
Talking Pictures
2013•6.2/10
Documentary
Ratings
🎬TMDb
6.2/10(6)
A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers.
Production
BBC
Language
EN
Status
Returning Series
First Aired
January 5, 2013
Last Aired
December 31, 2025
Networks
BBC Four, BBC Two
Where to Watch
Region US · Lang EN
US
No providers available for this region.
Seasons & Episodes
Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.
Season

E1
Bette Davis
Air date: 2013-01-05
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Bette Davis, capturing the milestones and highlights of her life and career.

E2
John Mills
Air date: 2013-01-12
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the Osar-winning actor Sir John Mills, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E3
David Niven
Air date: 2013-01-19
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the Ocsar-winning actor David Niven, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E4
Gene Kelly
Air date: 2013-02-02
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and dancer Gene Kelly, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E5
John Wayne
Air date: 2013-02-16
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend John Wayne, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E6
Tony Curtis
Air date: 2013-02-23
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Tony Curtis, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E7
Dirk Bogarde
Air date: 2013-03-02
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Dirk Bogarde, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E8
James Stewart
Air date: 2013-03-09
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar-winning actor James Stewart, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E9
Lauren Bacall
Air date: 2013-03-29
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall, following the changes and highlights of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E10
Orson Welles
Air date: 2013-04-01
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and director Orson Welles, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E11
Ingrid Bergman
Air date: 2013-04-27
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Ingrid Bergman, capturing the milestones and highlights of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E12
Alec Guinness
Air date: 2013-05-11
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Alec Guinness, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E13
Gregory Peck
Air date: 2013-07-06
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Gregory Peck, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E14
James Mason
Air date: 2013-08-03
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar nominated Hollywood star James Mason, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E15
Charlton Heston
Air date: 2013-08-26
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar winning Hollywood actor Charlton Heston, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E16
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Air date: 2013-10-12
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by legendary Hollywood double act Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, capturing the milestones and highlights of their lives and careers.

E17
Richard Burton
Air date: 2013-11-02
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar nominated Hollywood icon Richard Burton, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E18
Alfred Hitchcock
Air date: 2014-03-01
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by iconic Hollywood director Alfred Hitchcock, reflecting on the milestones and highlights of his life and career.

E19
Shirley Maclaine
Air date: 2014-03-08
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by one of Hollywood's most outspoken stars, Shirley Maclaine, with interviews and clips capturing the milestones and highlights of her Oscar-winning career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E20
Joan Fontaine
Air date: 2014-04-12
A look at the life of Joan Fontaine, one of Britain's best-loved actresses, using rarely seen archive footage of her BBC appearances to tell the story of her Oscar-winning career.

E21
Richard Attenborough
Air date: 2014-05-03
A look at the life and work of Richard Attenborough, with vintage interviews and classic archive clips illustrating a career that has made him one of British cinema's most popular and successful figures. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E22
Deborah Kerr
Air date: 2014-05-10
A look back at the career of British actress Deborah Kerr, with vintage television interviews and classic archive clips telling how she left Britain in the 1940s and became one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

E23
Laurence Olivier
Air date: 2014-05-17
Sylvia Syms looks back on the life of Laurence Olivier, perhaps Britain's greatest actor, using rare material from the BBC archives to tell the story of his extraordinarily distinguished career.

E24
Sophia Loren
Air date: 2014-05-24
An examination of the life and career of one of cinema's most glamorous stars, Sophia Loren, with rarely seen archive material telling the story of her hugely successful career.

E25
Paul Newman
Air date: 2014-05-26
An examination of the life of actor Paul Newman, using rarely seen interviews from the BBC archives to tell the story of a career that made him one of Hollywood's greatest superstars. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E26
Robert Mitchum
Air date: 2014-05-31
The life and career of one of Hollywood's original bad boys, Robert Mitchum, is examined using archive footage of his appearances on the BBC that illustrate why he was a favourite of film fans, and an interviewer's nightmare.

E27
Peter O'Toole
Air date: 2014-07-19
A look at the life of the Lawrence of Arabia star and legendary hell-raiser, Peter O'Toole, with rarely seen archive footage of his appearances on the BBC, exploring the story of his colourful career.

E28
Robert Redford
Air date: 2014-08-02
The career of Robert Redford, one of the big screen's greatest heartthrobs, is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, with rarely-seen interviews showing that he was always much more than just a pin-up. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E29
David Lean
Air date: 2014-08-23
A compilation of rarely seen interviews and archive footage tells the story of movie-master David Lean, whose drive and genius made him one of Britain's greatest-ever film directors.

E30
Judi Dench
Air date: 2014-09-13
Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actors, Dame Judi Dench.

E31
Maggie Smith
Air date: 2014-09-20
Sylvia Syms narrates a look at the life of one of Britain's best and best-loved actresses, with classic archive footage of her appearances on the BBC demonstrating that when it comes to movie stardom, there really is nothing like a dame.

E32
Julie Andrews
Air date: 2014-12-28
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Mary Poppins and Sound of Music star Julie Andrews, with interviews from the archive and classic clips.

E33
Michael Caine
Air date: 2015-01-10
A look at the life of acting legend Michael Caine, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of one Britain's most successful actors. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.

E34
Sean Connery
Air date: 2015-01-17
A look at the life of Sean Connery, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of his life and career.





















