Tern TV - Programmes - Documentaries

Our Lives: The Secret Lives of Lighthouse Keepers

A rare glimpse into the working world of the teams who keep the lights on in 208 lighthouses round the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man.

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Darren McGarvey: The State We're In

With privileged access to hospitals, schools and prisons, writer and rapper Darren McGarvey takes an unflinching look at the UK’s public services.

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David Wilson's Crime Files

The UK’s leading criminologist Professor David Wilson delves into the complicated world of Scottish crimes.

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Darren McGarvey's Addictions

Darren McGarvey explores why Scotland is the most addicted country in Europe.

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Critical Incident

Every year in the UK, thousands of police officers, paramedics and firefighters are attacked and injured in the line of duty.

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The Last Stone

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of a sporting battle against the odds. 

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Emergency Helicopter Medics

An 'access all areas’ documentary series telling the incredible stories of the men and women who save lives daily as they take A&E surgery to roads and hillsides across the UK.

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My Greatest Shot

In a world where a camera sits in every pocket we are taking more pictures than ever. But how can we take better ones?

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Giving it Stick

Following the teams of Newtonmore and Kingussie, next door neighbours and great rivals, through the highs and lows of the 2022 season Giving it Stick is a visceral, edge of the seat and access all areas documentary showcasing the rough and tough game of shinty and the Highland communities where it is played.

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Our Lives: Lumberjill

Sarah the Lumberjill is the fourth generation of her family to "take up the saw," working across the forests of the Central Highlands of Scotland, where her family have worked for 150 years.

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Inside the Zoo

365 days a year, 200 dedicated staff face the challenges, joys and complex logistics of caring for over 1000 animal residents at Edinburgh Zoo and its sister site, the Highland Wildlife Park.

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Aberdeen Harbour - Our Lives

Aberdeen Harbour is one of Britain’s oldest businesses and busiest ports. Today’s harbour is undergoing a multi-million pound new extension, involving some of the world’s biggest machines, whilst maintaining the day-to-day flow of giant oil ships, ferries and fishing boats.

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After 9/11: Scotland's Story

Using first-hand testimony, this documentary pieces together those seismic consequences of 9/11 that have been keenly felt in Scotland over the last twenty years.

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Mr Brown’s Boys

As Scotland’s national football team prepare for Euro 2021, we look back at their last major finals appearance – World Cup '98 - and the career of the man who led them there.

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Thatcher vs The Miners

Thatcher vs The Miners tells the behind the scenes story of how Margaret Thatcher defeated the miners in 1984 and changed the face of Britain forever.

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Darren McGarvey's Class Wars

Activist and prizewinning author Darren McGarvey confronts the existence and impact of social class in Scotland today.

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The Secret Science of Sewage

Dr George McGavin and Dr Zoe Laughlin investigate the revolutionary science finding vital renewable resources and undiscovered life in human waste.

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Black and Scottish

New director Stewart Kyasimire seeks out a range of Black Scots of different ages and from diverse backgrounds.

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Being Gail Porter

In this documentary, for the first time, Gail Porter takes a tell-all journey into her past.

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Inside Museums Ulster Museum

At a time when we cannot travel, we can use art to explore the world.

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Belfast to Baghdad

In 1990, a group of men from Northern Ireland were held as human shields by Saddam Hussein. From their front seat in history, this is their remarkable story.

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Emergency Rescue Air, Land and Sea

Join Her Majesty’s Coastguard ‘search and rescue’ helicopters, volunteer land squads and Mountain Rescue Teams.

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The Children's Hospital

Exploring the lives of patients and staff at one of Scotland’s busiest, most advanced children’s hospitals.

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The War Next Door: Scotland and the Troubles

Two part series hears the frank opinions and moving memories of Scottish people who were involved in the Troubles.

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Beechgrove

BRAND NEW SERIES - starting soon!

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My First Communion

We follow four little girls in the months leading up to their First Holy Communion: a day they will never forget.

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Highland Road Rescue

Following the life and work of a tight knit recovery family in the Scottish Highlands.

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The Battle of Skye Bridge

After centuries of Bonnie Boats speeding Over the Sea to Skye, in 1995 a new bridge was built between the island and the mainland.

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Darren McGarvey's Scotland

In Darren McGarvey’s Scotland, the activist and prizewinning author confronts one of the biggest issues that face one in five of us: the rampant rise of poverty and inequality.

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Make A Wish for Christmas

In this heart warming series, we go behind the scenes to get to know these extraordinary dream makers as they sprinkle their fairy dust and work like mad to pull off the impossible.

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A Year to Save My Life: George McGavin and Melanoma

After being diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of malignant melanoma, Dr George McGavin embarks on a highly emotional and deeply personal journey as he goes through treatment for his cancer.

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Mountain Rescue - Our Lives

Embedding in mid-winter with one of the busiest Mountain Rescue teams in the UK, Our Lives reveals the extraordinary characters who are the volunteers saving lives in the notorious Cairngorms.

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Extreme Football Russia

Crossing the vast and varied country to show you Russia as you’ve never seen it before – through the prism of football.

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The Stalker

In this intimate portrait of an unique Highland way of life, we follow Alex Macdonald, a fourth generation stalker, through the ferocity of one of Scotland’s worst winters to the high heat of summer.

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The Forest

Join the amazing men and women who live and work in the place known as Scotland's 'Highlands in the Lowlands'.

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Ian Lavender's Home Front Heroes

Ian Lavender meets the men and women who were just teenagers when they served on the Home Front during WWII.

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The Good Terrorist

If your father had killed someone and injured dozens, how would you feel?

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Air Ambulance ER

This astonishing series tells the stories of the men and women who save lives daily as they take A&E to the roadside.

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The Best King We Never Had

Paul Murton takes us on a journey to investigate the mysterious disappearance from history of a forgotten Scottish prince.

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Big Fish Man

Jakub Vagner’s dedicated his life to catching the world’s biggest fish. Now he’s heading out to some of the most inaccessible waters on the planet.

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The Mountain

A unique insight in to modern Highland life...

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The River

A six part observational documentary series charting the lives of those who work and play along the great border river: Tweed.

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Donald Campbell: Speed King

The definitive story of the fastest man on earth - told by those who knew him best.

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Wildlife Patrol

Following the work of Britain's wildlife crime officers as they protect and preserve our indigenous species.

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The Harbour

Aberdeen Harbour is one of Britain's oldest businesses and one of Europe's most modern ports...

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The Father, the Son & the Housekeeper

Quadruple award winning documentary about Ireland’s ‘pop star priest’, Father Michael Cleary.

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Breaking The Silence

In 2008 in Dungannon, 12 people died by suicide. No note, no reason.

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Bomb Squad Men: The Long Walk

Sometimes you walk quickly to get there quickly, sometimes you walk slowly because you don't want to get there

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Chancers

An extremely hard hitting ob doc series about a unique rehabilitation centre for persistent young offenders.

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Life's Too Short

Award winning documentary maker, David Peat, tackles the last taboo - dying

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Gutted

This BAFTA winning film tells the story of fishermen and their families when the white fish industry collapses.

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Please Leave the Light On

Award-winning doc portraying the Cape Wrath lighthouse, the last manned lighthouse, before it undergoes automation.

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Jim McColl at 80

Fellow squeezebox player, Phil Cunningham accompanies Jim along the garden path of his life.

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Teacher Teacher

Follows 6 of the 240 graduates at Aberdeen University over the course of their training year, facing the reality of classroom life.

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Real Crime: Diamond Geezers

This is the story of the plan to steal the world's largest perfect diamond from the Millennium Dome - and how it all went wrong

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Real Crime: The Tesco Bomber

The story of the flawed terror campaign to blackmail Tesco out of millions of pounds.

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The Family Farm

How will 3 traditional family farms near one of the UK’s last "market towns" fight for survival against the severest CAP reforms in 50 years?

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The Chicken People

This plucky series keeps viewers abreast of the workings of the chicken industry from farm to fork.

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The Fantasy Club

An exceptionally intimate portrait of the lives of lap dancers when they are not dancing.

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The Man Who Shrank the World

In the mid nineteenth century, a handful of visionaries embarked on a quest to change the world forever.

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12 Miles

At the closest point Scotland and the North Antrim Coast are just twelve miles apart...

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Wonder Women

Six women who work in jobs normally associated with men open their worlds up to us.

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Documentary

Our Lives: The Secret Lives of Lighthouse Keepers

Darren McGarvey: The State We're In

David Wilson's Crime Files

Darren McGarvey's Addictions

Critical Incident

The Last Stone

Emergency Helicopter Medics

My Greatest Shot

Giving it Stick

Our Lives: Lumberjill

Inside the Zoo

Aberdeen Harbour - Our Lives

After 9/11: Scotland's Story

Mr Brown’s Boys

Thatcher vs The Miners

Darren McGarvey's Class Wars

The Secret Science of Sewage

Black and Scottish

Being Gail Porter

Inside Museums Ulster Museum

Belfast to Baghdad

Emergency Rescue Air, Land and Sea

The Children's Hospital

The War Next Door: Scotland and the Troubles

Beechgrove

My First Communion

Highland Road Rescue

The Battle of Skye Bridge

Darren McGarvey's Scotland

Make A Wish for Christmas

A Year to Save My Life: George McGavin and Melanoma

Mountain Rescue - Our Lives

Extreme Football Russia

The Stalker

The Forest

Ian Lavender's Home Front Heroes

The Good Terrorist

Air Ambulance ER

The Best King We Never Had

Big Fish Man

The Mountain

The River

Donald Campbell: Speed King

Wildlife Patrol

The Harbour

The Father, the Son & the Housekeeper

Breaking The Silence

Bomb Squad Men: The Long Walk

Chancers

Life's Too Short

Gutted

Please Leave the Light On

Jim McColl at 80

Teacher Teacher

Real Crime: Diamond Geezers

Real Crime: The Tesco Bomber

The Family Farm

The Chicken People

The Fantasy Club

The Man Who Shrank the World

12 Miles

Wonder Women