Arena
Arena is a documentary on BBC2. The gold standard for arts documentaries, from 1975 to the present day. A cultural map of the world’s greatest artists and musicians, as captured by exceptional film-makers. The program has been available since 2024. A total of 23 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in October 2025.
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Arena
A film portrait of one of jazz's greatest singers. Billie Holiday's tragic story is told in the words of her closest friends and colleagues and through the songs themselves.
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Profile of Orson Welles, looking at his life and career in theatre, radio and particularly film. This part deals with his work up to Touch of Evil.
Profile of Orson Welles, looking at films including The Trial, Chimes at Midnight, The Immortal Story and F for Fake and discussing his unfinished projects, including Don Quixote.
Programme exploring the cultural significance of the banana. Featuring contributions from John Cale, Auberon Waugh, John Walters and Brendan Batson.
An investigation of the appeal and power of the popular song My Way, which was written by Paul Anka and recorded by many artists, including Frank Sinatra.
An insight into the private obsessions and insecurities of the author of Lord of the Flies. With contributions from his daughter and son and bestselling author Stephen King.
Profile celebrating the centenary of the famous author Agatha Christie’s birth, looking at her life, her character and the key moments in her childhood that influenced her writing.
River takes its audience on a journey through space and time spanning six continents, showing rivers on a scale and from perspectives never seen before.
The first of three films presenting a portrait of one of the world's greatest comic actors, tracing his life from childhood to a successful post-war career with the Goons and more.
The second of three film portraits of one of the world's greatest comic actors. The years between 1959 and 1964 saw the peak of his career and his second marriage to Britt Ekland.
In 1964, Peter Sellers was at his peak, with his films packing cinemas the whole world over, when a heart attack in California nearly killed him.
June 2025
Documentary from 2001 featuring photographer Sebastião Salgado in conversation with writer and artist John Berger, intercut with photographs from Salgado's collection Migrations.
Documentary profile of actor and comedian Charlie Drake. Drake had much to overcome - marital, financial and career troubles dogged him. He recalls his highs and lows. From 2001.
May 2025
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.
Clint Eastwood recalls his tough childhood and looks back at his early career, from Rawhide to Dirty Harry and the spaghetti westerns.
March 2025
Arena celebrates Roy Plomley's classic radio favourite with the help of famous castaways, including Frankie Howerd, Arthur Askey and Paul McCartney. First transmitted in 1982.
A tribute to Liverpudlian comic Ken Dodd, in which he discusses his career and influences. Featuring clips of his early performances and footage of him on tour in recent times.
An examination of the work and the legend of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, originally broadcast in 2003 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his death.
Programme from 1980 exploring the work of writer and performer Victoria Wood and teenage playwright Andrea Dunbar.
The story of Bob Dylan, from a rock 'n' roll-loving kid in the midwest to his arrival as a major force in the world of folk music. Including unseen footage and rare recordings.