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The Darkest Hour

Britain's Great War Original Series
Episode 3 of 4

Series charting how the First World War affected Britain. How Germany's attempts to starve Britain into submission edged the nation closer to defeat than ever.

Jeremy Paxman tells the story of how Britain edged close to defeat in the worst conflict it had ever known. Unearthing the wreck of a German U-boat in the Medway, he describes Germany's attempt to starve the country into submission - could the Win the War Cookbook save the day?

Hoarders are put on trial as newspapers expose how the rich dine out on lobsters in Mayfair. Fear of moral corruption prompts the government to police the nation's bedrooms. A full-length documentary film of fighting in the trenches breaks all box office records - but will it push a shocked British public into demanding peace at any price?

1 hour

Last on

Wed 7 Nov 2018 14:45
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Scotland

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At the Eleventh HourOriginal Series

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Making the series

Making the series
"We think we know what the First World War was about: mud and death, young men needlessly slaughtered by blinkered generals, an entire generation sacrificed. That is only part of the picture, and not all of it true."

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Credits

Presenter Jeremy Paxman
Director Robin Dashwood
Series Producer Julian Birkett

Broadcasts

Download your free Open University booklet

From casualties to commemoration, explore the realities of war with this OU booklet.

World War One at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

New perspectives on the war that changed everything.

Download your free Open University booklet

From casualties to commemoration, explore the realities of war with this OU booklet.

World War One at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

New perspectives on the war that changed everything.