Watch Schindler: The Real Story on BBC Select

What was the true nature of Oskar Schindler?

Watch Schindler: The Real Story on BBC Select

Immortalized in the iconic Steven Spielberg film Schindler’s List, Oskar Schindler has become a well-known hero of the Second World War.

This compelling, award-winning documentary explores the real, complex figure of Schindler, with incredible archive footage and intimate interviews with Holocaust survivors who knew him.

The vain, womanizing playboy behind the legendary hero is also revealed.

Watch Schindler: The Real Story and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.

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Biographical documentaries

From world leaders to the kings and queens of pop culture, BBC Select tells the true-life stories of some of the most influential people of our time.

Elton John Interview BBC

Elton John: Uncensored

Elton John opens up to Graham Norton about his childhood, stardom and addiction battles.

Life in Ten Pictures Freddie Mercury Documentary

A Life in Ten Pictures - Freddie Mercury

The life of Queen's Freddie Mercury told through photographs

Arthur: King of the Britons

Arthur: King of the Britons

Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?

The Real Mo Farah

The Real Mo Farah

Sir Mo Farah reveals the shocking truth about his childhood and journey to Olympic golds.

Louis Theroux Interviews... Katherine Ryan

Louis Theroux Interviews... Katherine Ryan

Louis meets controversial, outspoken comedian, actor and writer Katherine Ryan.

Dynasties The Families That changed the World

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.

Idris Elba Mandela My Dad and Me

Idris Elba: Mandela, My Dad and Me

Idris Elba returns to Africa to record an album inspired by Mandela and his late father.

alexander mcqueen

A Life In Ten Pictures: Alexander McQueen

The story of Alexander McQueen.

bruce lee

A Life In Ten Pictures: Bruce Lee

Can 10 unique images reveal anything about the hidden character of kung-fu icon Bruce Lee?

a life in 10 pictures nelson mandela

A Life In Ten Pictures: Nelson Mandela

The character and motivations of this iconic global figure are explored via photographs.

Ella fitzgerald

A Life In Ten Pictures: Ella Fitzgerald

The story of the "First Lady of Song" told through ten photographs

a life in ten pictures carrie fisher

A Life In Ten Pictures: Carrie Fisher

The story of the iconic actress and writer told through ten iconic photos

Dynasties The Families That changed the World

Dynasties: The Families That Changed The World

Delve into the inner workings of the world's most powerful and intriguing families.

a life in 10 pictures series 2

A Life In Ten Pictures

Return of the series examining the lives of extraordinary people through ten photographs.

the man who destroyed oscar wilde

The Man Who Destroyed Oscar Wilde

The epic story of the famous playwright’s downfall at the hands of an old friend.

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

The Real Lawrence of Arabia

Who was the man behind Lawrence of Arabia and why does he inspire such devotion today?

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is considered decadent, uncaring, and reprehensible. But is this fair?

Arthur: King of the Britons

Arthur: King of the Britons

Why do so many myths and stories surround King Arthur? And did he even exist?

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Turkey: Rise of Erdogans Empire

Turkey: The Rise of Erdogan's Empire

How did Recep Tayyip Erdogan become the most powerful leader in Turkey’s recent history?

Europe’s Royals Revealed

Europe’s Royals Revealed with Katty Kay

What is the point of modern monarchy? Katty Kay visits Europe’s remaining royals.

Daft Punk

Daft Punk: Unchained

Just who are Daft Punk and how do they stay so successful while remaining so mysterious?

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Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly

The astonishing story of one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s: Roberta Flack.

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The Source Family

The story of Father Yod and his wild 1970s utopian living experiment.

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Princess Anne: The Seven Loves of Her Life

The complex and at times scandalous love life of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter.

Before They Were Royals

Before They Were Royal

The story of Prince Philip, Camilla Parker-Bowles and more before they became royal

Princess Diana: A Life After Death

How Princess Diana's tragic death and legacy changed the British monarchy forever.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Amy Winehouse

The story of Amy Winehouse told through 10 photos

King Charles III: Born to be King

Born To Be King

What will new British monarch King Charles III bring to the role?

Watch Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique with BBC Select

Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique

Scandal and gossip stalked Princess Margaret on the luxurious island of Mustique.

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: John Lennon

Photographs help to reveal the true nature of music icon and Beatles star John Lennon.

Picturing Elizabeth Her Life in Images

Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Pictures

The stories behind some of the most famous and era-defining pictures of Queen Elizabeth II.

Watch A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen

A look back at the life of Queen Elizabeth II

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Muhammad Ali

Ten photographs show a different side of boxer Muhammad Ali

Surviving the Holocaust

Surviving the Holocaust

Watch A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur on BBC Select

A Life In Ten Pictures: Tupac Shakur

The life of Tupac Shakur told through 10 photographs

Watch Napoleon with BBC Select

Napoleon

The story of Napoleon

Stream Rembrandt on BBC Select

Rembrandt

Did scandal and torment drive the artist to even greater creative glories?

Watch Elizabeth I & II: Golden Queens on BBC Select

Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens

Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II

My Years with the Queen

What’s it like to be close friends with Queen Elizabeth II? Lady Pamela Hicks reveals all.

Stream Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal? on BBC Select

Kissinger: Statesman or War Criminal?

Henry Kissinger: canny political operator or a despicable war criminal?

Watch The Queen Mother on BBC Select

The Queen Mother

The triumphs and pain that came to define the woman affectionately known as the Queen Mum.

Watch Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing on BBC Select

Calculating Ada: The Countess of Computing

How did a scandalous 19th-century countess help create the modern era of computing?

Watch Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us on BBC Select

Simon Schama's Shakespeare and Us

Get underneath the skin of the playwright to understand why his stories are so relevant today

Watch Zelensky: The Making of a President on BBC Select

Zelensky: The Making of a President

The transformation of Ukraine's President Zelensky from comic to respected world leader.

Watch Gandhi on BBC Select

Gandhi

His reputation is uncontroversial. The reality couldn’t be more different.

Watch In Louboutin’s Shoes on BBC Select

In Louboutin's Shoes

Sole man. Inside the fashion world of footwear designer Christian Louboutin.

Watch Joanna Lumley's Britain on BBC Select

Joanna Lumley’s Britain

Explore Great Britain in this charming travel series

Stream Reclaiming Amy on BBC Select

Reclaiming Amy

The friends and family of Amy Winehouse reveal the truth about the British music icon.

Watch Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards on BBC Select

Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards

What drives the legendary shoe designer and self-confessed 'cobbler' Manolo Blahnik?

Watch David Bowie Finding Fame on BBC Select

David Bowie: Finding Fame

How did humble David Jones become David Bowie - an icon that transformed music forever?

World War Two Documentaries

rise of the nazis s3

Rise of the Nazis

The Nazi regime is crumbling. As Hitler hides, those around him plot their escape.

the lost heroes

The Lost Heroes

A deep dive into a perilous and mysterious WWII British Navy midget submarine mission.

Nuremberg Nazis on Trial Documentary

Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial

Could the Nuremberg trials help shed light on the motivations of leading Nazis?

Stream Auschwitz - The Nazis and the Final Solution on BBC Select

Auschwitz: Nazis & The Final Solution

The story of the concentration camp told by those who were there

Hitler A Life in 10 Pictures

Hitler: A Life In Pictures

Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Stream Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace on BBC Select

Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace

Why was Winston Churchill ousted from power after World War II?

Watch D-Day with BBC Select

D-Day

Explore the story behind the biggest seaborne invasion in history.

Watch Countdown to World War II documentary on BBC Select

Countdown to War

The story of the 3 days between the Nazis invading Poland and the beginning of World War II.

WWII: Women on the Frontline

WWII: Women on the Frontline

Meet the incredible women who helped to win the Second World War and defeat fascism.

WWII: Women on the Frontline

WWII: Women on the Frontline

Meet the incredible women who helped to win the Second World War and defeat fascism.

King George VI: Husband Father King

King George VI: Brother, Husband, King

The story of an unlikely King whose closest family relationships shaped him and his reign.

Image of the start of David in the palm of a hand

Belsen: The Untold Story

Using survivor testimony and archive footage, the story of the infamous camp is told.

Nuremberg: The Nazis Trials on BBC Select

Image of a court in session.

Nuremburg: The Nazi Trials

Exploring one of history’s most important trials that brought Nazis to justice

Watch Churchill's First World War on BBC Select

Churchill's First World War

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's extraordinary experiences during World War I.

Surviving the Holocaust

Surviving the Holocaust

Watch Death Camp Treblinka on BBC Select

Death Camp Treblinka

Those who survived the Treblinka Nazi extermination camp tell their story

Watch Hiroshima: The Real History on BBC Select

Hiroshima: The Real History

It ended World War II, but at what cost? Hiroshima unraveled.

Stream BBC at War on BBC Select

BBC at War

This enthralling series asks, how much did World War II shape the personality of the BBC?

Stream Could Hitler Have Been Stopped? on BBC Select

Could Hitler Have Been Stopped?

Leading historians debate whether Adolf Hitler and the Nazis could have been stopped.

Stream Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King on BBC Select

Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King

The amazing story of the former British King who may have had Nazi sympathies during WWII.

Stream Lost Home Movies of Nazi Germany on BBC Select

Lost Home Movies Of Nazi Germany

What was life really like within Nazi Germany? These amateur home movies reveal all.

Stream Stalin - Inside the Terror on BBC Select

Stalin: Inside the Terror

A man synonymous with bloodshed, murder and hate. What desires drove Joseph Stalin?