The BEST episodes of BBC Documentaries season 1997

#1 - The Great Storm: a 999 Special

Season 1997 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/14/1997

Almost everyone who experienced Britain's devastating "great storm" of 1987 has a story to tell. Ten years on, this programme features reconstructions of extraordinary escapes, as well as amateur video and news footage of the millions of pounds' worth of damage caused across the South. Among the stories is that of an elderly couple who survived the destruction of their caravan (some of their neighbours' vehicles were blown five miles away); a boy who describes a supernatural experience worthy of The X Files; and the pregnant woman who couldn't get to hospital in time. However, the prize for the most extraordinary tale goes to the hotel guest who was found lying in bed exposed to the night sky, having slept through the entire roof being ripped off.

#2 - Labour's Old Romantic: a Film Portrait of Michael Foot

Season 1997 - Episode 23 - Aired 7/19/1997

His friends describe him as the nicest prime minister Britain never had. His critics might remember him as an old romantic who, in 1983, led the Labour Party to its worst election defeat for 50 years. Michael Cockerell 's intimate portrait of Michael Foot reveals a man of many paradoxes - a passionate socialist with unlikely Tory heroes, atub-thumpingorator, and a literary scholar. Featuring contributions from Foot's wife Jill, relatives, colleagues, and close friends (including Spike Milligan ), as well as from Foot himself, who talks openly about his relationship with Tony Blair.

#3 - How to Be Chancellor

Season 1997 - Episode 22 - Aired 6/29/1997

As Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown prepares to unveil his first budget, Michael Cockerell presents a guide to howto carry out one of the toughestjobs in government. The programme includes reminiscences from seven former chancellors, and archive film on the secrets and stories behind past budgets.

#4 - The Making of Hamlet

Season 1997 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/15/1997

A revealing location documentary following actor-director Kenneth Branagh and a distinguished cast and crew as they film the first complete text cinema version of Shakespeare's tragedy.

#5 - Ten Pound Poms The Real Story

Season 1997 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/14/1997

In 1947, the Assisted Passage Scheme began, devised by the Australian government to bring in white British settlers. For just £10, they could start a new life in a sun-drenched land of opportunity, and over the next 25 years, more than a million people took up the offer. The scheme's pioneers tell their story.

#6 - Cardigans at Christmas

Season 1997 - Episode 19 - Aired 12/25/1997

A feast of old chestnuts from the glory days of Christmases past with this look at the rise and demise of the Christmas light-entertainment spectacular. This programme takes a look back at Christmas light entertainment shows from yesteryear, with highlights such as Val Doonican stuffing away until he can 'hang loose', Perry Como trying hard not to look awkward around Leo Sayer, and Petula Clark in a crinoline.

#7 - Oasis - Right Here, Right Now

Season 1997 - Episode 18 - Aired 8/20/1997

Documentary from 1997 following the band as they discussed their recent career, revisited their old neighbourhood in Manchester and performed songs from their album Be Here Now.

#8 - Joanna Lumley in the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon

Season 1997 - Episode 17 - Aired 11/25/1997

Actress Joanna Lumley embarks on a oersonal adventure, as she retraces ajourney made by her grandparents in 1931 - through the mysterious kingdom of Bhutan in central Asia, one of the most isolated countries in the world.

#9 - Sex and the Single Gene?

Season 1997 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/3/1997

Homosexuality and genes

#10 - Radio One Night: One #1 Hit Wonders

Season 1997 - Episode 14 - Aired 9/20/1997

A celebration of artists who have enjoyed a top-ten hit and then disappeared without trace. Featuring archive footage, interviews and performances by the likes of Renee and Renato, Joe Dolce, and the Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Producer Daniel Abineri Executive producer Tony Moss

#11 - The Essential FA Cup Final

Season 1997 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/16/1997

In tonight's special one-off documentary Alan Hansen and Gary Lineker present a tribute to one of the most popular events in world sport-the FA Cup final. On the eve of the Middlesbrough and Chelsea clash, Sir Stanley Matthews , Ian Rush , Sir Bobby Charlton , JimmyGreaves,lan Wright and Paul Gascoigne are just some of the football personalities who recall their own experiences of the big day.

#12 - Swing Time

Season 1997 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/27/1997

For all those bored by the general election, this programme reveals the truth behind election night television coverage and reports on the mistakes, the wobbly sets, the internal battles and the fierce rivalry between the BBC and ITN. Some of the most famous faces on TV can be seen floundering in front of the cameras. In a tale of changing times, the viewers have seen the illegible charts of the fifties give way to the slick graphics of the nineties.

#13 - Cigars: Out of the Humidor

Season 1997 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/25/1997

The story of the cigar - from the tobacco fields west of the Cuban capital of Havana into the factories where poetry and daily newspapers are read aloud to the workers, to Hollywood cigar bars and the gentlemen's haunts of St James's, London. With the worldwide cigar market growing, smoking cigars is perceived as glamorous and yet this is occurring at a time when it is nearly impossible to smoke a cigarette in any public place in the United States. Cigar clubs are opening up in America despite the fact that Cuban cigars are banned. The film looks at the rituals and traditions of cigar smoking, the history of cigars and famous cigar smokers from all walks of life. With Lord Grade, Kenneth Clarke, James Belushi, George Wendt and Peter Weller.

#14 - Hogarth's Progress

Season 1997 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/20/1997

The 300th anniversary of the birth of artist and satirist William Hogarth is marked by this film, which ties in with a major exhibition at London's Tate Gallery. The engraver of The Rake's Progress might well have recognised 1997 general election issues such as Euroscepticism and sleaze allegations. Andrew Graham-Dixon, chief art critic of The Independent, explores the fascinating world of Hogarth and visits London sites associated with him, including the Painted Hall of Greenwich's Royal Naval College, Smithfield meat market, Soho and Bloomsbury.

#15 - Bigfoot Monster Mystery

Season 1997 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/19/1997

The sasquatch has pervaded American imaginations for generations. Many have dedicated their lives to searching for it. Go with a world-class photographer and group of bigfoot experts on the hunt, and find out what it's like to search for the sasquatch.

#16 - The Kung Fu Years

Season 1997 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/1/1997

Documentary charting the effect that Kung Fu had on the British public's consciousness after the release of ENTER THE DRAGON.

#17 - Black Wednesday

Season 1997 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/21/1997

Documentary about Black Wednesday, which looks at the events leading up to the GBP collapse and why it happened.

#18 - The KT Event

Season 1997 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/24/1997

Did a meteor wipe out the dinosaurs?

#19 - The Radio One Story

Season 1997 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/20/1997

Singer David Essex narrates a behind-the-scenes history of the nation's favourite radio station, from its 1967 launch by DJ Tony Blackburn to the present day.

#20 - The Life and Times of Alf Garnett

Season 1997 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/5/1997

#21 - The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart

Season 1997 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/17/1997

One-hour BBC documentary on avant-garde rock musician Captain Beefheart introduced and narrated by John Peel.

#22 - Breaking the Code

Season 1997 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/5/1997