THE MONUMENTAL CHALLENGE — TAJ MAHAL EPISODE
Big Ben, Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, The Bund, the Taj Mahal — landmarks such as these, act as unofficial national symbols, loved, loathed, admired, criticised and visited by millions every year. But while they may look calm to outsiders, many landmarks face a constant struggle to keep them in tip-top condition. This innovative series has gained special access to get inside world famous landmarks, following the men and women who make up the specialist crews employed to tackle everything, from emergency repairs to visionary expansion to VIP-linked events. Combining stunning HD footage, impressive CGI, riveting historical background and lots of lively characters, Monumental Challenge gives fresh insight into the behind-the-scenes lives of our worlds’ most iconic landmarks.
RICK STEIN’S INDIA
Intrepid chef Rick Stein embarks on a spectacular culinary journey through the Indian sub-continent in his quest to find the perfect curry and discover the origins of dishes, ingredients and spices that are celebrated the world over. This colourful series offers viewers a feast of delights influenced by India’s vibrant history, captivating cultures and enthralling religious communities. Rick experiences the ethnic influences and street food of Kolkata, discovers the temple food of Tamil Nadu and the wonderful seafood of Kerala, travels to India’s gourmet state – the Punjab – and tastes the regal cooking of Rajasthan, unearthing new flavours and dishes along the way.
SHAUN MICALLEF’S STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Join Shaun Micallef’s spiritual journey of India, where he pushes well beyond his comfort zone on a physical, mental and spiritual adventure to the source of the Ganges high in the Himalayas all the while offering his own unique observations on his quest to find the meaning of life.
THE GANGES WITH SUE PERKINS
Comedian and presenter Sue Perkins traces the course of the Ganges, from source to sea, to tell the story of modern India at a crucial point in its history. Beginning her journey high in the Himalayas at the river’s holy source, Sue travels through the agricultural and industrial heartlands of the Gangetic Plain, visits the holy city of Varanasi and travels to the river’s vast delta on the Bay of Bengal. From the keepers of the sacred fires at the famous funeral ghats to the holy men of the mountains, the climate change refugees of the delta to the devout pilgrims at the source, Sue meets the characters that make up modern India and asks what the future holds for this great river.
WORLD’S BUSIEST CITIES- DELHI EPISODE
Discover the secret systems that keep the world’s most crowded, complicated and chaotic cities on the move. From transport and engineering to food and trade, World’s Busiest Cities highlights the logistical and social challenges faced by our most iconic megacities. Find out how Mexico City keeps its inhabitants safe from earthquakes and volcanoes, and meet local people who offer an inside look at life in metropolises like Delhi and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Moscow’s incredible architecture shows that the world’s busiest cities also have some of the richest histories.
TUNING 2 YOU: INDIA’S LOST MUSICIANS
Soumik Datta, along with his brother Souvid in the show, Tuning 2 You: India’s Lost Musicians, takes you on a journey to some of India’s remotest regions filming, recording and playing with amazing musicians. Their films bear witness to India’s incredible cultures and to music’s transcendent power. They bring us close-up to musicians of extraordinary skill and sensitivity, musicians well known in their local communities but likely to be eclipsed by speeding urbanisation and modernity. Shot in Kolkata, Varanasi, Rajasthan, Nagaland, Goa and Karnataka, it is an adventurous travel and music show taking you through the unbeaten paths of India.
JOANNA LUMLEY’S INDIA
Joanna Lumley takes you on a journey around the country, from south all the way up to the foothills of Himalaya. She meets unique characters and learns how independence has made India such a vibrant nation. From Humayun’s tomb in Delhi, to the majestic Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, these are the sites that shaped a nation.
HIDDEN INDIA
Travelling from the roof of the world in the north to the great rivers and deserts at its heart and the rain forests of the south, this stunning series celebrates the diversity and flavours of the Indian subcontinent. This is a land where the natural world has been woven into people’s lives. A place where you can see animals that exist nowhere else and where wilderness still holds strong. From the Valley of the Flowers nestled in West Himalaya and young turtles hatching on the east coast, to India’s one-horned rhinos and the lions of the Gir forest, the sights and sounds of India are unique. Together, they provide an unrivalled wildlife experience.
