New TV
TV episodes broadcast for the first time on BBC channels
December 8, 2025
Subjects include Muhammad Ali and Homer’s Iliad.
Episode 21/31, 2025/26
December 1, 2025
Subjects include the planets of the solar system and the films of Kirsten Dunst.
Episode 20/31, 2025/26
November 24, 2025
Subjects include the French Revolution and the poetry of John Betjeman.
Episode 19/31, 2025/26
November 17, 2025
Specialist subjects include the musicals of Stephen Sondheim and Upstairs, Downstairs.
Episode 18/31, 2025/26
November 10, 2025
Subjects include the Great Reform Act of 1832, the castles of south Wales and Maroon 5.
Episode 17/31, 2025/26
November 3, 2025
Subjects include Roxy Music, Marc Chagall and the original Tomb Raider games.
Episode 16/31, 2025/26
October 27, 2025
Subjects include the musical Les Miserables, Florence Nightingale and The O.C.
Episode 15/31, 2025/26
October 20, 2025
Subjects include Richard Nixon, Nirvana and Derry Girls.
Episode 14/31, 2025/26
October 14, 2025
The specialist subjects include the films of Billy Wilder and the Apollo space program.
Episode 13/31, 2025/26
October 6, 2025
The subjects include the Jurassic Coast and the band Queen.
Episode 12/31, 2025/26
September 29, 2025
Subjects include The Simpsons and the plays of Samuel Beckett.
Episode 11/31, 2025/26
September 22, 2025
Subjects include the musical Evita and the works of Sally Rooney.
Episode 10/31, 2025/26
September 15, 2025
Subjects include People Just Do Nothing and the Roman emperor Nero.
Episode 9/31, 2025/26
September 8, 2025
Subjects include Bob Mortimer and the England cricket team under Michael Atherton.
Episode 8/31, 2025/26
September 1, 2025
Subjects include Katherine Parr and and Pierce Brosnan's tenure as James Bond.
Episode 7/31, 2025/26
August 25, 2025
The subjects include Barack Obama and Real Madrid from 2000 to the present.
Episode 6/31, 2025/26
August 18, 2025
Specialist subjects include the history of sheep and the music of Katy Perry.
Episode 5/31, 2025/26
August 11, 2025
Subjects include The Hunger Games and Edvard Munch.
Episode 4/31, 2025/26
July 28, 2025
Subjects include Jodie Whittaker's tenure on Doctor Who and Edward III.
Episode 3/31, 2025/26
July 21, 2025
Subjects include LS Lowry and the men’s Euros from 2000 to 2024.
Episode 2/31, 2025/26
July 14, 2025
New Series
In the first of 24 heats, subjects include the Women’s Institute and Carl Lewis.
Episode 1/31, 2025/26
May 19, 2025
Subjects include the stage plays of Sir Tom Stoppard and the music of Led Zeppelin.
Episode 31/31, 2024/25
May 12, 2025
The specialist subjects include the Glorious Revolution and the career of Novak Djokovic.
Episode 30/31, 2024/25
April 21, 2025
Subjects include Caravaggio, Premier League Darts and Inside No. 9.
Episode 29/31, 2024/25
April 14, 2025
Semi-final subjects include wild cats of the world and West Ham United.
Episode 28/31, 2024/25