BBC Two
To mark the centenary of the October Revolution, the BBC has commissioned a selection of programmes across television and radio examining this significant event and its continued impact on society.
Published: 20 September 2017
To mark the centenary of the October Revolution, the BBC has commissioned a selection of programmes across television and radio examining this significant event and its continued impact on society.
Countdown To Revolution
The Russian Revolution of 1917 is one of the most controversial events of the 20th century. Three men - Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin - emerged from obscurity to forge an entirely new political system. In the space of six months they turned the largest country on earth into the first Communist state. Was this a triumph of people power or a coup d’etat that led to blood-soaked totalitarianism? A hundred years later, the Revolution still sparks ferocious debate. In this documentary, writers and historians, including Martin Amis, Orlando Figes, Helen Rappaport, Simon Sebag-Montefiore and China Miéville, battle over the meaning of the Russian Revolution and spell out how it shapes the world we live in today.
Countdown To Revolution was commissioned by Abigail Priddle, commissioning editor special factual. It was produced by Oxford Films and directed by Renny Bartlett.
Russia With Simon Reeve
In this new three-part series, Simon Reeve travels across the world’s biggest country.
Simon’s journey takes him from the snowcapped volcanoes of the far-east, through some of the remotest parts of our planet, to the great cities of the west, Moscow and St Petersburg. Along the way he encounters an extraordinary cast of characters including reindeer herders living in extreme temperatures, the former traffic cop whose followers believe he is the reincarnation of Jesus, Cossack law enforcers and a cheese entrepreneur beating western sanctions. As well as braving conditions in some of most extreme places in the world, Simon and the team also experience first-hand what it’s like filming in Putin’s Russia when the crew are repeatedly followed and detained by Russian authorities.
Russia With Simon Reeve was directed and produced by Eric Macfarland. The series producer is Chris Mitchell and the executive producer is Sam Bagnall.
