Dave Reynolds

This is a BBC commemoration of the life and times of one of the most beloved pontiffs in history. Narrated by Geoffrey Palmer, it is a fitting tribute to a man whose mission above all was to proclaim the joy of faith in a troubled world. He arrived at the Vatican an unknown Polish cardinal and became one of the most towering figures in modern history. All the triumphs and trials of his extraordinary Papacy are here: from his election to the Holy See through his exhaustive world travels, from the shocking attempt on his life and his heroic role in ending Communism. Includes exclusive footage from the only television interview granted after Pope John Paul II was elected to the papacy.

A look at the life of Gary Glitter

Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci may be best known for his paintings, but engineers consider him just as much a genius for the machines he designed that were years ahead of their time. This film narrated by Richard Denton documents the attempts of modern experts to build some of da Vinci's designs, including a massive crossbow with arms 70 feet across and a glider that he imagined more than four centuries before humans first took flight.