Bbc 2020

Picasso is known as the godfather of modern art. In this programme, art historian David Dibosa explores six decades of BBC archive to discover how television has influenced our understanding of him. David reveals how film-makers have portrayed two different Picassos - the child genius who drew like a master and the adult who rejected his conventional talent in a quest to reflect the world, in ways that shattered all the rules. He also finds that film-makers have long been fascinated by Picasso’s private life. A notorious womaniser, Picasso used his lovers as muses and left behind a trail of broken relationships.

In early history, nudes were gods or heroes. Since then, the nude has often been about sex but also a powerful influence on how we view the body. Art historian Kate Bryan explores six decades of BBC archive to discover how television has influenced our understanding of the nude and how our attitudes have changed. As she examines the archives, Kate finds that while beauty and sexuality are never far away, artists have always used the nude as a vehicle to defy conventions.

Imagine offers a unique and intimate portrait of an exceptionally gifted musical family in lockdown – the Kanneh-Masons. In 2016, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason won BBC Young Musician award. In 2018, he released his debut album, and earlier this year his second album, Elgar, became a top ten hit. He achieved global fame when he performed solo at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018 in front of a TV audience of two billion people worldwide.

Katie Derham hosts the climax of the world's greatest classical music festival, the Last Night of the Proms, live from the Royal Albert Hall, drawing a unique season of live performances to a celebratory close. Soprano Golda Schultz and violinist Lisa Batiashvili join Dalia Stasevska, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers in a programme that includes music from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, a world premiere from Andrea Tarrodi, music by Richard Strauss, treats from Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams.

In June 2004, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner was shot six times by al-Qaeda gunmen whilst reporting on growing terrorist activity in Saudi Arabia. The bullets damaged his spinal nerves – at the age of 43, Frank was left partially paralysed and has used a wheelchair ever since.

In June 2004, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner was shot six times by al-Qaeda gunmen whilst reporting on growing terrorist activity in Saudi Arabia. The bullets damaged his spinal nerves – at the age of 43, Frank was left partially paralysed and has used a wheelchair ever since.

The Edinburgh Festivals may not be taking place as usual this August, but this programme of specially commissioned performances celebrates Edinburgh’s enduring festival spirit.

Schooled in Fife, coming of age in a rock ’n’ roll band, then finding her forte was directing temperamental actors, Cora Bissett is no stranger to theatrical Scottish swearing. So who better to present a celebration of Caledonian cursing? This documentary sees Cora sing, swear and scrutinise why Scotland swears so well. Cora begins with the first hurdle – how does one discuss swear words on the BBC? Aunty Beeb is the institution that has been historically priggish about language - always bleeping words and apologising for those that slipped through. So Cora runs a list past BBC Scotland’s head of editorial standards to see what she can get away with.

BBC Arabic investigates systemic child abuse inside Islamic schools in Sudan. There are nearly 30,000 Islamic schools, known as "khalwas" across Sudan. The investigation has found that boys as young as five-years-old are routinely chained, shackled and beaten by the "sheikhs", or religious men in charge of the schools. The investigation also found evidence of sexual abuse.

A surreal, theatrical adventure in which a young person escapes into a seemingly empty building at night and meets a mysterious guide who offers them an alternative way out.