Arena 1975
★ 7.2/10 · 9 votes NR Documentary 4 seasons · 695 eps Returning Series
Quick answer
What is Arena?
Arena is a British television documentary series produced and broadcast by the BBC. The program premiered on October 1, 1975, and is recognized as a wide-ranging arts series.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1975
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 695
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 1, 1975
- Last aired
- Dec 29, 2024
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC Four, BBC Two
- Genres
- Documentary
- Updated
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Arena is a British television documentary series produced and broadcast by the BBC. The program premiered on October 1, 1975, and is recognized as a wide-ranging arts series. Over the course of its run, the show has produced more than five hundred episodes, with some sources noting the total exceeds six hundred. The series has been directed by various filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, Alan Yentob, Roly Keating, Frederick Baker, Volker Schlondorff, Vikram Jayanti, and Jana Bokova. The program was created by Anthony Haas, Duke Erikson, Bernard MacMahon, and Allison McGourty. Arena focuses on a wide array of cultural figures from the 20th and 21st centuries, featuring subjects such as Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Edward Said, Eric Hobsbawm, Jean Genet, Paul McCartney, and Kenneth Tynan. Leading television executives polled by Broadcast magazine have voted the series as one of the top 50 most influential programs of all time. The show continues to be documented as an ongoing production.
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Should you watch it?
“Arena profiles towering cultural figures through intimate documentary portraits.”
Reasons to watch
- Features in-depth portraits of major cultural icons
- Showcases work from acclaimed international directors
- Offers rare access to influential thinkers and artists
Keep in mind
- May feel slow-paced to some viewers
- Focus on elite cultural figures can feel exclusive
Watch it if you're drawn to thoughtful documentaries about major cultural figures.
Suitable for mature audiences interested in arts and culture.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 692 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Theatre Oct 1, 1975
- E2 Art and Design Oct 8, 1975
- E3 Theatre Oct 15, 1975
- E4 Art and Design Oct 22, 1975
- E5 Theatre Oct 29, 1975
- E6 Art and Design Nov 5, 1975
- E7 Theatre Nov 12, 1975
- E8 Art and Design Nov 19, 1975
- E9 Theatre Nov 26, 1975
- E10 Art and Design Dec 3, 1975
- E11 Theatre Dec 10, 1975
- E12 Art and Design Dec 17, 1975
- E13 Theatre Jan 7, 1976
- E14 Art and Design Jan 14, 1976
- E15 Theatre Jan 21, 1976
- E16 Art and Design Jan 28, 1976
- E17 Theatre Feb 4, 1976
- E18 Art and Design Feb 11, 1976
- E19 Theatre Feb 18, 1976
- E20 Art and Design Feb 25, 1976
- E21 Theatre Mar 3, 1976
- E22 Art and Design Mar 10, 1976
- E23 Theatre Mar 17, 1976
- E24 Art and Design Mar 24, 1976
- E25 Theatre: Happy Birthday Royal Court Mar 31, 1976
- E26 Art and Design: Art for Money's Sake? Apr 7, 1976
- E27 Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 1 Aug 25, 1976
- E28 Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 2 Sep 1, 1976
- E29 Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 3 Sep 8, 1976
- E30 Theatre: A Dream Come True Sep 15, 1976
- E31 Robert Altman Sep 22, 1976
- E32 Art and Design: After Samuel Palmer Sep 29, 1976
- E33 Frank Westmore Oct 6, 1976
- E34 Theatre Oct 13, 1976
- E35 Cinema: Eric Rohmer Oct 20, 1976
- E36 Art and Design: The Illustrators: The Work of Mick Brownfield and Allan Manha Oct 27, 1976
- E37 Cinema: Don Siegel Nov 3, 1976
- E38 Theatre: The Cultural Common Market Nov 10, 1976
- E39 Cinema Nov 17, 1976
- E40 Art and Design: Sculpture for the Blind/Linda Benedict-Jones/James Boswell Nov 24, 1976
- E41 Cinema Dec 1, 1976
- E42 Theatre: Brecht in Newcastle Dec 8, 1976
- E43 Cinema: Christmas Special Dec 15, 1976
- E44 Cinema Jan 5, 1977
- E45 Art and Design: Sam Smith: Genuine England/Arena Review Jan 12, 1977
- E46 Cinema Jan 19, 1977
- E47 Theatre: Spokesong/At Home with Mole Jan 26, 1977
- E48 Cinema Feb 2, 1977
- E49 Art and Design: Ralph Steadman Feb 9, 1977
- E50 Cinema Feb 16, 1977
- E51 Theatre: The Cultural Common Market: Peter Stein and the Schaubuhne Feb 23, 1977
- E52 Cinema Mar 2, 1977
- E53 Art and Design: What Is a Hologram?/Kit Williams - Ring Around the Moon Mar 9, 1977
- E54 Cinema Mar 16, 1977
- E55 Theatre: A Night Out Mar 23, 1977
- E56 Cinema Mar 30, 1977
- E57 Art and Design: Family Pieces/Both Sides of the Line/The Divine and the Fantastic Apr 6, 1977
- E58 Cinema Apr 13, 1977
- E59 Theatre: The Prospect Before Us Apr 20, 1977
- E60 Cinema Apr 27, 1977
- E61 Art and Design: The Continuous Diary/Dine's Drawings May 4, 1977
- E62 Cinema May 11, 1977
- E63 Cinema May 25, 1977
- E64 Cinema Jun 8, 1977
- E65 Theatre: Playwrights of the 70's Jun 15, 1977
- E66 Edinburgh Festival Sep 7, 1977
- E67 Cinema Sep 14, 1977
- E68 Cinema Sep 21, 1977
- E69 Art and Design Sep 28, 1977
- E70 Cinema Oct 5, 1977
- E71 Theatre Oct 12, 1977
- E72 Cinema: Greece Oct 19, 1977
- E73 Art and Design: Richard Seifert Oct 26, 1977
- E74 Cinema Nov 2, 1977
- E75 Theatre: Hands Off the Classics Nov 9, 1977
- E76 Cinema: 21st London Film Festival Nov 16, 1977
- E77 Art and Design: The Family/Wrapping up the Reichstag Nov 23, 1977
- E78 Cinema: 21st London Film Festival - Part 2 Nov 30, 1977
- E79 Theatre: Leonard Rossiter Dec 7, 1977
- E80 Cinema: The Deep Dec 14, 1977
- E81 Cinema: The Force is with us? Jan 11, 1978
- E82 Art and Design: 'The Journey' or The Memoirs of a Self-Confessed Surrealist Jan 18, 1978
- E83 Cinema: The Force is with us? - Part 2/Howard Hawks Jan 25, 1978
- E84 Theatre: ' But please, this is a farce! ' The story of The Cherry Orchard Feb 1, 1978
- E85 Cinema: Joseph Conrad Feb 8, 1978
- E86 Art and Design: Carrington Feb 15, 1978
- E87 Cinema: Claude Renoir Feb 22, 1978
- E88 Theatre: Hey Kids! Let's Do the Show Right Here ... Mar 1, 1978
- E89 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Mar 8, 1978
- E90 Art and Design: Carl Andre Mar 15, 1978
- E91 Cinema: Dancing Years Mar 22, 1978
- E92 Theatre: Taking Our Time Mar 29, 1978
- E93 Art and Design: Way Out West Apr 5, 1978
- E94 Theatre: Children of the Gods Apr 12, 1978
- E95 Television: When Is A Play Not A Play? Apr 17, 1978
- E96 Art and Design: George Melly May 3, 1978
- E97 Theatre: Arnold Wesker May 10, 1978
- E98 Rock: Tubes on Tour May 24, 1978
- E99 Episode 99 Oct 11, 1978
- E100 Vanessa Redgrave Oct 18, 1978
- E101 Arena: Cinema Oct 25, 1978
- E102 Arena: Cinema Nov 22, 1978
- E103 Arena: Cinema Dec 6, 1978
- E104 Arena: The Museum of Drawers Jan 8, 1979
- E105 On Photography Jan 15, 1979
- E106 Arena: Cinema Jan 17, 1979
- E107 Arena: Cinema Jan 21, 1979
- E108 Who is Poly Styrene? Jan 22, 1979
- E109 Athol Fugard: A Lesson from Aloes Jan 29, 1979
- E110 Arena: Cinema Jan 31, 1979
- E111 Maler's Requiem - Words and Images Feb 5, 1979
- E112 Piaf AND What Did You Do in 'The Warp' Daddy? Feb 12, 1979
- E113 Arena: Cinema Feb 14, 1979
- E114 Other Writers Will Tell You Different and The Moving Picture Mime Show Feb 26, 1979
- E115 Arena: Cinema Feb 28, 1979
- E116 Ubu Mar 5, 1979
- E117 My Way Mar 12, 1979
- E118 Arena: Cinema Mar 14, 1979
- E119 La Dame aux Gladiolas Mar 19, 1979
- E120 'Let Us Now Praise Famous Men ': Alabama 40 Years On Mar 26, 1979
- E121 Arena: Cinema Mar 28, 1979
- E122 Tell Us the Truth Apr 2, 1979
- E123 The King and I AND Journey to the Surface of the Earth Apr 9, 1979
- E124 Their Lips are Sealed Apr 15, 1979
- E125 Steel Pulse May 21, 1979
- E126 Ring Around the Moon Jun 11, 1979
- E127 Pictures of the Mind Jun 14, 1979
- E128 Six Days in September Sep 29, 1979
- E129 Building for Change Jan 16, 1979
- E130 Athol Fugard A Lesson from Aloes Jan 17, 1980
- E131 Lene Lovich Sleeping Beauty Jan 23, 1980
- E132 Mentioned in Dispatches Jan 30, 1980
- E133 Isaac Singer's Nightmare and Mrs Pupko's Beard Feb 6, 1980
- E134 Peggy Taub, the Learned Goat and Other People ... Feb 13, 1980
- E135 Bring Me Back a Song Feb 27, 1980
- E136 ' I talk about me - I am Africa' Mar 5, 1980
- E137 Rudies Come Back or The Rise and Rise of 2-Tone Mar 12, 1980
- E138 Working At It Mar 19, 1980
- E139 Victoria Wood and Andrea Dunbar Mar 26, 1980
- E140 Climb Every Mountain or Nothing Succeeds Like Failure Apr 2, 1980
- E141 Double Vision Apr 9, 1980
- E142 Dedicated Followers of Fashion Apr 16, 1980
- E143 Luck and Flaw May 21, 1980
- E144 In Their Own Image AND Facing Up to Myself May 28, 1980
- E145 Making 'The Shining' Oct 4, 1980
- E146 Dire Straits Dec 22, 1980
- E147 Chelsea Hotel Jan 3, 1981
- E148 Hazell Meets His Makers Jan 10, 1981
- E149 Getting Away from Sidney Jan 17, 1981
- E150 Private Worlds Jan 24, 1981
- E151 Today Carshalton Beaches ... Tomorrow Croydon Jan 31, 1981
- E152 Edward Hopper
- E153 Stages Feb 28, 1981
- E154 The Smallest Theatre Mar 7, 1981
- E155 Huston's Hobby Mar 14, 1981
- E156 A Walk with Amos Oz Mar 21, 1981
- E157 God's Fifth Columnist Mar 28, 1981
- E158 Did You Miss Me ...? Apr 4, 1981
- E159 The Return of Lupino Lane Apr 15, 1981
- E160 The Comic Strip Hero Apr 18, 1981
- E161 Arena on Clair May 2, 1981
- E162 Somewhere Over the Rainbow May 9, 1981
- E163 If the Music Had to Stop May 16, 1981
- E164 Curtains? The Future of the National Youth Theatre Aug 16, 1981
- E165 The Cinema of Andrzej Wajda Sep 6, 1981
- E166 'I Thought I Was Taller' A Short History of Mel Brooks Oct 2, 1981
- E167 Have You Seen the Mona Lisa...? Nov 3, 1981
- E168 Let Them Know We're Here Nov 10, 1981
- E169 A Pretty British Affair Nov 17, 1981
- E170 The Art of Radio Times AND The Eye of the 'Eye' Nov 24, 1981
- E171 A Tall Story: How Salman Rushdie Pickled All India Dec 8, 1981
- E172 Brixton to Barbados Dec 15, 1981
- E173 Private Life of the Ford Cortina Jan 19, 1982
- E174 What Makes Rabbit Run? Jan 26, 1982
- E175 Here They Kill People for It Feb 2, 1982
- E176 True to Life? Feb 9, 1982
- E177 Desert Island Discs Feb 23, 1982
- E178 Listen to Britain AND Housing Problems Mar 9, 1982
- E179 The Orson Welles Story: Part One May 18, 1982
- E180 The Orson Welles Story: Part Two May 21, 1982
- E181 Mike Leigh Making Plays Sep 4, 1982
- E182 A Genius Like Us Nov 9, 1982
- E183 A Play for Bridport Nov 16, 1982
- E184 Upon Westminster Bridge Nov 23, 1982
- E185 Three Steps to Heaven Nov 30, 1982
- E186 Angus McBean Dec 8, 1982
- E187 Happy Days (Samuel Beckett Season) Dec 11, 1982
- E188 Eh Joe (Samuel Beckett Season) Dec 13, 1982
- E189 Rockaby (Samuel Beckett Season) Dec 14, 1982
- E190 Not I (Samuel Beckett Season) Dec 15, 1982
- E191 Quad (Samuel Beckett Season) Dec 16, 1982
- E192 Krapp's Last Tape (Samuel Beckett Season) Dec 17, 1982
- E193 Guernica: The Long Exile Dec 28, 1982
- E194 Classically Cuban: Alicia Alonso and the Cuban National Ballet Jan 18, 1983
- E195 Hair Feb 1, 1983
- E196 Boulez Now Feb 8, 1983
- E197 Jazz Juke Box Feb 15, 1983
- E198 Burroughs Feb 22, 1983
- E199 The Catherine Wheel Mar 1, 1983
- E200 Kurt Vonnegut Mar 8, 1983
- E201 It's All True May 9, 1983
- E202 Luis Bunuel Aug 19, 1983
- E203 Bette Davis - The Benevolent Volcano Nov 2, 1983
- E204 Anthony Powell - An Invitation to the Dance Nov 9, 1983
- E205 The Ghost Writer Nov 12, 1983
- E206 Jazz Juke-Box II Nov 23, 1983
- E207 Roman Vishniac Nov 30, 1983
- E208 Classic British Documentaries Dec 7, 1983
- E209 The GPO Story Dec 14, 1983
- E210 The Everly Brothers Reunion Concert Dec 23, 1983
- E211 George Orwell 1: Such Such Were the Joys Dec 29, 1983
- E212 George Orwell 2: The Road to Wigan Pier Dec 30, 1983
- E213 George Orwell 3: Homage to Catalonia Jan 2, 1984
- E214 George Orwell 4: The Lion and the Unicorn Jan 3, 1984
- E215 George Orwell 4: Nineteen Eighty-four Jan 4, 1984
- E216 Say Amen Someone Feb 4, 1984
- E217 Four Rooms Feb 21, 1984
- E218 The Theatre of Dario Fo Feb 28, 1984
- E219 Sunset People Mar 3, 1984
- E220 The Caravaggio Conspiracy Mar 6, 1984
- E221 Between Dreaming and Waking Mar 13, 1984
- E222 Ken Russell 's Elgar Mar 20, 1984
- E223 Jerry Lee Lewis Mar 27, 1984
- E224 True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist Apr 3, 1984
- E225 My Dinner with Louis May 6, 1984
- E226 Milan Kundera- Laughter and Forgetting May 19, 1984
- E227 A Tribute to Joseph Losey Jul 7, 1984
- E228 Beat This! A Hip Hop History Jul 12, 1984
- E229 The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience Nov 2, 1984
- E230 Billie Holiday: The Long Night of Lady Day Nov 9, 1984
- E231 Eubie Blake Nov 10, 1984
- E232 Francis Bacon Nov 16, 1984
- E233 We Don't Like Your House Either! Nov 23, 1984
- E234 Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense: The Music of Fela Kuti Nov 30, 1984
- E235 After the Rehearsal Dec 7, 1984
- E236 What's Cuba Playing At? Dec 21, 1984
- E237 Music of the other Americas Dec 22, 1984
- E238 Pavarotti at Madison Square Garden Dec 26, 1984
- E239 My Son the Novelist Feb 18, 1985
- E240 Painting for Pleasure ... and Profit: Five Artists of the 80s Feb 25, 1985
- E241 Marcel Carne Feb 27, 1985
- E242 From an Immigrant's Notebook: Karen Blixen in Africa Mar 11, 1985
- E243 How Glorious is the Garden? Mar 18, 1985
- E244 Old Kent Road Mar 25, 1985
- E245 Ligmalion Apr 8, 1985
- E246 Them and Uz: A film about Tony Harrison Apr 15, 1985
- E247 Marc Chagall Apr 22, 1985
- E248 Watch Me Move... Apr 29, 1985
- E249 Hugh Masekela: The African Ambassador May 6, 1985
- E250 The Theatre of Robert Wilson Jul 25, 1985
- E251 Blues Night: Introduction Jul 27, 1985
- E252 Blues Night: Sonny Boy Williamson Sings Jul 27, 1985
- E253 Blues Night: B.B. King Speaks Jul 27, 1985
- E254 Blues Night: Chicago Blues Jul 27, 1985
- E255 Blues Night: Blind John Davis Jul 28, 1985
- E256 Blues Night: Blues Medley Jul 28, 1985
- E257 Blues Night: Big Bill Blues Jul 28, 1985
- E258 Buddy Holly Sep 12, 1985
- E259 Saint Genet Nov 12, 1985
- E260 The Accordion Strikes Back Nov 19, 1985
- E261 The Cinema of Francesco Rosi Nov 26, 1985
- E262 The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima Dec 3, 1985
- E263 The Apollo Story: part 1 Dec 10, 1985
- E264 The Apollo Story: part 2 Dec 17, 1985
- E265 Tosca's Kiss Jan 8, 1986
- E266 The New Babylon Jan 11, 1986
- E267 Tango Mio Jan 18, 1986
- E268 Cinderella Jan 21, 1986
- E269 The Journey Man Jan 28, 1986
- E270 Go-Go in Washington DC Feb 4, 1986
- E271 Marguerite Yourcenar Feb 11, 1986
- E272 Louise Brooks Feb 18, 1986
- E273 Kurosawa Mar 4, 1986
- E274 Two Painters Amazed Mar 11, 1986
- E275 Home Front Mar 25, 1986
- E276 Caribbean Nights: Caribbean Journey Jun 14, 1986
- E277 Caribbean Nights: Medley Jun 14, 1986
- E278 Caribbean Nights: Poetry Jun 14, 1986
- E279 Caribbean Nights: Ska Jun 14, 1986
- E280 Caribbean Nights: The Latin Caribbean Jun 14, 1986
- E281 Caribbean Nights: Maytime on the Mosquito Coast Jun 14, 1986
- E282 Caribbean Nights: Calypso and Carnival Jun 15, 1986
- E283 Caribbean Nights: Whicker's Caribbean World Jun 15, 1986
- E284 Caribbean Nights: Latin Sound Jun 15, 1986
- E285 Caribbean Nights: God's Chillun Jun 15, 1986
- E286 Caribbean Nights Bob Marley Jun 15, 1986
- E287 Caribbean Nights: C.L.R. James's First Cricket XI Jun 16, 1986
- E288 Caribbean Nights: Danzon Jun 16, 1986
- E289 Caribbean Nights: Rasta and the Ball Jun 17, 1986
- E290 Caribbean Nights: Arturo Sandoval Jun 18, 1986
- E291 Caribbean Nights: Kapo Jun 19, 1986
- E292 Henry Moore Sep 7, 1986
- E293 Salvador Dali Nov 21, 1986
- E294 The Life and Times of Don Luis Bunuel Nov 22, 1986
- E295 The Spirit of Lorca Nov 28, 1986
- E296 Cambodian Witness Dec 5, 1986
- E297 Scarfe on Scarfe Dec 12, 1986
- E298 Night Moves Dec 19, 1986
- E299 Dylan Jan 2, 1987
- E300 Stand by Your Dream: Tammy Wynette Jan 16, 1987
- E301 Night and Day Jan 23, 1987
- E302 Dennis Potter Jan 30, 1987
- E303 Martin Chambi and the Heirs of the Incas Feb 6, 1987
- E304 The Confessions of Robert Crumb Feb 13, 1987
- E305 Ruth, Roses and Revolver Feb 20, 1987
- E306 A Brother with Perfect Timing Feb 27, 1987
- E307 Tarkovsky's Cinema Mar 13, 1987
- E308 Putting Ourselves in the Picture Mar 20, 1987
- E309 How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Mar 27, 1987
- E310 Bayan Ko Pilipinas Apr 3, 1987
- E311 Talk is Cheap Apr 10, 1987
- E312 The Waugh Trilogy: Bright Young Thing Apr 18, 1987
- E313 The Waugh Trilogy: Mayfair and the Jungle Apr 19, 1987
- E314 The Waugh Trilogy: An Englishman's Home Apr 20, 1987
- E315 German Festival: Joseph Beuys Jun 6, 1987
- E316 ScreenPlay: Cariani and the Courtesans Aug 5, 1987
- E317 Revolutionary with a Paintbox Nov 20, 1987
- E318 Invisible Ink Dec 4, 1987
- E319 Of Cats and Mice Dec 18, 1987
- E320 Woody Guthrie Jan 8, 1988
- E321 The Dandy-Beano Story Jan 15, 1988
- E322 Broadway - The Great White Way Jan 22, 1988
- E323 Ryszard Kapuscinski: Your Man Who is There Jan 29, 1988
- E324 The Emperor Feb 5, 1988
- E325 My Name Is Celia Cruz Feb 12, 1988
- E326 All on a Mardi Gras Day Part One Feb 16, 1988
- E327 All on a Mardi Gras Day: Part Two Feb 16, 1988
- E328 Kerouac Feb 26, 1988
- E329 An Andalucian Journey: Gypsies and Flamenco 1 Mar 4, 1988
- E330 An Andalucian Journey: Gypsies and Flamenco 2 Mar 5, 1988
- E331 Robert Mapplethorpe Mar 18, 1988
- E332 The English Thoroughbred Mar 25, 1988
- E333 Byrne About Byrne Apr 1, 1988
- E334 Rhythms of the World: Randy Travis at the Albert Hall Oct 2, 1988
- E335 Ten Green Bottles Nov 25, 1988
- E336 Clint Eastwood: The Man with No Name. Dec 2, 1988
- E337 Moving Across the World on Horses Dec 9, 1988
- E338 History Boys on the Rampage Dec 16, 1988
- E339 The Unforgettable Nat King Cole Dec 23, 1988
- E340 Tales from Barcelona Jan 6, 1989
- E341 Blackpool Jan 13, 1989
- E342 The Tip of the Iceberg Jan 27, 1989
- E343 Laurens van der Post and Albert Sample Feb 3, 1989
- E344 New York - The Secret African City Feb 10, 1989
- E345 Eugene Ionesco : the Joke's on Us Feb 17, 1989
- E346 John Cassavetes Feb 24, 1989
- E347 Power in the Blood Mar 3, 1989
- E348 The Old Brass Plate Rattle Test - the Englishman and his Jukebox Mar 17, 1989
- E349 Juke Box Jury Mar 19, 1989
- E350 Berthold Lubetkin Mar 31, 1989
- E351 Heavy Metal Apr 7, 1989
- E352 The Other Graham Greene Apr 21, 1989
- E353 Slim Gaillard's Civilisation 1: A Traveller's Tale Oct 22, 1989
- E354 Slim Gaillard's Civilisation 2: How High the Moon Oct 29, 1989
- E355 Slim Gaillard's Civilisation 3: My Dinner with Dizzy Nov 5, 1989
- E356 Animal Night: Smashing Pigs Dec 16, 1989
- E357 Animal Night: Sacred Elephant Dec 16, 1989
- E358 Animal Night: Great Wildlife Presenters Through the Ages Dec 16, 1989
- E359 Animal Night: John Daniel the First Dec 16, 1989
- E360 Animal Night: A Day in the Life of Sam the Dog Dec 16, 1989
- E361 Animal Night: Animals on Trial Dec 16, 1989
- E362 Animal Night: The Animal Night Debate Dec 16, 1989
- E363 25 x 5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones Dec 27, 1989
- E364 Numbers Jan 19, 1990
- E365 Oblomov Jan 26, 1990
- E366 Jerry Lee Lewis Feb 2, 1990
- E367 Roberto Rossellini Feb 9, 1990
- E368 Next Time Dear God Please Choose Someone Else Feb 23, 1990
- E369 Salif Keita Mar 2, 1990
- E370 Fred Zinnemann: A Director's Life Mar 9, 1990
- E371 Spike and Company - Do It a Cappella Mar 16, 1990
- E372 Peggy and Her Playwrights Mar 23, 1990
- E373 The English Rose Mar 30, 1990
- E374 Paris Is Burning Apr 6, 1990
- E375 Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam Apr 13, 1990
- E376 Havana Apr 15, 1990
- E377 The Princess Apr 20, 1990
- E378 The Ten Commandments of Krzysztof Kieslowski May 4, 1990
- E379 Le Paris Black May 11, 1990
- E380 Kino Perestroika May 18, 1990
- E381 The Daily Worker Story May 25, 1990
- E382 Oooh Er, Missus! - The Frankie Howerd Story Jun 1, 1990
- E383 Agatha Christie - Unfinished Portrait Sep 20, 1990
- E384 The Fever Sep 29, 1990
- E385 Food Night: Introduction Dec 15, 1990
- E386 Food Night: Modern Food Dec 15, 1990
- E387 Food Night: Great Moments in Food History Dec 15, 1990
- E388 Food Night: The Story of Food in 27 Minutes and 43 Seconds Dec 15, 1990
- E389 Food Night: Good Manners Dec 15, 1990
- E390 Food Night: What's Kosher? Dec 15, 1990
- E391 Food Night: The Last Supper Dec 15, 1990
- E392 Food Night: The Complete History of the Potato Dec 15, 1990
- E393 Food Night: I Just Happen to Have One Here I Made Earlier Dec 15, 1990
- E394 Food Night: Movable Feast - the Politics of Disgust Dec 15, 1990
- E395 Food Night: Eating for One Dec 15, 1990
- E396 Food Night: Fasting and Abstinence Dec 15, 1990
- E397 Food Night: Debate Dec 15, 1990
- E398 Lifepulse - a Natural Thriller Dec 28, 1990
- E399 Miller Meets Mandela Jan 18, 1991
- E400 Derek Jarman - a Portrait Jan 25, 1991
- E401 Anselm Kiefer : Operation Sealion Feb 1, 1991
- E402 The Strange Story of Joe Meek Feb 8, 1991
- E403 The Other Roci Feb 22, 1991
- E404 Caroline 199 - A Pirate's Tale Mar 1, 1991
- E405 Staring at the Ceiling Mar 8, 1991
- E406 Three Irish Writers Mar 15, 1991
- E407 One Irish Rover Mar 16, 1991
- E408 The Importance of Being Oscar Mar 17, 1991
- E409 The Other Mar 22, 1991
- E410 Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon Apr 5, 1991
- E411 Elmore Leonard 's Criminal Records Apr 12, 1991
- E412 The Human Face Apr 19, 1991
- E413 Texas Saturday Night Apr 24, 1991
- E414 The Grass Arena Jan 19, 1992
- E415 Billy, How Did You Do It? 1 Jan 23, 1992
- E416 Billy, How Did You Do It? 2 Jan 24, 1992
- E417 Billy, How Did You Do It? 3 Jan 25, 1992
- E418 Masters of the Canvas Jan 31, 1992
- E419 Oliver Stone Feb 7, 1992
- E420 Fatwa Feb 14, 1992
- E421 Six Degrees of Separation: a New York Tale Feb 21, 1992
- E422 The Incredible Case of Comrade Feb 28, 1992
- E423 Croatia - the Artists' War Mar 6, 1992
- E424 Otto Dix : a Tale of Two Germanies Mar 13, 1992
- E425 Chi-Chi the Panda Mar 20, 1992
- E426 Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up Mar 27, 1992
- E427 Last Supper - Frank on Frank Apr 3, 1992
- E428 A Spanish Odyssey - a Portrait of Javier Mariscal Apr 10, 1992
- E429 An Argentinian Journey: 1: The Gaucho and the Pampas Apr 17, 1992
- E430 An Argentinian Journey: 2: Zamba, Chacarera and Chamame Apr 18, 1992
- E431 An Argentinian Journey: 3: Pacha Mama - Sacred Land Apr 19, 1992
- E432 Sportswriter: the Fight, the Match and the Race Jul 18, 1992
- E433 Linda McCartney, behind the Lens Dec 26, 1992
- E434 The Graham Green Trilogy: England Made Me (1904-39) Jan 8, 1993
- E435 The Graham Greene Trilogy: The Dangerous Edge (1940-60) Jan 9, 1993
- E436 The Graham Greene Trilogy: A World of My Own (1961-91) Jan 10, 1993
- E437 On the Road with Boggs Jan 15, 1993
- E438 The Grateful and the Dead Jan 22, 1993
- E439 A Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie Jan 29, 1993
- E440 Larry Kramer Jan 5, 1993
- E441 Edward Said: the Idea of Empire Feb 12, 1993
- E442 The Last Soviet Citizen Feb 19, 1993
- E443 Derek Walcott Feb 20, 1993
- E444 Zhang Yimou Mar 12, 1993
- E445 Philip Roth Mar 19, 1993
- E446 Only the Names Have Been Changed Mar 26, 1993
- E447 Weegee Apr 2, 1993
- E448 Duchamp's Fountain Apr 2, 1993
- E449 Edgar Reitz: Return to Heimat Apr 12, 1993
- E450 Tales Of Rock And Roll: Peggy Sue Apr 17, 1993
- E451 Not a Bad Girl Apr 18, 1993
- E452 Heartbreak Hotel Apr 24, 1993
- E453 Walk on the Wild Side May 1, 1993
- E454 Highway 61 Revisited May 8, 1993
- E455 Arena: Radio Night: Introduction Dec 18, 1993
- E456 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio: First: the Infant. Dec 18, 1993
- E457 Radio Night: TV Talk, Radio Rabbit What does the voice reveal? Dec 18, 1993
- E458 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio 2: The Schoolboy. Dec 18, 1993
- E459 Radio Night: Heard But Not Seen Dec 18, 1993
- E460 Radio Night: Back to Square One Dec 18, 1993
- E461 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio 3: The Lover. Dec 18, 1993
- E462 Radio Night: Sunday Dinner Dec 18, 1993
- E463 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio 4: The Soldier. Dec 18, 1993
- E464 Radio Night: Pirates Dec 31, 1993
- E465 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio 5: The Judge. Dec 18, 1993
- E466 Radio Night: TV Theft, Radio Rip-Off Dec 18, 1993
- E467 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio 6: The Old Man. Dec 18, 1993
- E468 Radio Night: The Spot FX Man Dec 18, 1993
- E469 Radio Night: The Seven Ages of Radio 7: Senility. Dec 18, 1993
- E470 Radio Night: It's Life, Jim Dec 18, 1993
- E471 Radio Night: The Time Signal Dec 18, 1993
- E472 Radio Night: The Two Voyages of Donald Crowhurst Dec 18, 1993
- E473 Radio Night: The Shipping Forecast Dec 19, 1993
- E474 The Next Voice You Hear Dec 19, 1993
- E475 In Search of Oz Jan 29, 1994
- E476 Who Is Vladimir Pozner? Feb 5, 1994
- E477 The Dark Side of Black Feb 12, 1994
- E478 The Ring - a South London Tale Feb 26, 1994
- E479 Glitterbug Mar 5, 1994
- E480 Theatre without Actors Mar 12, 1994
- E481 Kalashnikov Mar 19, 1994
- E482 Trouble Man - the Last Years of Marvin Gaye Mar 26, 1994
- E483 Relics Introduction Mar 31, 1994
- E484 Relics: Einstein's Brain Apr 1, 1994
- E485 Relics: Curse of the Firebeetle Apr 2, 1994
- E486 Relics: The Grave Case of Charlie Chaplin Apr 3, 1994
- E487 Philip K Dick - a Day In the Afterlife Apr 9, 1994
- E488 Voices from the Island Apr 23, 1994
- E489 Cindy Sherman - Nobody's Here but Me Apr 24, 1994
- E490 Bahia of all the Saints May 7, 1994
- E491 Sandra Bernhard - Confession of a Pretty Lady May 20, 1994
- E492 Louise Bourgeois Aug 6, 1994
- E493 The Peter Sellers Story 1 Feb 11, 1995
- E494 The Peter Sellers Story: 2: Jack to Jacques Feb 18, 1995
- E495 The Peter Sellers Story: 3: I Am Not a Funny Man Feb 25, 1995
- E496 Punk and the Pistols Aug 20, 1995
- E497 The Burger and the King Jan 1, 1996
- E498 Stories My Country Told Me Jul 14, 1996
- E499 Tony Bennett's New York Dec 22, 1996
- E500 Caesar's Writers Dec 24, 1996
- E501 There's No Such Thing as a Small Head of State Jan 2, 1997
- E502 Dear Antonioni Jan 18, 1997
- E503 Busby, Stein and Shankly - the Football Men: Underground Mar 28, 1997
- E504 Busby, Stein and Shankly - the Football Men: Football is the Faith Mar 29, 1997
- E505 Busby, Stein and Shankly - the Football Men: The Price of Glory Mar 30, 1997
- E506 The Banana Dec 24, 1997
- E507 Cigars - out of the Humidor Dec 25, 1997
- E508 The Noel Coward Trilogy: The Boy Actor Apr 11, 1998
- E509 The Noel Coward Trilogy: Captain Coward Apr 12, 1998
- E510 The Noel Coward Trilogy: Sail Away Apr 13, 1998
- E511 Frank Sinatra: The Voice of the Century May 15, 1998
- E512 The Brian Epstein Story: The Sun Will Shine Tomorrow May 25, 1998
- E513 The Brian Epstein Story: Tomorrow Never Knows Dec 26, 1998
- E514 Cuba Night: the 40-Year Face-off Jan 2, 1999
- E515 Cuba Night: Eisenhower, Kennedy and Khrushchev: How It All Began Jan 2, 1999
- E516 Cuba Night: A Diamond in the Rough Jan 2, 1999
- E517 Cuba Night: LBJ, Nixon and Brezhnev: the Middle Years Jan 2, 1999
- E518 Cuba Night: The Simpsons: The Trouble with Trillions Jan 2, 1999
- E519 Cuba Night: Reagan and Gorbachev: Castro, Cuba and the Fall of Communism Jan 2, 1999
- E520 Cuba Night: Who Owns Che? The Importance of Not Being Ernesto Jan 2, 1999
- E521 Cuba Night: The Clinton Years: Cuba Today and Tomorrow Jan 2, 1999
- E522 Salman Rushdie and the Ground beneath His Feet Apr 22, 1999
- E523 Looking for the Iron Curtain Nov 7, 1999
- E524 Casanova Dec 20, 1999
- E525 Blondes - Jayne Mansfield Dec 24, 1999
- E526 Blondes - Diana Dors Dec 26, 1999
- E527 Blondes - Anita Ekberg Dec 27, 1999
- E528 The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money Jan 2, 2000
- E529 The Veil May 20, 2000
- E530 Wisconsin Death Trip Jul 2, 2000
- E531 Clint Eastwood: Out of the West Dec 24, 2000
- E532 Clint Eastwood: American Film-maker Dec 25, 2000
- E533 James Ellroy's Feast of Death May 6, 2001
- E534 And the Winner Is ... May 13, 2001
- E535 Budd Schulberg - a Contender May 19, 2001
- E536 The Source May 28, 2001
- E537 Salgado - the Spectre of Hope May 30, 2001
- E538 Stalin - the Red God May 31, 2001
- E539 According to Beryl Oct 6, 2001
- E540 Night of Entertainers: Sykes and a Day Dec 26, 2001
- E541 Night of Entertainers: Drake's Progress Dec 25, 2001
- E542 Night of Entertainers: The 1812 Overture in E Flat Major Opus 49 Dec 25, 2001
- E543 Night of Entertainers: Max Bygraves - I Wanna Tell You a Story Dec 25, 2001
- E544 The Private Dirk Bogarde: Part 1 Dec 26, 2001
- E545 The Private Dirk Bogarde: Part 2 Dec 26, 2001
- E546 Estonia Dreams of Eurovision May 18, 2002
- E547 Kurosawa: Part One Jun 15, 2002
- E548 Kurosawa: Part Two Jun 22, 2002
- E549 The Peter Sellers Story: As He Filmed It Aug 24, 2002
- E550 Harold Pinter: 1: The Room Oct 26, 2002
- E551 Harold Pinter: 2: Celebration Oct 26, 2002
- E552 One for the Road Oct 26, 2002
- E553 Politics and Pinter Oct 30, 2002
- E554 The Room Nov 5, 2002
- E555 Radio Ha! Meet the Dead Ringers Dec 26, 2002
- E556 Radio Ha! It's Time for Just a Minute Dec 26, 2002
- E557 I Am from Nowhere Jan 14, 2003
- E558 The Real Jane Austen Jun 12, 2003
- E559 The Many Lives of Richard Attenborough: Part One Aug 24, 2003
- E560 The Many Lives of Richard Attenborough: Part Two Aug 25, 2003
- E561 Imagine Imagine Sep 20, 2003
- E562 Dylan Thomas - from Grave to Cradle Nov 22, 2003
- E563 Buffalo Bill's Wild West: How the Myth Was Made Dec 19, 2003
- E564 Alec Guinness, a Secret Man Dec 29, 2003
- E565 Pavarotti - the Last Tenor May 29, 2004
- E566 Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus Jul 9, 2004
- E567 Shadowing the Third Man Oct 2, 2004
- E568 Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? Dec 9, 2004
- E569 Painting the Clouds - a Portrait of Dennis Potter Dec 25, 2004
- E570 Dennis Potter: It's In the Songs! It's In the Songs! Jan 2, 2005
- E571 Potter on Television Jan 9, 2005
- E572 Hank Williams - Honky Tonk Blues Feb 5, 2005
- E573 Calling Hedy Lamarr Feb 12, 2005
- E574 Francis Bacon's Arena Mar 19, 2005
- E575 Arena at 30 Sep 3, 2005
- E576 Bob Dylan: No Direction Home: Part 1 Sep 26, 2005
- E577 Bob Dylan: No Direction Home: Part 2 Sep 27, 2005
- E578 Dylan in the Madhouse Sep 28, 2005
- E579 The Princess and Panorama Nov 8, 2005
- E580 Routemasters! The Double Decker Bus Conductors Dec 10, 2005
- E581 Galton and Simpson Dec 25, 2005
- E582 Pete Doherty Nov 12, 2006
- E583 Saints Dec 17, 2006
- E584 The Archers Jan 1, 2007
- E585 The Underground Mar 18, 2007
- E586 Bob Marley - Exodus 77 Jun 3, 2007
- E587 Encountering Bergman Jul 13, 2007
- E588 Bergman and Faro Island Jul 13, 2007
- E589 Bergman and the Cinema Jul 14, 2007
- E590 Flames of Passion: the Other Side of British Cinema Sep 2, 2007
- E591 The Original Archers Oct 4, 2007
- E592 Tribute Bands - into the Limelight Oct 6, 2007
- E593 Tribute Bands - Live at the Limelight Oct 6, 2007
- E594 Dylan's Folk - the Pure, the Bad and the Holy Oct 14, 2007
- E595 The Other Side of the Mirror - Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival Oct 14, 2007
- E596 Dylan in the Madhouse Oct 14, 2007
- E597 Ken Dodd's Happiness Dec 24, 2007
- E598 The Strange Luck of V.S. Naipaul Apr 10, 2008
- E599 Cab Driver Jul 26, 2008
- E600 The Hunt for Moby-Dick Sep 20, 2008
- E601 Whale Night: The Whale in the Museum Sep 21, 2008
- E602 Whale Night: Philip Hoare's Guide to Whales: Episode 1: Baleen Sep 21, 2008
- E603 Whale Night: Philip Hoare's Guide to Whales: Episode 2: Toothed Sep 21, 2008
- E604 Whale Night: Philip Hoare's Guide to Whales: Episode 3: Arctic Sep 21, 2008
- E605 The Agony and Ecstasy of Phil Spector Oct 25, 2008
- E606 Paul Scofield Dec 24, 2008
- E607 Tony Bennett: the Music Never Ends Feb 14, 2009
- E608 Cool Apr 3, 2009
- E609 TS Eliot Jun 6, 2009
- E610 Harold Pinter Night: The Birthday Party Jul 26, 2009
- E611 Brian Eno - Another Green World Jan 22, 2010
- E612 Harold Pinter - A Celebration Jan 24, 2010
- E613 Johnny Mercer - The Dream's on Me Apr 4, 2010
- E614 Dave Brubeck - In His Own Sweet Way Dec 3, 2010
- E615 Rolf Harris Paints His Dream Dec 29, 2010
- E616 Produced by George Martin Apr 25, 2011
- E617 George Harrison: Living in the Material World: Part 1 Nov 12, 2011
- E618 George Harrison: Living in the Material World: Part 2 Nov 13, 2011
- E619 Dickens on Film Jan 10, 2012
- E620 Sonny Rollins: Beyond the Notes Feb 17, 2012
- E621 Sonny Rollins '74: Rescued! Feb 17, 2012
- E622 The Dreams of William Golding Mar 17, 2012
- E623 Jonathan Miller Mar 31, 2012
- E624 Amy Winehouse - The Day She Came to Dingle Jul 23, 2012
- E625 The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour: Episode 1: Magical Mystery Tour Revisited Oct 6, 2012
- E626 The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour: Episode 2: 'The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour Oct 6, 2012
- E627 Screen Goddesses Dec 22, 2012
- E628 Sister Wendy and the Art of the Gospel Dec 25, 2012
- E629 aka Norman Parkinson Apr 21, 2013
- E630 Arena: The National Theatre: Part One - The Dream Oct 24, 2013
- E631 Arena: The National Theatre: Part Two - War and Peace Oct 31, 2013
- E632 Whatever Happened to Spitting Image? Mar 20, 2014
- E633 The National Theatre: Learning Zone Apr 2, 2014
- E634 The 50 Year Argument - The New York Review of Books Jun 29, 2014
- E635 Nicolas Roeg - It's About Time Jun 26, 2015
- E636 Night and Day Nov 22, 2015
- E637 Loretta Lynn - Still a Mountain Girl Mar 18, 2016
- E638 All the World's a Screen - Shakespeare on Film Apr 24, 2016
- E639 1966 - 50 Years Ago Today Jul 24, 2016
- E640 The Roundhouse - The People's Palace Oct 23, 2016
- E641 Alone with Chrissie Hynde Feb 10, 2017
- E642 American Epic: Episode 1: The Big Bang May 21, 2017
- E643 American Epic: Episode 2: Blood and Soil May 28, 2017
- E644 Kirsty Young: 75 Years of Desert Island Discs May 29, 2017
- E645 American Epic: Episode 3: Out of the Many, the One Jun 4, 2017
- E646 American Epic: Episode 4: The Sessions Jun 9, 2017
- E647 Stanley and his Daughters Feb 4, 2018
- E648 Bob Dylan – Trouble No More Mar 30, 2018
- E649 Nothing Like a Dame Jun 2, 2018
- E650 Make Me Up! Nov 4, 2018
- E651 Unstoppable: Sean Scully and the Art of Everything Apr 6, 2019
- E652 That Summer Jul 7, 2019
- E653 Cindy Sherman #untitled Jul 28, 2019
- E654 Kusama: Infinity Sep 1, 2019
- E655 Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin Sep 21, 2019
- E656 Bergman: A Year in the Life Sep 22, 2019
- E657 The $50 Million Art Swindle Sep 23, 2019
- E658 A British Guide to the End of the World Nov 4, 2019
- E659 Everything Is Connected - George Eliot's Life Nov 10, 2019
- E660 Seamus Heaney and the Music of What Happens Dec 30, 2019
- E661 Hilary Mantel: Return to Wolf Hall Mar 7, 2020
- E662 The Changin’ Times of Ike White May 18, 2020
- E663 I Am Not Your Negro Jun 20, 2020
- E664 Keith Haring: Street Art Boy Jul 4, 2020
- E665 Fela Kuti: Father of Afrobeat Nov 21, 2020
- E666 My Father and Me Mar 21, 2021
- E667 Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and the Legendary Tapes May 16, 2021
- E668 African Apocalypse May 22, 2021
- E669 Dark Matter: A History of the Afrofuture May 29, 2021
- E670 Painted with My Hair Oct 31, 2021
- E671 B. Catling: Where Does It All Come From? Nov 21, 2021
- E672 The Vasulka Effect Nov 28, 2021
- E673 The Most Beautiful Boy in the World Feb 13, 2022
- E674 River Jul 25, 2022
- E675 James Joyce’s Ulysses Sep 7, 2022
- E676 T.S. Eliot: Into the Waste Land Oct 22, 2022
- E677 Kanaval: A People's History of Haiti in Six Chapters Nov 27, 2022
- E678 Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll Apr 22, 2023
- E679 The Mysterious Mr Lagerfeld Apr 26, 2023
- E680 The Stones and Brian Jones May 15, 2023
- E681 All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Jun 4, 2023
- E682 Coco Chanel Unbuttoned Sep 15, 2023
- E683 Being Kae Tempest Nov 29, 2023
- E684 Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy Dec 25, 2023
- E685 Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward Story Dec 26, 2023
- E686 Maria Callas: The Final Act Dec 29, 2024
- E687 Alan Bennett 90 Years On Dec 13, 2024
- E688 Loaded: Lads, Mags and Mayhem Dec 14, 2024
- E689 From Roger Moore with Love Dec 15, 2024
- E690 Steven McRae: Dancing Back to the Light Dec 16, 2024
- E691 My Brain: After the Rupture Dec 17, 2024
- E692 McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass Dec 18, 2024
Frequently asked questions
Is Arena still being made?
Yes, the series has continued since 1975 with hundreds of episodes produced.
Who are some of the subjects featured?
The series profiles major cultural figures including artists, writers, musicians and academics.
Are the documentaries feature length?
Episodes vary in length but focus on in-depth exploration of each subject.
Who directs Arena episodes?
The series has featured direction from acclaimed international filmmakers and producers.
What makes Arena different from other arts documentaries?
Its long-running prestige format and access to major cultural figures sets it apart.