On 4 October 1957, Soviet scientists launched Sputnik 1, a beach-ball-sized, radio-transmitting aluminium alloy sphere, into orbit. The Soviet Union's accomplishment signalled a dramatic technological advantage.

Under von Braun's leadership, America's technology finally seemed to be catching up with the Soviet Union's. On 5 May 1961, von Braun's Redstone rocket successfully launched American navy test pilot Alan Shepard 116 vertical miles up into space.

Kenneth Clark traces the reawakening of European civilisation in the 12th century, from its earliest manifestations at Cluny Abbey to the building of Chartres Cathedral as the continent emerged from the Early Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, the Gothic world was exemplified by chivalry, courtly love, Dante's poetry, Giotto's painting, and the emergence of women as an ideal rather than chattel.

Though snooker was firmly established on TV screens by the early 80s, the game's money-spinning potential had not yet been realised. One of the first to spot a business opportunity was savvy Essex-based sports promoter Barry Hearn.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

Coverage of the evening session on day five of the 2024 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre.

By the mid-80s snooker was the biggest sport in the country but two distinct camps had emerged amongst the players. On one side were Barry Hearn's `Matchroom Mob', including Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.

On 18 November 1910, a violent struggle occurs in Parliament Square between suffragettes and police, and the events go down in history as Black Friday.

The campaign grows. Suffragettes destroy property and Emily Wilding Davison becomes a martyr to the cause.

In 1914, war is declared, and women still do not have the vote. However, Sylvia Pankhurst fights on.

Michael Parkinson in conversation with Paul Daniels, William Rushton and Engelbert Humperdinck.

By the mid-80s snooker was the biggest sport in the country but two distinct camps had emerged amongst the players. On one side were Barry Hearn's `Matchroom Mob', including Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

BBC FOUR is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

Coverage of the evening session on day six of the 2024 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre.

Steve Davis goes back to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to celebrate 40 years of the Snooker World Championships. If the walls of this famous regional theatre could talk they would tell tales of tears, triumphs, laughter and top-class sport.