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Documentary
Julia Bradbury takes her boots and backpack to the Continent to explore the landscape of Germany and the cultural movement that made it famous - Romanticism
Julia kicks off her tour with a visit to the 'Romantic Rhine', recognised as a must-see of modern Germany, with her two-day walk exploring the most stunning part of the Upper Middle Rhine. Surrounded by castles, vineyards and medieval villages, the Rhine is an obvious walking gem, yet until 200 years ago it was regarded as little more than a great transport artery. Julia sets off along the river, exploring the 19th century transformation that turned the Rhine into the pin-up of Romanticism and the emblem of the German nation.
Julia moves to the far south of Germany for her second adventure. The Alps are a famous walking environment and, 140 years ago, were the playground of the famously eccentric Bavarian king Ludwig II. Julia's stunning mountain walk explores the fairytale story of Ludwig's life, his obsession with landscape, Romantic art and literature, and his close friendship with composer Richard Wagner. The walk's highlight is Ludwig's greatest Romantic legacy, the incredible castle of Neuschwanstein.
The Baltic coastline is the setting as Julia continues her walking tour. Generations of holidaymakers have flocked to the island of Ruegen, inspired by the Romantics of the 19th century - particularly Caspar David Friedrich, the most celebrated of German Romantic painters. Julia's walk explores popular seaside resorts and beaches as well as the stunning chalk cliffs that Friedrich loved to paint. But in between lies the eerie and unexpected remains of Hitler's ambitious attempt to create a vast Nazi holiday camp.
Julia's final adventure takes her deep into the former East Germany. Saxony is a largely unknown destination for UK walkers, but, as Julia discovers, it contains some remarkable landscape. The sandstone mountains, set alongside the mighty Elbe river, are a bizarre mix of forest, gorge and rock towers. Two hundred years ago, they were the focal point for a rush of Romantic artists filled with a new desire to explore landscape for themselves. The wonder of local nature has been attracting visitors ever since.
Herself - Presenter
The six-part documentary series follows a training course for mine clearance divers – a specialized unit tasked with finding and defusing mines. Eleven men undergo a grueling training program: freediving to the point of near unconsciousness, deep dives, forced marches, weeks at sea, and helicopter jumps from a height of ten meters into the Baltic Sea. While the instructors meticulously record every mistake, the trainees struggle with cold, exhaustion, and self-doubt. The series reveals their motivations, their courage, and their determination to assume responsibility in a tense global situation.
Germany loves biathlon – and you’ve never been this close to the stars. The documentary series accompanies them through a dramatic year and shows tears, pressure, and emotional moments from the inner workings of the team. It tells of fierce competition and the struggle to return to the top of the world in 2024/25. The camera is there when there are arguments, laughter, and celebrations behind the scenes – as in the case of Franziska Preuß’s spectacular overall World Cup title.
A century ago, the world experienced a revolution in mobility. Cities like Berlin grew rapidly, with the Graf Zeppelin soaring over the city in 1928, sparking excitement for airship travel. These majestic airships made ocean crossings faster and more luxurious, and even enabled polar expeditions. At the same time, automobiles and motorcycles became staples for many, although streets became congested. Women like Amelia Earhart and Elly Beinhorn broke barriers in aviation, inspiring new possibilities for both genders in the field of technology. While air travel grew in popularity, trains remained the main long-distance transport. The era also saw an explosion of new mobility options, with faster, cheaper ways to travel across the globe, making the world seem smaller and more connected. However, this golden age of mobility would be cut short by the outbreak of World War II.
Once voted out, written off countless times, convicted multiple times – and unstoppable. The comeback of the century: Trump is transforming the USA. And perhaps even the world? This documentary tells the story of an American president who stirs up and unsettles Europe with deals and harsh words. What is his strategy and what has he achieved with it so far? How is Germany responding? How is Europe faring? And what will become of the America we knew? Will the “system crasher” Trump merely dismantle bureaucracy and inefficiency – or democracy itself?
