Britain's Greatest Generation — Season 1

Aired 8 May 2015 • 60 min

The first episode looks at how national unity was tested in the 1920s and 30s with class conflict, soaring unemployment and widespread civil unrest, but despite these upheavals, those growing up in the inter-war years remember much that was positive about life in Britain at the time. When war broke out in 1939, the men and women of this generation were ready to risk their lives for their country, but the evacuation of the British Army from the beaches of Dunkirk was a wake-up call for those expecting a swift victory.

Aired 15 May 2015 • 60 min

The Second World War saw men from all classes unite to fight the Nazis, and this programme meets some of the last surviving pilots of the Battle of Britain. Women, who had been excluded from many jobs, worked in everything from anti-aircraft gun batteries to steel-making factories. The Blitz saw rescue workers risk all to save those trapped in bombed buildings. For many of the era's last survivors, the defiant spirit that brought the nation together remains one of their proudest moments.

Aired 22 May 2015 • 60 min

This instalment includes the story of Fergus Anckorn who was once the youngest member of the Magic Circle and - at 96 - is now the oldest. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Singapore and put to work on the Burma Railway. He managed to survive using his magic to entertain his captors, who rewarded him with food that kept him and his fellow prisoners alive.

Aired 29 May 2015 • 60 min

A look at individuals who played their part in creating a more culturally diverse post-war Britain, including pioneering actor Earl Cameron, who broke through the colour bar in the film industry. Other well-known names also considered are gay rights activist George Montague, and Brian Rix, who has campaigned passionately on the issue of disability. Plus, Arctic Convoy survivor Austin Byrne and former prisoner of war Jim Purcell share their stories and memories of the era.