About this season
A BBC documentary film strand, with the focus on investigative journalism.
Episodes (6)
1. Z Charlie Four
Aired 7 May 1975
Real police officers doing a real job. Catching villains and protecting the public
2. Marek
Aired 14 May 1975
Marek Marek was one of many children who undergo a hole-in-the-heart operation. By now this operation is routine, and the vast majority of children make a full recovery. But Marek had a complication, called pulmonary atresia. Tragically the operation was not a success, and soon afterwards, he died. 'Marek' is a film about the courage of a family at a time of crisis, and it has already won the Asian Broadcasting Union prize for its portrayal of the basic humanity which is common to all people.
3. Liz Thomas
Aired 28 May 1975
This is the story of a remarkable young English nurse who made her home in a Saigon slum. Before the city fell to the communists she was told officially to leave South Vietnam. But she stayed. Her reason for not going was that her home was also home for street girls, drug addicts and waifs and strays picked off the streets who, without her, would have no one to turn to. This is not a story about the Vietnam war but the story of a young woman drawn to a suffering country by the plight of its suffering people
4. The Company
Aired 4 June 1975
An actuality account filmed behind closed doors of a company as it faces the ultimate business threat - liquidation. The second largest contract packers in the British Isles is struggling to keep afloat against a tide of creditors and rising prices. Fighting for survival are its board of five directors-men with their own money and reputations at stake. This documentary film records, as they happen, the manoeuvres and boardroom dramas that take place as the company desperately attempts to avoid the fate of the 4,000 other companies that have gone bust this year.
5. Mini
Aired 11 June 1975 • 45 min
The story of Michael - known as 'Mini' - who at 11 years old has twice attempted to burn down his house, and was designated too dangerous to be allowed his freedom.
6. Ambassador
Aired 24 November 1975
An exclusive behind-the-scenes film about Elliot Richardson, US Ambassador to Great Britain - an American who is suddenly the focus of intense speculation. In the last three weeks White House-watchers have been asking the question 'Is Richardson the next Vice-President? Or the new Doctor Kissinger?' Many were surprised when Elliot Richardson - one of the few major US politicians to emerge with credit from Watergate - accepted the post of United States Ambassador in London. Now after only nine months in the job he is leaving to become President Ford's Secretary of Commerce. But 1976 is US election year. Could the former Ambassador to the Court of St James's be destined for even higher - perhaps the highest - office?