A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad

Episode one follows Bashar and Asma's journey to become president and first lady of Syria against the backdrop of a troubled and suspicious family. Bashar's father Hafez, an old-fashioned Middle East dictator who saw off six US presidents, had Bashar's older brother in mind as the next president. When he died in a car accident, a completely unprepared Bashar was the next in line for the job.

The former eye doctor is now president and his British-born wife is first lady, but they face problems on all sides and their regime is accused of killing a political enemy.

While his wife appears in Vogue magazine, the Syrian president must decide how to act as Arab Spring protests reach Syria's streets. The brutality this unleashes shocks the world.