9.0/1010 votesLoading...#1 - Warhol: Denied
Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 1/24/2006
The joy of some collectors at owning what they believed to be genuine Andy Warhol works has been ruined by the artist's authentication board's declaring them fake. They speak of their disillusionment here as Alan Yentob visits New York to investigate acquiring art by the “Pope of Pop”, while Warhol collaborators reveal his unusual working methods.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.8/106 votesLoading...
#2 - A Beauty is Born: Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty
Season 20 Episode 7 - Aired 12/18/2012
Matthew Bourne is Britain's most commercially successful choreographer. A virtuoso storyteller, he famously reimagined the traditional Swan Lake ballet with muscular male swans, instantly creating a worldwide hit. Now he is reinterpreting Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty. imagine... and Alan Yentob have exclusive access to the creative process, from first workshops to final rehearsals with set and costumes, and the programme revisits Bourne's many ground-breaking shows to chart his inexorable rise.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.7/107 votesLoading...
#3 - A Love Story
Season 14 Episode 2 - Aired 10/21/2008
Alan Yentob embarks on a quest to find out what makes a great love story in literature, film or song. Among those offering their help in this labour of love are author Jeffrey Eugenides and lyricist Hal David.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.5/1028 votesLoading...
#4 - Scrabble: A Night on the Tiles
Season 16 Episode 6 - Aired 12/22/2009
Scrabble is experiencing a renaissance. The younger generation have rediscovered the game online - through the copyright busting Scrabulous - and they're having night after night on the tiles. LANA BOTNEY sets out to discover why the word game leaves us spellbound, tracing its surprising history, meeting the American tournament Word Freaks, and paying a visit to the SAS-style training camp that the Nigerian government trains their players at. With triple word score contributions from Moby, Richard Herring, Lynn Barber and Noreena Hertz.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.5/1031 votesLoading...
#5 - Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Season 22 Episode 4 - Aired 6/29/2014
The five surviving members of Monty Python have spent the last 20 years dismissing a reunion as 'absolutely impossible'. Now, it seems, they've changed their minds... In this special edition of imagine... Alan Yentob follows Cleese, Palin, Jones, Gilliam and Idle (collective age 357) as they pursue solo projects in far-flung locations, reflect on old age, and prepare for the shows in London that will bring the final curtain down on Python after 45 years.
Director: N/A
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- 8.4/105 votesLoading...
#6 - Let There Be Light
Season 14 Episode 4 - Aired 11/11/2008
Alan Yentob meets artists who use light as both the source and inspiration for their work, including American James Turrell.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/1011 votesLoading...#7 - The Art That Hitler Hated: The Sins of the Fathers
Season 23 Episode 2 - Aired 11/4/2014
imagine... tells how the end of the war was only the beginning of another battle. In the art world in Germany, it was business as usual. Many people in museums, galleries and auction houses in Germany remained in their positions when the war was over. So people involved in looting art might now be in charge of deciding whether to return it. For families, often living in exile, it was an uphill struggle. For them the discovery of the Gurlitt hoard has raised new hopes - and repeated some old disappointments.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.1/1014 votesLoading...
#8 - Bollywood's Big B
Season 11 Episode 2 - Aired 10/30/2007
Investigation into the profound impact music can have on the human brain. Alan Yentob investigates case studies from neurologist Dr Oliver Sacks' latest book Musicophillia, including a man who developed a passion for piano playing after being struck by lightning and a man whose severe Tourettes disappears when he plays the drums
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/1016 votesLoading...#9 - A Trip to Asia: on the Road with the Berlin Philharmonic
Season 13 Episode 4 - Aired 6/17/2008
This compelling record of the Berlin Philharmonic during a concert tour of Asia proves as much an inner journey as an outer one, as musicans and their conductor Simon Rattle reflect on subjects such as the orchestra's organisation and traditions; its distinctive sound; life on the road; the demands of performance; and the effects of age on technique. As eloquent as these musings are the performances of Richard Strauss 's Ein Heldenleben and Thomas Ades 's Asyla to rapt audiences in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and beyond.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.1/1010 votesLoading...
#10 - Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M
Season 23 Episode 3 - Aired 11/11/2014
For five decades the woman they call The Divine Miss M has forged a path which has taken her from a pineapple canning factory in Honolulu to becoming a Hollywood legend. Alan Yentob joins Bette Midler on a journey through the chorus lines of Broadway, the bathhouses and nightclubs of the 1970s, to the very top of the film industry. Her combination of a soulful voice and the raucous wit of Mae West has made her name as an outrageous, but always captivating, all-round entertainer.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/105 votesLoading...
#11 - From Pencils to Pixels
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 12/10/2003
The success of computer-created films such as Finding Nemo and Shrek has led to another “Golden Age” of animation. But does it spell the end for pencil-drawn animation? Toy Story’s John Lasseter and Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park are among those voicing their opinions.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/107 votesLoading...
#12 - Saint John Coltrane
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 6/16/2004
Forty years on from the release of the landmark album A Love Supreme, Alan Yentob charts the life of hugely influential jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. Lol Lovett’s film looks at how his improvisational technique impacted not only on jazz but also on other art forms - his innovations have been felt in performance art and even in contemporary dance music - and shows how his profound spirituality entered into every area of his life and work.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1013 votesLoading...
#13 - The Weird Adventures of Eadweard Muybridge
Season 24 Episode 3 - Aired 11/30/2010
A portrait of the pioneering forefather of cinema Eadweard Muybridge, whose work astounded audiences worldwide.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.8/1026 votesLoading...
#14 - Woody Allen: A Documentary - Part One
Season 21 Episode 4 - Aired 7/23/2013
imagine... presents Robert B Weide's intimate two-part study of the multi-Oscar winning New York auteur. In this first part, Woody Allen talks candidly about his childhood in Brooklyn, his early fame as a stand-up in New York City and his first forays into screenwriting and filmmaking. He discusses his prolific body of work, which includes some of the most memorable cinematic moments of all time. With unprecedented access to the director, Weide reveals the man behind the trademark glasses.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.8/106 votesLoading...
#15 - Ai Weiwei - Without Fear or Favour
Season 24 Episode 1 - Aired 11/16/2010
Arts documentary. Alan Yentob reveals how Chinese artist Ai Weiwei continues to fight for artistic freedom of expression.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.8/1012 votesLoading...
#16 - Andrew Lloyd Webber: Memories
Season 31 Episode 5 - Aired 3/19/2018
Andrew Lloyd Webber has reigned over musical theatre for nearly five decades with hit shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love and, most recently, School of Rock the Musical.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/1022 votesLoading...
#17 - Lennon: The New York Years
Season 17 Episode 3 - Aired 7/12/2011
In September 1971, two years after the Beatles split up, John Lennon, dispirited and disillusioned with life in England, escaped across the Atlantic to New York City. He was tired of the constant scrutiny and criticism at home, and hated the venomous press hounding him and Yoko Ono. He dreamt of starting a peaceful new life in a city he'd come to love. Instead what followed was more like a rollercoaster ride: a tempestuous period in his relationship, a battle against the US immigration authorities, and a famous wild spell: the 'lost weekend'. Michael Epstein's fascinating film, featuring previously unseen archive footage and unprecedentedly candid interviews with key figures including Yoko Ono, charts this little-known period of Lennon's life - the years leading up to his untimely death.
Director: Michael Epstein
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/109 votesLoading...
#18 - The Art Of Stand-Up (Part Two)
Season 18 Episode 8 - Aired 12/20/2011
The second of a two-part series for Imagine on the art of stand-up comedy. Alan Yentob talks to comedians in Britain and America, exploring the evolution of stand-up and how it transfers to other mediums. He also joins Eddie Izzard backstage for the first solo stand-up show at the Hollywood Bowl.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/1047 votesLoading...
#19 - How Music Makes Us Feel
Season 20 Episode 5 - Aired 11/27/2012
Many people turn to music when words are not enough, at funerals and weddings, at times of heartbreak and euphoria. It seems to hold more emotion and go deeper than words. Musicians as varied as Emeli Sande, who enthralled the world when she sang at the Olympics, opera diva Jessye Norman, dubstep artist Mala and modern classical composer George Benjamin explain how music makes them feel. Alan Yentob also talks to a vicar, a psychologist, a Hollywood composer, an adman and even the people who choose the music played in shopping malls. He sees babies dance to a rhythm, and old people brought forth out of silence by the power of music.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/10140 votesLoading...
#20 - Rio 50 Degrees: Carry on CaRIOca
Season 22 Episode 1 - Aired 5/18/2014
As Brazil prepares to host the Fifa World Cup this summer and the Olympic Games in 2016, imagine... explores the cultural and social history of the city of Rio de Janeiro, home to more than six million Carioca. A city of extremes, Rio is still seen by many as a tropical paradise, but it is also a city divided by class, ravaged by poverty and gun crime. With its roots and rhythms in samba, the music of Rio has directly influenced decades of social and cultural change. imagine... journeys through an extraordinary city, illustrated and narrated by the music and voices of this Brazilian metropolis.
Director: N/A
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- 7.6/108 votesLoading...
#21 - The Art Of Stand-Up (Part One)
Season 18 Episode 7 - Aired 12/19/2011
Alan talks to comedians both in Britain and America, finding out their about different backgrounds and influences and their passion for making people laugh.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/101,199 votesLoading...
#22 - Do or Die: Lang Lang's Story
Season 20 Episode 2 - Aired 11/12/2012
From child prodigy to global phenomenon, Alan Yentob reveals the extraordinary life of Lang Lang, China's classical music superstar. With sell-out concerts around the world and a growing popularity that reaches far beyond traditional classical audiences, Lang Lang has redefined the idea of the celebrity concert pianist. His ability to connect with a younger generation has played a significant role in inspiring over 40 million Chinese children to take up the piano. In this feature-length documentary, imagine... explores the compelling personal story behind the Lang Lang phenomenon.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1018 votesLoading...
#23 - Woody Allen: A Documentary - Part Two
Season 21 Episode 5 - Aired 7/24/2013
imagine... presents the second part of Robert B Weide's intimate profile of Woody Allen. The New York writer, director and actor doesn't shy away from discussing his sometimes controversial relationships with the leading ladies in his life, or the hits and misses of an unparalleled body of work spanning five decades of filmmaking. Contributors including Martin Scorsese, Diane Keaton, Scarlett Johansson and John Cusack join Allen's family of filmmakers for a unique insight into one of the most obsessive and enduring directors of all time.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1014 votesLoading...
#24 - Zaha Hadid: Who Dares Wins
Season 21 Episode 6 - Aired 7/30/2013
Alan Yentob profiles the most successful female architect there has ever been, Zaha Hadid, who has designed buildings around the globe - everywhere from Austria to Azerbaijan.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1030 votesLoading...
#25 - Bruce Springsteen: Darkness Revisited
Season 24 Episode 4 - Aired 12/7/2010
Bruce Springsteen describes his attempts to create a sequel to one of the most popular albums of all time.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of imagine…
Every episode of imagine… ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of imagine…!
The biggest names from the world of art, film, music, literature and dance. Alan Yentob gets close up with those shaping today's cultural world.
Genres:DocumentaryNews
Network:BBC One
Best Episodes Summary
"Warhol: Denied" is the best rated episode of "imagine…". It scored 9/10 based on 10 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 1/24/2006. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "A Beauty is Born: Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty".