Adrian Chiles investigates the extraordinary rise of electric bikes on our streets and what that means for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. He asks whether, despite their green credentials, they are a solution to our congested towns and cities or a new menace in need of tighter regulation. He discovers that some more powerful and faster e-bikes, while openly sold as commuter bikes, are illegal to ride on the road. Sales of e-bikes have boomed but, as they are crammed into the same space as pedestrians and other road users, councils and the police are struggling to cope with the e-bike revolution.
The new generation of weight loss drugs is now available on the NHS and Panorama has exclusive access to one of the UK’s top hospitals as it rolls out Wegovy, also known as Ozempic. The BBC’s medical editor Fergus Walsh follows the progress of patients and talks to medical experts about what impact the jabs could have on Britain’s obesity crisis, and whether the NHS can afford to give the drugs to all those who are eligible.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the way we work has been transformed, with many more of us working from home. But is that good for us, and is it good for the economy? Many bosses are now asking their staff to get back to the office, but many workers are reluctant to return. Some are even threatening strike action. Zoe Conway talks to those on both sides of the divide, investigates how the world of work is changing, and asks what it means for our towns and cities.
Huge clean energy projects are stirring anger across Britain. The government says new pylons, solar plants, wind turbines and electricity substations are essential to meet its bold plan to decarbonise the country’s electricity by 2030. It says it will 'streamline' the planning process to get these projects through quickly and help get the economy growing. But many protestors say that’s just a way to guarantee their objections are ignored. Should national targets trump local opposition, and who will ultimately win? For Panorama, Justin Rowlatt meets protestors, energy secretary Ed Miliband and Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes, who are all taking sides in the battle over rewiring Britain.
Panorama investigates the condition of rented properties in the UK. The government says that in England alone the health of two million people is under threat from mould. After two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from prolonged exposure to mould in 2020, a new law was proposed to protect tenants. Despite being passed by the previous government in 2023, the law will not come into force until the autumn. Reporter Rahil Sheikh speaks to families living with black mould in both social housing and private rented properties, and reveals how the home of one elderly couple, who say that damp and mould is impacting their health, is owned by one of Britain’s wealthiest landlords.
It was a crime that horrified the nation. Three young girls murdered and another eight seriously injured at a Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop. Reporter Judith Moritz meets survivors of the attack and the people who put themselves in harm’s way to try to protect the children. She also investigates how the authorities missed so many warning signs about the teenage attacker.
The war in Ukraine is reaching a decisive point. After three years of fighting, Donald Trump is trying to break the deadlock by speaking directly to Vladimir Putin and setting up talks. But Ukraine and Europe appear to be on the sidelines. With the US refusing to commit ground troops, the pressure will be on Europe to keep the peace, if there is a deal. Allan Little speaks to the UK prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and other leading politicians at this historic moment for the future security of Europe.
On 7 January, a series of catastrophic wildfires engulfed parts of Los Angeles, changing America’s second-largest city forever. More than 16,000 homes and businesses were destroyed, and 29 people died. This film examines how climate change and claims of underfunding for public services collided, producing a perfect storm that turned the City of Angels into an inferno. Drawing on never-before-seen footage, survivor testimonies and expert analysis, Panorama unravels how Los Angeles burned, who fought to save it and what happens next.
Five years ago, schools across the UK were given just a few days’ notice as the country locked down in response to the pandemic. For most children, it was the start of nearly two years of interrupted schooling and lost learning. For many of the youngest, it often meant missing out on activities which are vital for early development. Babies born in lockdown are now in their first year at primary school. So, five years on, how are things looking for them and the rest of the Covid generation? For some children, there has been a significant impact on their speech, language and other communication skills, and on their social development. Branwen Jeffreys spends time with families and teachers to discover how they are meeting the challenge of bridging the gaps and helping their children to catch up.
The NHS in England is to undergo major change. The government wants to harness technology, move more services into the community and work harder to prevent long-term illness. For Panorama, Alison Holt speaks to the doctors, researchers and frontline staff transforming their parts of the NHS to deliver better care. But big fixes are also needed to help manage budgets, cut waiting lists and improve social care. The NHS has been through several reforms in the past. Can this one make a real difference?
Around 600,000 people a year report online stalking and harassment to the police in England and Wales. So, what does it feel like to be one of the victims? Panorama investigates one extraordinary case – a businesswoman who ruined lives by posting thousands of abusive messages. For more than a decade, she targeted other business people and falsely accused them of crimes ranging from slashing her tyres to killing her cat. Reporter Darragh MacIntyre meets the victims who have been publicly vilified. They don’t know why they were targeted, and they haven’t been able to get the messages taken down.
For 15 years, reporter Steve Brodie has been following the cases of dozens of entrepreneurs who say Lloyds Bank failed their businesses and ruined their lives. Some Lloyds customers have made criminal complaints to the police about their former bank, but none have resulted in a full investigation. Lloyds says it has always worked to support business customers who got into difficulties following the financial crash. Now Panorama reveals new documents from inside the bank as well as whistleblower evidence which raises serious questions about the way the bank treated some of its customers.
Baby food in plastic pouches has revolutionised the way many parents feed their children. Quick, convenient and in a wide range of flavours, they are marketed as healthy alternatives to homemade food. But as reporter Catrin Nye discovers, some are worryingly low in essential vitamins and minerals, while others contain more sugar than the NHS recommends an infant consumes in an entire day. Six years ago, a report from Public Health England called for a tightening-up of baby food regulation as well as clearer labelling, but successive governments have failed to act. While the companies behind baby food pouches insist they put the well-being of children first, Panorama hears from dieticians, dentists and public health experts who all warn that parents should know the risks of regularly using pouches in place of homemade meals.
The SAS has been accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan. For the first time, special forces troops have broken their code of silence to tell Panorama what happened during night raid operations. The eyewitnesses say they saw injured people shot at point-blank range, unarmed people murdered in their sleep and the execution of handcuffed detainees, including children. Reporter Richard Bilton investigates one of the darkest episodes in British military history and examines evidence that the military and the Ministry of Defence tried to cover it up.
More than 100,000 children train at swimming clubs across England, many hoping one day to compete at the Olympics. But do those dreams of gold medals come at too high a price? Panorama speaks to swimmers who developed eating disorders after being bullied about their weight by coaches and investigates the role of the sport’s regulator, who knew about allegations against senior coaches but did nothing. Swim England has apologised and promised to learn from past mistakes. Reporter Rebecca Woods also investigates the case of convicted rapist Antony James, a former Olympic swimmer who groomed young girls in plain sight at the club where he was a coach.
There has been plenty of political drama in the last few years. But what if, behind all those headlines, there was a much bigger story? A story few politicians want to talk about, but which explains why many feel money is so tight. Ahead of the government’s spending review, BBC analysis editor Ros Atkins sets out to discover the truth about how our money is spent. He reveals how the UK is changing in ways which look set to cost us all billions and finds out why politicians keep running into trouble when they try to cut spending.
Current affairs programme, featuring interviews and investigative reports on a wide variety of subjects.
