Documentaries

Inspirational and award-winning documentaries from over 25 years of groundbreaking television

See all Documentaries on 4oD
  • Gypsy Blood

    Gypsy Blood

    Gypsy Blood examines the violent culture that some gypsy and traveller fathers hand on to their children, exploring its impact on two fathers and their young sons

  • Newport Bouncers

    Bouncers

    Funny, irreverent and often surprising film following the boys of Newport's biggest security firm over a summer of booze and brotherhood

  • MotherTruckers

    MotherTruckers

    How do women lorry drivers get on with their male colleagues, juggle families, and stay feminine? This amusing film meets the new queens of the road.

4od
Order Order by A to Z Order by Date Broadcast
  1. Vic Reeves' Turner Prize Moments Vic Reeves' Turner Prize Moments

    Vic Reeves looks back at the controversy, shock and outrage of 20 years of Turner Prize coverage and assesses its impact on the British public's appetite for art More on Vic Reeves' Turner Prize Moments

    Last broadcast: Sunday 04 December, 11.15PM on More4

  2. The British Woman on Death Row The British Woman on Death Row

    The story of Linda Carty, a British grandmother awaiting execution in Texas for a crime in which she has always denied any involvement [S] More on The British Woman on Death Row

    Last broadcast: Monday 28 November, 8PM on Channel 4

  3. The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching

    Cutting Edge meets some of the country's thriftiest people, from families obsessed by discount vouchers to a bride determined her wedding will cost less than a bridal dress [S] More on The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching

    Last broadcast: Thursday 01 December, 8PM on Channel 4

  4. The Great Inca Rebellion The Great Inca Rebellion

    An examination of new evidence suggesting the Incas fought a decades-long guerrilla war against the Spanish conquistadors [S] More on The Great Inca Rebellion

    Last broadcast: Wednesday 30 November, 11.10PM on More4

  5. Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies: Julian Assange Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies

    The people involved in Wikileaks tell their story of the saga, as human emotions clashed with journalism at the cutting edge of 21st-century technology [S] More on Wikileaks: Secrets and Lies

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 29 November, 10PM on More4

  6. The Untold Great Fire of London The Untold Great Fire of London

    Many Londoners believed the Great Fire of London was started deliberately by a foreign enemy. And they wanted to make sure a foreigner would pay for this crime of the century. [S] More on The Untold Great Fire of London

  7. Jon Snow Meets Jimmy Carter Jon Snow Meets Jimmy Carter

    Jon Snow interviews Jimmy Carter at London's Southbank Centre, discussing everything from Osama bin Laden to Palestine and Harry Potter [S] More on Jon Snow Meets Jimmy Carter

    Last broadcast: Monday 28 November, 11PM on More4

  8. Digging the Great Escape Digging the Great Escape

    A team of experts visits Germany to examine the ingenious achievements of the Second World War's most daring and famous escape artists [S] More on Digging the Great Escape

    Last broadcast: Monday 28 November, 9PM on Channel 4

  9. Go Greek for a Week Go Greek for a Week

    Three British families experience first-hand some of the causes of Greece's financial meltdown, from hairdressers retiring aged 53 to surgeons enjoying favourable income tax rates [S] More on Go Greek for a Week

    Last broadcast: Monday 07 November, 8PM on Channel 4

  10. Lost Mummies of Papua New Guinea Lost Mummies of Papua New Guinea

    A look at Papua New Guinea's ancient mummification techniques, revealing how bodies can be preserved for decades in a humid climate, and witnessing the restoration of mummies More on Lost Mummies of Papua New Guinea

    Last broadcast: Wednesday 23 November, 11.05PM on More4

  11. Sperm Donor Unknown Sperm Donor Unknown

    The funny, moving and surprising story of a young woman searching for her sperm donor father, who she knows only as Donor 150 [S] More on Sperm Donor Unknown

    Last broadcast: 28 June 2011, on

  12. Perfect Child Mummies Perfect Child Mummies

    Scientists examine the perfectly preserved remains of three Inca children found high in the Andes to piece together the final hours of their lives [S] More on Perfect Child Mummies

    Last broadcast: Wednesday 16 November, 11.05PM on More4

  13. Hell and Back Again Hell and Back Again

    Danfung Dennis paints an uncommonly intimate picture of the reality for soldiers involved in the Afghan conflict, both on the battlefield and in the unsettling normalcy of home More on Hell and Back Again

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 15 November, 10PM on More4

  14. The Hospital The Hospital

    The Hospital examines the relationship between teenagers and the NHS. Consultants, surgeons, nurses and midwives speak with unprecedented candour about the problems they face [S] More on The Hospital

    Last broadcast: 23 August 2010, on

  15. Billy and Andy looking at each other Trophy Kids

    This Cutting Edge film follows four parents doing all they can to get their children to the top. Have these child champions really got what it takes? If not, how will they and their parents cope with defeat? [S] More on Trophy Kids

  16. Teenage Vampires Teenage Vampires

    A look inside a vampire cult, meeting the teenagers who drink blood, hearing about the prejudice they face, and exploring the poignant questions about why they might not want to be human [S] More on Teenage Vampires

    Last broadcast: Sunday 13 November, 11.05PM on Channel 4

  17. Dr Christian Jessen Supersize vs Superskinny

    Documentary series in which two extreme eaters - one very overweight and the other severely underweight - swap diets in an attempt to change the way they view food and eating [S] More on Supersize vs Superskinny

    Last broadcast: 17 May 2011, on

  18. Thriller in Manila Thriller in Manila

    Joe Frazier takes British filmmaker John Dower back to 1975 and the most hyped boxing match in history - his epic third and final battle with sporting legend Muhammad Ali [S] More on Thriller in Manila

    Last broadcast: 05 January 2009, on

  19. Camera man Rory Peck Awards

    The Rory Peck Awards celebrate the freelance cameramen and women who bring the world's stories to our screens [S] More on Rory Peck Awards

    Last broadcast: Thursday 10 November, 11.15PM on Channel 4

  20. The Man Who Killed Michael Jackson The Man Who Killed Michael Jackson

    An exploration of the relationship between Michael Jackson and Dr Conrad Murray, the last man to see the King of Pop alive More on The Man Who Killed Michael Jackson

    Last broadcast: Thursday 10 November, 10PM on Channel 4

  21. HMS Daring Building Britain's Ultimate Warship

    Channel 4 gains special access to the construction, launch and testing of the billion-pound HMS Daring, the Royal Navy's revolutionary new ship with cutting-edge technology, and the first new destroyer built in Britain since 1985 [S] More on Building Britain's Ultimate Warship

  22. The Flaw The Flaw

    The Flaw explains in unprecedented depth the underlying causes of the global financial crisis More on The Flaw

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 08 November, 10PM on More4

  23. Hippo: Nature's Wild Feast Hippo: Nature's Wild Feast

    A high-tech illustration of nature's food chain in action as an entire ecological system, including predators, scavengers, birds and insects, consumes the carcass of an adult hippo More on Hippo: Nature's Wild Feast

    Last broadcast: Monday 07 November, 9PM on Channel 4

  24. Revenge of the Bin Men Revenge of the Bin Men

    War has broken out between those putting out too much rubbish and the councils whose job it is to dispose of it all. Cutting Edge follows the men and women on both sides of the battle. [S] More on Revenge of the Bin Men

  25. The Boy from Bamiyan The Boy from Bamiyan

    Phil Grabsky's humorous, poignant film follows optimistic, cheeky and inquisitive Afghan boy Mir over 10 years as he grows into a man in one of the most turbulent countries on Earth [S] More on The Boy from Bamiyan

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 01 November, 10PM on More4

  26. Natalie Cassidy Natalie Cassidy: Becoming Mum

    E4 exclusively follows soap star and TV presenter Natalie Cassidy and partner Adam Cottrell ahead of the birth of their first child in this reality series. Rarely out of the tabloids, Natalie now longs to turn her back on late nights, fags and booze and turn over a new leaf... [S] More on Natalie Cassidy: Becoming Mum

    Last broadcast: 26 November 2010, on

  27. The Dinosaur Mummy The Dinosaur Mummy

    This documentary follows the excavation and scientific investigation of a mumified dinosaur, complete with organs and scales, discovered in 1999 by an American student More on The Dinosaur Mummy

  28. True Stories: Crack House Crack House

    The true story of a gang of young drug dealers, told using surveillance footage to provide a fascinating insight into their lives, those of their customers, and the ATF operation to convict them [S] More on Crack House

    Last broadcast: 24 May 2011, on

  29. An asteroid striking earth Catastrophe

    Tony Robinson presents this spectacular five-part series investigating the history of natural disasters, from the planet's beginnings to the present day [S] More on Catastrophe

  30. Jackpots and Jinxes: Lottery Stories Jackpots and Jinxes: Lottery Stories

    Cutting Edge tells the story of a number of lottery winners and the moment their lives were suddenly turned upside down, revealing their extraordinary experiences [S] More on Jackpots and Jinxes: Lottery Stories

    Last broadcast: 05 May 2011, on

  31. True Stories: Dolphin Boy Dolphin Boy

    The story of a young man suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and his last chance of recovery, using dolphin-assisted therapy More on Dolphin Boy

    Last broadcast: 17 May 2011, on

  32. The Bowens 8 Boys and Wanting a Girl

    Cutting Edge meets women who suffer from the psychological condition of 'gender disappointment', including the mother of eight sons who is desperate to have a daughter [S] More on 8 Boys and Wanting a Girl

  33. Fighting on the Frontline Fighting on the Frontline

    With unprecedented access to Britain's armed forces, this series allows troops to reveal the inside story of what it's really like fighting on a tour of duty in Afghanistan today [S] More on Fighting on the Frontline

    Last broadcast: Sunday 09 October, 9PM on Channel 4

  34. Henry Kissinger Kissinger

    An intriguing look at Henry Kissinger, based on Niall Ferguson's two years of exclusive access to the Nobel Peace Prize winner [S] More on Kissinger

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 11 October, 10PM on More4

  35. Bernie Madoff: $65 Billion Swindle Bernie Madoff: $65 Billion Swindle

    Documentary telling the story of disgraced financier Bernard L Madoff, who was sentenced to 150 years in prison in June 2009 for defrauding investors out of billions of dollars [S] More on Bernie Madoff: $65 Billion Swindle

    Last broadcast: 26 July 2009, on

  36. Cat Dancers Cat Dancers

    Harris Fishman's fascinating documentary is a heady mix of dangerously exotic animals, complex personal relationships and a double tragedy [S] More on Cat Dancers

  37. Jamelia The House That Made Me

    Famous figures take an emotional trip back to meticulous recreations of the homes they were brought up in, exploring how their past shaped who they are today [S] More on The House That Made Me

    Last broadcast: 29 December 2010, on

  38. Attila and the Empire of the Huns Attila and the Empire of the Huns

    The story of how Attila the Hun almost conquered Western Europe, and how the tide of history eventually turned against him More on Attila and the Empire of the Huns

    Last broadcast: 26 August 2009, on

  39. Up in Smoke Up in Smoke

    A British scientist is attempting to convince farmers and the authorities to adopt his revolutionary alternative to slash-and-burn farming [S] More on Up in Smoke

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 27 September, 10PM on More4

  40. Worst Weather Britain's Worst Weather

    Dr Nick Middleton of Oxford University investigates some of Britain's most extreme weather conditions, to find out how they are caused and why they are so dangerous More on Britain's Worst Weather

  41. World War Two Sailors Atlantic Convoys

    In WWII, merchant ships bringing vital goods across the Atlantic were Britain's crucial lifeline, one which German U-boats were determined to destroy in the longest and bloodiest campaign of the war [S] More on Atlantic Convoys

  42. The Curse of the Hope Diamond The Curse of the Hope Diamond

    The world's most valuable diamond has a sinister reputation and is a geological anomaly. Scientists conduct a pioneering investigation to unlock the secrets of its strange behaviour. [S] More on The Curse of the Hope Diamond

  43. Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb

    Cambridge engineer Dr Hugh Hunt tries to recreate Barnes Wallis's famous Second World War bouncing bomb, and blow up a specially constructed dam in Canada [S] More on Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb

    Last broadcast: 02 May 2011, on

  44. Exit Through the Gift Shop Exit Through the Gift Shop

    One of the most provocative films about art ever made, an enthralling modern-day fairytale... with bolt cutters More on Exit Through the Gift Shop

    Last broadcast: 13 August 2011, on

  45. Bums, Boobs and Botox Bums, Boobs and Botox

    Behind the scenes at Britain's biggest provider of cosmetic surgery, exploring a world where staff and patients undergo treatments to become glossier, perkier and thicker-haired versions of themselves [S] More on Bums, Boobs and Botox

    Last broadcast: 02 June 2011, on

  46. Back from the Dead Back from the Dead

    Using cutting-edge forensic techniques on the skeletons of long-dead warriors, this series examines the lives and deaths of soldiers from history [S] More on Back from the Dead

    Last broadcast: Sunday 18 September, 8PM on Channel 4

  47. Rare Chicken Rescue Rare Chicken Rescue

    Randall Wood's film follows Mark Tully on his mission to track down and protect endangered chicken species [S] More on Rare Chicken Rescue

    Last broadcast: Friday 16 September, 7.35PM on Channel 4

  48. Paul-McCartney The Love We Make

    Albert Maysles' documentary chronicles Paul McCartney's poignant and cathartic experiences in New York in the aftermath of 9/11 [S] More on The Love We Make

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 13 September, 10PM on More4

  49. Ian Hislop Not Forgotten

    Presented by Ian Hislop, the Not Forgotten documentaries use Britain's war memorials as a starting point for an investigation of the impact of the First World War on British society [S] More on Not Forgotten

  50. Children of 9/11 Children of 9/11

    This film meets some of the many young people who lost parents on 11 September 2001 [S] More on Children of 9/11

    Last broadcast: Sunday 11 September, 9PM on Channel 4

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