story of faith, sacrifice, violence and corruption.

Intimate, observational portraits of leading artists, revealing unique insights into their working lives and creative process.

Series looking at the British genius for woodwork over the centuries.

Provocative two-part documentary in which Dan Snow blows the lid on the traditional Anglo-centric view of history and reveals how the Irish saved Britain from cultural oblivion during the Dark Ages.

This is a series of television programmes made for BBC4, inspired by Norwegian "slow TV"

Historian Liz McIvor explores how Britain's expanding rail network was the spark to a social revolution, starting in the 1800s and through to modern times.

This ground-breaking two-part series takes us inside two of the most amazing structures in the natural world: our hands and feet.

Dr James Fox tells the story of three cities in three exceptional years - cities whose artists and thinkers, writers and musicians set the world on a new course.

Series in which Eamonn McCabe celebrates Britain's greatest photographers, sees how science allowed their art to develop, and explores how they have captured our changing lives and country.

A series which tells the story of how people came to understand the natural order of the plant world, and how the quest to discover how plants grow uncovered the secret to life on the planet.

In this three-part series, artist Alinka Echeverria explores how, across the millennia, three major forces have propelled change and made their mark on Mexico.

In this three-part series for BBC Four, intrepid historian Dr. Sam Willis reveals a remarkable story of invasion in Britain, spanning thousands of years. From the time that continuous settlement began in Britain over 10,000 years ago, to Iron Age hillforts and Viking ships, Sam Willis explores the many invasions of Britain. He unearths hidden stories to build a vivid picture of both successful and unsuccessful invasions and examines how they have shaped our psyche - including fear of invasion. Some invasions are bloody, some bloodless. Some were by invitation, some absurd and doomed. From Barbary pirates and brutal border raids to the air attacks of the 20th century, these invasions have shaped modern Britain and made us the people we are today.

In 'Inside the Medieval Mind' one of the world's greatest authorities on the Middle Ages, Professor Robert Bartlett of St Andrews University, investigates the intellectual landscape of the medieval world. In this series he opens up the often surprising discontinuities and similarities between the medieval age and our own as he remarks: "In many ways these were people very much like us, in terms of family, ambitions for children and the world of emotions. On the other hand, they inhabited a very different world, in which it was believed the dead visited the living, and where somewhere there lived a race of people with the heads of dogs." The series comprises four one hour programmes, each on a different aspect of medieval thinking: Belief; Sex; Power; Knowledge. During the series he visits numerous medieval locations, from Westminster Abbey to Pluscarden Abbey near Inverness, with wide use of readings from original medieval sources.

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore traces the sacred history of Istanbul. The Turkish capital was once described as the 'city of the world's desire', having been the focus of three faiths - Paganism, Christianity and Islam - and the stage for some of the fiercest political and religious conflicts over the past 2,500 years.

Documentary series that explores humanity's relationship with the natural world and our growing understanding of how nature works. With new scientific insights, rare archive and spectacular wildlife filming, scientists and conservationists from all over the world examine the ways in which we can protect and restore our planet.

Join us on a journey through Britain's fascinating cultural history, from the roaring 20s to the swinging 60s and beyond. Through a collection of insightful films, we explore the people, places, and events that shaped the nation's identity. Don't miss out on A Very British History.

John Wilson speaks to leading figures from the worlds of art and culture to hear about the formative influences and inspirations that fired their creative imaginations.

Series that follows recent scientific developments as researchers across Europe explore the extraordinary capabilities of plants.

Experience the French Revolution like never before with 'Tearing Up History'. Join Dr Richard Clay on a journey through the art of the era, revealing the political and social upheaval of the time. From the storming of the Bastille to the rise of Napoleon, witness the impact of this pivotal moment in history through the eyes of the artists who lived it. Available now in the Movies section.

This show traces the ebb and flow of the guitar riff from over the last 60 years of music. Lauren Laverne narrates the documentary exploring the legend of the guitar riff in popular music. Including stories from stars including Brian May, Dave Davis, Robert Fripp, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Marr, Hank Marvin, Joan Jett, Kevin Shields, Nile Rogers, Ryan Jarman and Tom Morello, as well as many more.

A comedy series featuring a neurotic gay cookery writer. The series is written by and stars Miles Jupp and is based on his Radio 4 comedy of the same name.