PlotNest
US

Episode guide

Horizon: Specials

Poster for Horizon Specials

111 episodes · first aired Dec 25, 1966

TMDB has no overview for this season.

Back to Horizon: cast and where to watch

  1. 1 Horizon Christmas Special: Hand me my Sword, Humphrey Dec 25, 1966 · 1h It is Christmas Day in the house of Hastings. The time (the 1830s), the place (a suburban Victorian home), and the atmosphere (after the pudding with the children waiting to be…
  2. 2 The Case of the Ancient Astronauts Nov 25, 1977 · 1h In this special episode, Horizon reports on Erich von Däniken and his theories about astronauts visiting Earth long ago.
  3. 3 The Mind's Eye Jan 28, 1980 · 1h This special episode of Horizon shows the latest advances in research into how the visual eyesight system of humans and animals work.
  4. 4 25 Years in Space Dec 25, 1982 · 1h This Horizon special episode recalls the highlights of the past 25 years of the space age.
  5. 5 Biology at War: The Mystery of Yellow Rain May 15, 1984 · 1h In the first part of this special two-part series, Horizon reports on the yellow rain problem in South-east Asia.
  6. 6 Beyond the Moon Jul 21, 1984 · 1h In this special episode, Horizon brings you a report on space exploration and exploitation. The first half of this episode looks back at the Apollo 11 moon landing, and second the second…
  7. 7 Biology at War: A Plague in the Wind Oct 29, 1984 · 1h This is the second part, of a two-part special series. In this episode, Horizon looks at the history of germ warfare and the research still continuing today in military labs under…
  8. 8 Twenty-First Birthday May 20, 1985 · 1h Horizon celebrates twenty one years of work, achievement, and awards with a birthday compilation of highlights from past episodes.
  9. 9 Halley's Comet - The Apparition Nov 25, 1985 · 1h This report by Horizon looks into how the apparitions of Halley's comet came to be predicted so accurately.
  10. 10 Halley's Comet - The Encounter Mar 13, 1986 · 1h Special on Halley's comet
  11. 11 The Diary of Discovery Sep 28, 1988 · 1h This Horizon special follows the 20 months preparation of the five astronauts who are to man the American space shuttle Discovery launching on the 29th of September in 1988. This is the…
  12. 12 Making an Honest Fiver Jun 6, 1990 · 1h This Horizon special explores the production and processes behind the scenes of the new five pound note to be launched on the 7the June, 1990, in Britain. It considers the design and…
  13. 13 Red Star in Orbit: The Invisible Spaceman Dec 7, 1990 · 1h This Horizon special episode is part one of a three part series on the projects, cosmonauts, and engineers involved in the Soviet Union space program.
  14. 14 Red Star in Orbit: The Dark Side of the Moon Dec 14, 1990 · 1h This Horizon special episode is part two of a three part series on the projects, cosmonauts, and engineers involved in the Soviet Union space program.
  15. 15 Red Star in Orbit: The Mission Dec 21, 1990 · 1h This Horizon special episode is the last part of a three part series on the projects, cosmonauts, and engineers involved in the Soviet Union space program. In this episode, two Soviet…
  16. 16 A Close Encouter of the Second Kind Jul 10, 1992 · 1h This Horizon special program explores what happened when the "Giotto" explorer spacecraft passed within 100 kilometres of Halley's Comet.
  17. 17 Hide and Seek in Iraq Aug 23, 1992 · 1h This documentary by Horizon reveals the disturbing discoveries made in over 40 inspections looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
  18. 18 The Truth About Sex Oct 12, 1992 · 1h This report by Horizon brings you the results of a landmark survey about sex.
  19. 19 Assault on the Male Oct 31, 1993 · 1h This Horizon special looks at the mysterious changes in wildlife that has been reported in the USA and that man's reproduction may also be adversely effected.
  20. 20 30th Anniversary - The Far Side May 23, 1994 · 1h Horizon celebrates its 30th birthday by checking on some of the scientific predictions of last three decades.
  21. 21 Twice Born Feb 14, 1995 · 1h In this special episode, Horizon examines the use of foetal surgery for life saving operations.
  22. 22 Einstein: The Miracle Year Mar 17, 1996 · 1h First part of a two-part drama looking at the work and life of Albert Einstein. Mixes archival material with dramatised sequences. Looks at his turbulent private life and the six month…
  23. 23 Einstein: Fame Mar 18, 1996 · 1h This is the second part of a two-part Horizon series on Albert Einstein looking at Einstein's life and work. This program deals with the break up of his first marriage, his second marriage…
  24. 24 BSE: The Invisible Enemy Nov 17, 1996 · 1h First part of a two-part investigation into BSE. Looks into the scientific confusion and official bungling surrounding the problem, which allowed BSE to spread into the human population…
  25. 25 BSE: The Human Experiment Nov 18, 1996 · 1h This is part two of a two-part Horizon series on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as "mad cow" disease, and how it is transmitted to humans, becoming CJD…
  26. 26 Molecules With Sunglasses (Update) Dec 9, 1996 · 1h An update on the earlier 1992 episode, and the continuing story of the Carbon 60 molecule.
  27. 27 Ice Mummies: The Ice Maiden Jan 30, 1997 · 1h Follows archeologist Natalya Polosmok as she journeys to the Altay Mountains in southern Siberia to search for traces of an ancient people known as the Pazyryk. * Polosmok and her team…
  28. 28 Ice Mummies: A Life in Ice Feb 6, 1997 · 1h In this second part of the Ice Mummies trilogy, attention turns to Ötzi, the Neolithic man plucked with an ice pick and some not inconsiderable brute force from an Alpine glacier. Once…
  29. 29 Ice Mummies: Frozen in Heaven Feb 13, 1997 · 1h This is the bizarre and fascinating story of the remains of Inca culture, frozen for posterity high in the mountains of the Andes. Evidence has emerged of sacrifice to the mountain gods…
  30. 30 Computers Don't Bite, Inside the Internet May 17, 1997 · 1h
  31. 31 Antarctica: The Ice Lives Oct 30, 1997 · 1h This is part one of a three-part Horizon special about the scientists and others who became explorers in the earth's final frontier, Antarctica.
  32. 32 Antarctica: The Ice Forms Nov 6, 1997 · 1h This is part two of a three-part Horizon special about the scientists and others who became explorers in the earth's final frontier, Antarctica.
  33. 33 Antarctica: The Ice Melts Nov 13, 1997 · 1h This is part three of a three-part Horizon special about the scientists and others who became explorers in the earth's final frontier, Antarctica.
  34. 34 Crash Jan 8, 1998 · 1h This programme traces the lessons learned from a century of road fatalities. How have car makers learnt to predict the injuries their designs will inflict, and how have doctors learnt to…
  35. 35 Darwin: The Legacy Mar 29, 1998 · 1h
  36. 36 Longitude Jan 4, 1999 · 1h In this documentary special, Horizon explores how to solve the problem of sailors being unable to pin-point their exact east-west position on the globe.
  37. 37 Fat Files: Born to Be Fat Jan 7, 1999 · 1h Horizon presents a three-part series focusing on weight-gain, dieting, and eating disorders. In this episode, there is scientific proof that we are not always in control of our appetites…
  38. 38 Fat Files: Fixing Fat Jan 14, 1999 · 1h Horizon presents a three-part series focusing on weight-gain, dieting, and eating disorders. In this episode, Horizon examines the shift away from invasive dieting methods to more natural…
  39. 39 Fat Files: Living on Air Jan 21, 1999 · 1h Horizon presents a three-part series focusing on weight-gain, dieting, and eating disorders. In this episode, Horizon looks at the eating disorders called Anorexia and Bulimia.
  40. 40 Atlantis Uncovered Oct 28, 1999 · 1h This is part one of a two-part special Horizon series about Atlantis. In this episode, Horizon explores the mystery of whether Atlantis really did exist. Was there really, about 12,000…
  41. 41 Atlantis Reborn Nov 4, 1999 · 1h This is part two of a two-part special Horizon series about Atlantis. In this episode, Horizon puts Graham Hancock's controversial theories about the past to the test, dissecting his…
  42. 42 Life and Death in the 21st Century: Living Forever Jan 4, 2000 · 1h Will we find the magic formula that allows us to live forever in the 21st Century?
  43. 43 Life and Death in the 21st Century: Future Plagues Jan 5, 2000 · 1h Ancient diseases we thought we had defeated are returning to haunt us, and plagues of new viruses and bacteria are now emerging.
  44. 44 Life and Death in the 21st Century: Designer Babies Jan 6, 2000 · 1h Will we ever be able to hand-pick genes to manufacture our own tailor-made baby?
  45. 45 Inside the Internet Jun 10, 2000 · 1h
  46. 46 Life on Mars Jan 11, 2001 · 1h Horizon explores how the search for Martians is hotting up.
  47. 47 Destination Mars Jan 18, 2001 · 1h Tantalising new evidence has emerged that life could exist on Mars. But to find out for sure humans will have to journey to this dry, frozen planet.
  48. 48 What Sank the Kursk? Aug 8, 2001 · 1h In August 2000, the Russian submarine, the Kursk, sank with the loss of 118 lives. It was a tragedy which shocked the world. But to many the tragedy remains incomprehensible, for the Kursk…
  49. 49 First Olympians: A Horizon Special Jul 23, 2004 · 1h In this documentary, Horizon reports on a skeleton was found 50 years ago in Southern Italy. The bone structure suggests the owner was an ancient athlete.
  50. 50 Everest: Doctors in the Death Zone (1) Sep 23, 2007 · 1h A team of doctors conducts potentially life-saving experiments in Horizon's 'death zone' This two-part special follows a team of doctors conducting a series of groundbreaking experiments…
  51. 51 Everest: Doctors in the Death Zone (2) Sep 30, 2007 · 1h A team of doctors conducts potentially life-saving experiments in Horizon's 'death zone' This two-part special follows a team of doctors conducting a series of groundbreaking experiments…
  52. 52 Lost Horizons: The Big Bang Sep 4, 2008 · 1h Professor Jim Al Khalili delves into over 50 years of the BBC science archive to tell the story behind the emergence of one of the greatest theories of modern science, the Big Bang. The…
  53. 53 How Mad Are You? (1) Nov 11, 2008 · 1h First of a two-part special. Ten volunteers have come together for an extraordinary test. Five are 'normal' and the other five have been officially diagnosed as mentally ill. Horizon asks…
  54. 54 How Mad Are You? (2) Nov 18, 2008 · 1h Second part of the special documentary considering where the line between sanity and madness lies as ten volunteers come together for an extraordinary test. With five 'normal' volunteers…
  55. 55 40 Years on the Moon Jul 9, 2009 · 1h Professor Brian Cox takes a look through nearly 50 years of BBC archive at the story of man's relationship with the Moon.
  56. 56 Pandemic: A Horizon Guide Aug 9, 2009 · 1h In the wake of the swine flu outbreak, virologist Dr Mike Leahy goesw back over 50 years of BBC archives to explore the history of pandemics: waves of infectious diseases caused by…
  57. 57 Mars: A Horizon Guide Nov 15, 2009 · 1h The intriguing possibility of life on Mars has fuelled man's quest to visit the Red Planet. Drawing on 45 years of Horizon archive, space expert Dr Kevin Fong presents a documentary on…
  58. 58 How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? Dec 9, 2009 · 1h In a Horizon special, naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world is heading for a population crisis. In his lengthy career, Sir David has watched the human population…
  59. 59 Diet: A Horizon Guide Jan 7, 2010 · 1h Dr Susan Jebb takes a look through nearly fifty years of amazing BBC archive of mankind's relationship with what we eat, charting the shift from the malnutrition of the past to today's…
  60. 60 The End of God? A Horizon Guide to Science and Religion Sep 17, 2010 · 1h As the Pope ends his visit to Britain, historian Dr Thomas Dixon delves into the BBC's archive to explore the troubled relationship between religion and science. From the creationists of…
  61. 61 What Makes Us Clever? A Horizon Guide to Intelligence Jan 6, 2011 · 1h Dallas Campbell delves into the Horizon archive to discover how our understanding of intelligence has transformed over the last century. From early caveman thinkers to computers doing the…
  62. 62 Japan Earthquake: A Horizon Special Mar 27, 2011 · 1h Professor Iain Stewart examines the powerful geological forces that unleashed the devastating Japanese earthquake, and explores how the release of this power of the planet brought Japan to…
  63. 63 The Space Shuttle: A Horizon Guide Apr 10, 2011 · 1h In 2011, after more than 30 years of service, America's space shuttle will take to the skies for the last time. Its story has been characterised by incredible triumphs, but blighted by…
  64. 64 The End of the World? A Horizon Guide to Armageddon May 12, 2011 · 1h Our understanding of the world around us is better now than ever before. But are we any closer to knowing how its all going to end? Dallas Campbell delves into the Horizon archive to…
  65. 65 Carrot or Stick? A Horizon Guide to Raising Kids Aug 11, 2011 · 1h Child psychologist Laverne Antrobus delves into the Horizon archive to find out how science has shaped our approach to parenting and education over the last fifty years. From lessons in…
  66. 66 Extinct: A Horizon Guide to Dinosaurs Sep 21, 2011 · 1h Dallas Campbell explores how mankind's understanding of dinosaurs has developed since the 1970s. He reveals how technological advances led to scientists revising their theories about how…
  67. 67 The Hunt for Higgs: A Horizon Special Jan 9, 2012 · 1h Horizon goes behind the scenes at CERN to follow one of the most epic and expensive scientific quests of all time: the search for the Higgs particle, believed to give mass to everything in…
  68. 68 Woof! A Horizon Guide to Dogs Mar 1, 2012 · 1h Dallas Campbell looks back through the Horizon archives to find out what science can tell us about our best friend the dog, and whether new thinking should change the way we treat them…
  69. 69 The Hunt for AI Apr 3, 2012 · 1h Marcus Du Sautoy wants to find out how close we are to creating machines that can think like us: robots or computers that have artificial intelligence. His journey takes him to a strange…
  70. 70 Stuff: A Horizon Guide to Materials Apr 19, 2012 · 1h Engineer Jem Stansfield looks back through the Horizon archives to find out how scientists have come to understand and manipulate the materials that built the modern world. Whether it is…
  71. 71 Blink: A Horizon Guide to the Senses Jul 11, 2012 · 1h Kevin Fong looks back through 40 years of Horizon archives to explore what science has revealed about methods of perception. He discovers why babies use touch more than any other sense…
  72. 72 Immortal? A Horizon Guide to Ageing Jul 17, 2012 · 1h Is there any way to slow or even prevent the ravages of time? Veteran presenter Johnny Ball looks back over the 45 years that Horizon - and he - have been on air to find out what science…
  73. 73 Mission to Mars: A Horizon Special Jul 31, 2012 · 1h Horizon goes behind the scenes at NASA as they countdown to the landing of a 2.5 billion-dollar rover on the surface of Mars. In six days time, the nuclear-powered vehicle - the size of a…
  74. 74 The Final Frontier: A Horizon Guide to the Universe Oct 17, 2012 · 1h Dallas Campbell looks back through almost 50 years of the Horizon archives to chart the scientific breakthroughs that have transformed our understanding of the universe. From Einstein's…
  75. 75 The Truth About Meteors: A Horizon Special Mar 3, 2013 · 1h On a bright, cold morning on 15th February 2013, a meteorite ripped across the skies above the Ural mountains in Russia, distintegrating into three pieces and exploding with the force of…
  76. 76 Mend Me: A Horizon Guide to Transplants Mar 27, 2013 · 1h Transplant surgery has now reached incredible heights, from achieving full face transplants to growing organs in the lab. This Horizon Guide looks back at the extraordinary odds doctors…
  77. 77 Tomorrow's World: A Horizon Special Apr 11, 2013 · 1h Liz Bonnin delves in to the world of invention, revealing the people and technologies set to transform all our lives. She examines the conditions that are promising to make the 21st…
  78. 78 What's Killing Our Bees? A Horizon Special Aug 2, 2013 · 1h Changes in the weather, pesticides, and even a virus have all all been blamed for the ongoing mass deaths of bees Bill Turnbull meets the scientists who are fitting minute radar…
  79. 79 Comet of the Century: A Horizon Special Nov 23, 2013 · 1h It was hoped that Comet ISON could be the brightest and most spectacular comet for a generation. After travelling towards the sun for ten thousand years, it appeared to have been…
  80. 80 The £10 Million Challenge May 22, 2014 · 1h To celebrate its 50th birthday, Horizon invites the public to play a role in tackling the greatest challenges facing science today. This special episode of Horizon launches the £10 million…
  81. 81 The Transit of Venus: A Horizon Special Jun 5, 2012 · 1h Liz Bonnin presents a Horizon special about a rare and beautiful event in our solar system, one that we should all be able to see for ourselves - the transit of Venus across the face of…
  82. 100 The Great British Drought May 26, 1976 · 1h Something peculiar has happened to Britain's weather. During the last two months we have heard frequent stories of forest fires, dried-up reservoirs and even rumours of water rationing…
  83. 101 Festival 77: Horizon 2002 Aug 26, 1977 · 1h Horizon theorizes how life could be in 2002, using extracts from previous Horizon episodes.
  84. 102 Darwin's Dream Sep 23, 1977 · 1h Darwin's theory of evolution transformed our view of the world. But what would he think of the progress we have made since?
  85. 103 A Killer in the Village - Update Apr 2, 1984 · 1h An updated report on AIDS, a catastrophic collapse of the immune system that leads to a bizarre range of cancers and potentially fatal infections.
  86. 104 Life Story Apr 27, 1987 · 1h A Horizon special dramatizing the race at the University of Cambridge in 1951 for the discovery of DNA.
  87. 105 Sex: A Horizon Guide Sep 11, 2013 · 1h Alice Roberts looks through 45 years of Horizon archive material to see how science came to understand sex, strived to solve our problems with it and even helped us do it better.
  88. 106 Climate Change: A Horizon Guide Mar 4, 2015 · 1h Dr Helen Czerski delves into the Horizon archive to chart the transformation of a little-known theory into one of the greatest scientific undertakings in history.
  89. 107 The Mystery of Murder: A Horizon Guide Mar 9, 2015 · 1h Michael Mosley uses the BBC archives to chart scientists' progress as they probed the mind of the murderer to try to understand why people kill, and whether it can help prevent it.
  90. 108 The Horizon Guide to AI Sep 4, 2018 · 1h Documentary looking at the perception of AI from 1964 to the present day. Can we be optimistic about all that AI can deliver - or fearful of its ability to control our lives?
  91. 109 Tim Peake Special - How to be an Astronaut Dec 13, 2015 · 1h Astronaut Tim Peake's video diary of the two years leading up to his arrival at the International Space Station in December 2015.
  92. 110 Jimmy Carr and the Science of Laughter Sep 11, 2016 · 1h Comedian Jimmy Carr takes over Horizon for this one-off special programme, produced as part of BBC2's sitcom season. Jimmy turns venerable documentary strand Horizon into a chat show, with…
  93. 111 Horizon Special: The Vaccine Jun 16, 2021 · 1h The extraordinary inside story of the biggest scientific challenge of our age - following a small band of vaccine scientists around the world who took on Covid-19 and ultimately delivered…
  94. 112 The Life and Times of El Niño Jan 3, 2006 · 1h The Life and Times of El Niño combines history and science to show how this meteorological monster has affected global economy and political history. As a little understood climatic event…
  95. 113 Impact! A Horizon Guide to Plane Crashes Oct 14, 2013 · 1h It's a macabre paradox, but almost every advance in aviation safety has been driven by a crash. After every crash, investigators determine its cause and scientists make every effort to…
  96. 114 Impact! A Horizon Guide to Car Crashes Oct 21, 2013 · 1h In the 1950s up to 8,000 people died every year on the roads in this country - a truly horrific figure. Thankfully it has now fallen to around 2,000 a year - still a terrible toll, but a…
  97. 115 Cat Watch 2014 - A Cat's Eye View Oct 7, 2014 · 1h Playful pets, fearsome fighters or deadly hunters? Millions of us have cats in our homes, yet we know very little about them. In this series, Liz Bonnin joins forces with some of the…
  98. 116 Cat Watch 2014 - The Lion in Your Lap Oct 8, 2014 · 1h The second episode of this unique scientific study reveals the wild side of pet cats. Using GPS trackers and cat cameras, they show how these felines transform from pampered pet to purring…
  99. 117 Cat Watch 2014 - Cat Talk Oct 9, 2014 · 1h In the final episode of this groundbreaking scientific study, Liz Bonnin and a team of scientists reveal the secret language of our cats, the surprising conversations they have when we are…
  100. 118 What's The Right Diet For You? Part 1 Jan 12, 2015 · 1h Instead of reaching for the latest fad diet, the best way to lose weight successfully is a personalised approach - diets tailored to your individual biology and psychology. In a…
  101. 119 What's The Right Diet For You? Part 2 Jan 13, 2015 · 1h It is time to see if personalised dieting will work in normal life. The volunteers have been given one of three diets to follow - based on their genes, their hormones and their psychology…
  102. 120 What's The Right Diet For You? Part 3 Jan 14, 2015 · 1h So far the volunteers have successfully been losing lost weight, but now the honeymoon period is over. It is the final two months of the diet, and their minds and bodies are fighting back…
  103. 121 Journey to the Moon: A Horizon Special Jul 17, 2019 · 1h Professor Brian Cox takes a journey through the BBC science archive to explore the story of mankind's relationship with the moon, from James Burke testing Nasa equipment to Neil…
  104. 122 Alastair Campbell: Depression and Me May 21, 2019 · 1h In an intensely personal and often surprising film for BBC Two, Alastair Campbell candidly talks about his experience living with depression and explores if radical new treatments can make…
  105. 123 Ice Station Antarctica: Part One May 21, 2016 · 1h BBC weatherman Peter Gibbs makes an emotional return to Antarctica, years after he lived and worked at the British Antarctic Survey's Halley Research Station. (Part One as shown on BBC News)
  106. 124 Ice Station Antarctica: Part Two May 28, 2016 · 1h BBC weatherman Peter Gibbs's return to Antarctica becomes something of a rescue mission. The British Antarctic Survey reveals how it will save the Halley Research Station from being cast…
  107. 125 Coronavirus Special - Part 1 Apr 9, 2020 · 1h Investigating the scientific facts and figures behind the biggest public health crisis in living memory as a new coronavirus takes an unprepared world by storm.
  108. 126 Coronavirus Special - Part 2 May 19, 2020 · 1h Dr Chris van Tulleken, Dr Hannah Fry and Michael Mosley examine the latest research and explore some of the big questions about the new coronavirus and the pandemic it has created.
  109. 127 Coronavirus Special - What We Know Now Feb 25, 2021 · 1h In this third Horizon special, Dr Chris Van Tulleken is joined by his brother Xand and Dr Guddi Singh to take us through the latest developments and answer current concerns. Though the…
  110. 128 Horizon Special: The Vaccine Jun 16, 2021 · 1h The extraordinary inside story of the biggest scientific challenge of our age - following a small band of vaccine scientists around the world who took on Covid-19 and ultimately delivered…
  111. 129 Tim Peake Special: How to Be an Astronaut Dec 13, 2015 · 59m In December 2015, Tim Peake became Britain’s first astronaut on board the International Space Station. For two years, he had been filming a video diary for Horizon as he prepared to leave…