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. Diamonds in an urn Ashes to Diamonds

    Filmmaker David Brindley meets families across the country who have chosen some of the most surprising, adventurous and unusual ways to say goodbye to their departed's ashes [S] More on Ashes to Diamonds

  2. Asian Gracefully Asian Gracefully

    An intimate look behind the doors of one of the few residential care homes in Britain exclusively for the Asian elderly. More on Asian Gracefully

    Last broadcast: 04 March 2011, on

  3. 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

  4. Attack of the Trip Advisors Attack of the Trip Advisors

    A look at the virtual AA Gills and Michael Winners using Trip Advisor to have their say on hotels and restaurants, and the hoteliers and restaurateurs at war with the site More on Attack of the Trip Advisors

    Last broadcast: Monday 31 October, 9PM on Channel 4

  5. 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

  6. Autism: The Musical Autism: The Musical

    Double Emmy Award-winning film following one woman's pledge to lead a group of autistic children to write and perform their own full-length musical More on Autism: The Musical

  7. Babes in Hollywood Babes in Hollywood

    Every spring, thousands of aspiring child actors flock to Hollywood for the casting period for new television shows. This film follows a dozen of these aspiring Brads and Angelinas, and their families. [S] More on Babes in Hollywood

    Last broadcast: 09 August 2011, on

  8. Baby Bible Bashers Baby Bible Bashers

    A Cutting Edge film explores the disturbing world of children who become evangelical bible bashers at a very young age More on Baby Bible Bashers

  9. 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

  10. William Tallon Backstairs Billy: The Queen Mum's Butler

    Providing unique insight into the private world of Clarence House, this documentary follows the rise and fall of William Tallon - a devoted servant, friend and butler to the Queen Mother [S] More on Backstairs Billy: The Queen Mum's Butler

  11. Bahtalo! Bahtalo!

    This True Stories documentary follows the adventures of Lali, a Transylvanian Gypsy and Lori, a Transylvanian Hungarian, as they seek the opportunities offered by the rapid globalisation of Europe More on Bahtalo!

  12. BalletBoys: Next Generation BalletBoyz: Next Generation

    BalletBoyz: Next Generation follows the rise of a new all-male dance company, from auditions to a performance in Addis Ababa's City Hall [S] More on BalletBoyz: Next Generation

    Last broadcast: Sunday 25 December, 11.05PM on More4

  13. Bare Knuckle Boxer Bare Knuckle Boxer

    This Georgian Underworld documentary tells the remarkable story of ex-slave Bill Richmond, and his rags-to-riches rise to fame through the violent and gruesome sport of bare knuckle boxing More on Bare Knuckle Boxer

  14. Dame Edna Everage Barry Humphries: The Man Inside Dame Edna

    In creating Dame Edna, Barry Humphries struck comedy gold - producing one of the most enduring comic characters of the last 50 years. But what lies behind the man behind the Dame? More on Barry Humphries: The Man Inside Dame Edna

  15. battle_scarred_brand Battle Scarred

    A powerful exploration of the stories of soldiers returning from combat zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, from award-winning filmmaker David Modell [S] More on Battle Scarred

  16. The Battle for Barking The Battle for Barking

    Laura Fairrie's film records the battle between Labour's Margaret Hodge and BNP leader Nick Griffin in the London borough of Barking during this year's election [S] More on The Battle for Barking

    Last broadcast: 30 November 2010, on

  17. Battle for Hood and Bismarck The Battle of Hood and Bismarck

    Two-part documentary that uses unique archive footage, eyewitness testimony, dramatic reconstruction and state of the art computer graphics to tell the definitive story of this epic sea battle More on The Battle of Hood and Bismarck

  18. The Battle of Orgreave The Battle of Orgreave

    A powerful, partial re-enactment of one of the most violent clashes between striking miners and police during the 1984-85 miners' strike More on The Battle of Orgreave

  19. Stephen K Amos Batty Man

    An observational documentary following comedian Stephen K Amos as he explores whether young people in the black community are finally ready to accept that it's okay to be black and gay [S] More on Batty Man

  20. The Accident and Emergency Trolley The Bed

    Toby Paton's First Cut film, written and narrated by performance poet Luke Wright, tells the story of life in a busy hospital from the perspective of the Accident and Emergency trolley [S] More on The Bed

    Last broadcast: 06 August 2010, on

  21. The Beginners Guide... The Beginner's Guide to...

    Celebrities come face to face with some of the world's most talked-about religions, looking behind the headlines and exploring their unfamiliar rituals and regimes More on The Beginner's Guide to...

  22. Being Maxine Carr Being Maxine Carr

    Maxx Ginnane's half-hour First Cut film is a tale of a modern day witch-hunt, examining mob-justice and exploring how Maxine Carr became a hate figure More on Being Maxine Carr

  23. Keiron Tandy Benefit Busters

    The government is attempting to revolutionise the benefits system. This documentary series follows the people on both sides of the new welfare state. [S] More on Benefit Busters

  24. 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

  25. Best Undressed Best Undressed

    Martin Taylor's film is a revealing behind-the-scenes look at Australia's longest running and probably most politically incorrect beauty contest, Miss Nude Australia [S] More on Best Undressed

  26. Best of British Best of British

    Documentary series following Paralympic athletes in their sporting and private lives as they aim to be selected for the 2012 London Paralympic Games [S] [AD] More on Best of British

    Last broadcast: Sunday 02 October, 3.55PM on Channel 4

  27. Richard Seymour and Dick Powell sitting in a passenger aircraft Better by Design

    Multi-award-winning designers Richard Seymour and Dick Powell rethink malfunctioning everyday objects, from unsound burglar alarms to rubbish kitchen bins More on Better by Design

  28. Ann Widdecombe The Bible: A History

    The story of the most influential book ever written, interpreted by seven prominent figures from different walks of life [S] More on The Bible: A History

  29. The Big Decision The Big Decision

    As part of a major new series for 2012, Channel 4 and The Big Lottery Fund have joined forces to give the public the chance to decide how £10 million of Lottery money is spent More on The Big Decision

  30. Big Fat Gypsy Weddings Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

    Revealing documentary series that offers a window into the secretive, extravagant and surprising world of gypsies and travellers in Britain today [S] More on Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

    Next on: Tuesday 21 February, 9PM on Channel 4

  31. Big River Man Big River Man

    This affectionately humorous portrait of Slovenia's Martin Strel, swimmer extraordinaire, follows his attempt to swim the length of the Amazon, the world's longest river [S] More on Big River Man

    Last broadcast: 17 August 2010, on

  32. Big Snake Big Snake

    The prize: $50,000. The challenge: capture the world's largest snake, alive. Enter Robert Twigger - poet, martial artist and rap artist - who believes he's the man to do it. Shame he's scared of snakes... More on Big Snake

    Last broadcast: 21 March 2009, on

  33. Emily Horne The Bigamist Bride: My Five Husbands

    Emily Horne has been married five times but never bothered to get divorced. Behind the lurid headlines, Cutting Edge investigates a darker tale of mental illness, addiction and neglect. More on The Bigamist Bride: My Five Husbands

  34. Biggie and Tupac Biggie and Tupac

    Nick Broomfield uncovers the conspiracy theories surrounding the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls More on Biggie and Tupac

  35. Billy the Kid Billy the Kid

    A portrait of Billy, a 15-year-old outsider growing up in Maine. Behavioural issues have left him marked but he has created techniques to help him survive in an environment of prejudice. More on Billy the Kid

  36. Bin Laden: Shoot to Kill Bin Laden: Shoot to Kill

    The complete story of the operation to find and kill Osama Bin Laden [S] More on Bin Laden: Shoot to Kill

    Last broadcast: Wednesday 07 September, 9PM on Channel 4

  37. Bitches and Beauty Queens Bitches and Beauty Queens

    A unique behind-the-scenes look at one of India's most prestigious and intensive beauty camps, where pretty young women are turned into beauty godesses More on Bitches and Beauty Queens

  38. Black Gold Black Gold

    As westerners sip designer lattes and cappuccinos, Ethiopian coffee growers live in hardship. Black Gold travels from Ethiopia to Seattle to reveal the grinding poverty behind our daily cup of luxury. More on Black Gold

  39. Black Star: An African Football Odyssey Black Star: An African Football Odyssey

    A film about Africa, about football and about Chelsea footballer Michael Essien's return to Ghana to play for his country at the 2008 African Cup of Nations More on Black Star: An African Football Odyssey

  40. Nose job Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth

    Two documentaries from the Race: Science's Last Taboo season examine the growing trend for deracialisation surgery [S] More on Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth

  41. Blind Young Things Blind Young Things

    A thought-provoking, heart-warming film from Cutting Edge following three blind or partially-sighted teenage students at the Royal National College for the Blind More on Blind Young Things

  42. Tony Robinson on Blitz Street Blitz Street

    Tony Robinson explores what it was like to live through the Blitz, on a specially-constructed street that is subjected to explosions similar to those inflicted by the Luftwaffe [S] More on Blitz Street

  43. Firefighters Blitz: London's Firestorm

    The story of the night when the German Luftwaffe attacked London with devastating results [S] More on Blitz: London's Firestorm

  44. Bobby Kennedy: The Last Journey Bobby Kennedy: The Last Journey

    When Robert F Kennedy's body was taken from New York to Washington by train for burial, thousands of mourners turned out to pay their respects. This film tells their story. [S] More on Bobby Kennedy: The Last Journey

    Last broadcast: 16 March 2011, on

  45. bodyshock_worlds_tallest_man_looking_for_love_brand Bodyshock

    Long-running documentary strand that investigates extraordinary and moving real-life stories about the extremes of the human body [S] More on Bodyshock

    Last broadcast: 26 May 2011, on

  46. Bodysnatches of New York Bodysnatchers of New York

    The chilling story of New York surgeon Dr Michael Mastromarino, who illegally carved up hundreds of corpses without permission before selling the bones and tissue on for transplants [S] More on Bodysnatchers of New York

    Last broadcast: 26 October 2010, on

  47. Emily Born to Be Different

    A candid and unsentimental documentary filmed over nearly 10 years that chronicles the pressures and joys of family life for parents bringing up a disabled child [S] More on Born to Be Different

    Last broadcast: 23 June 2011, on

  48. 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 [S] More on Bouncers

    Last broadcast: Wednesday 01 February, 10PM on Channel 4

  49. Jon wearing a hat The Boy Who Was Born a Girl

    Julia Moon's First Cut film follows Jon, a 16-year-old boy who was born a girl, through three months of life-changing treatment as testosterone pushes his female body into male puberty [S] More on The Boy Who Was Born a Girl

  50. The Boy Who Was a King The Boy Who Was a King

    The story of Simeon II of Bulgaria's unprecedented journey from boy king to democratic leader, exploring what his tale signifies not only for him but for his conflicted country More on The Boy Who Was a King

    Last broadcast: Tuesday 06 December, 10PM on More4

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