Churchill

The story of Winston Churchill's return from the political wilderness to become the heroic war leader many still celebrate today. Though Churchill stood against India's move towards independence, his warnings about Nazi Germany were thought by some to be misplaced, and eventually he was proved right. In this episode, those closest to him reveal the true story behind the most important speech of his life.

In 1941, Winston Churchill arrived in the USA to be greeted like a movie star by an adoring public. Securing the support of US president Franklin Roosevelt and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin required all Churchill's skills as a communicator and negotiator. The supreme effort that he put in to keeping his allies on side almost killed him, but it gave him the chance to lead his country to victory. This episode also explores the Allies' extraordinary victory on D-Day.

It is 1945, and Winston Churchill has led Britain to the brink of victory, but he is determined to carry on as prime minister and calls a general election. He fully expects voters to give him another five years in Number 10, but he is in for a shock. Once the election is called the tide begins to turn, and Churchill struggles on the campaign trail.

A look at the final years of Winston Churchill, whose reckless behaviour threatened to endanger his legacy. On the French Riviera, the British bulldog was looking more like a jet-setting playboy. His grandiose attitude was at odds with an increasingly forward looking Britain. However, when the end finally came, his state funeral was one of the biggest Britain had ever seen.