BBC Four launched on the 2nd March 2002 as “a place to think”. 20 years later, one of the channel’s main achievements is being celebrated through a collection of over 20 boxsets.
After two decades on air, the channel is best known for its Top of the Pops replays and bringing international drama such as Borgen and Young Montalbano on to UK television screens.
To celebrate 20 years of BBC Four drama, a collection of the best international dramas has been launched on the BBC iPlayer. The collection takes audiences on a thrilling journey from Denmark to Italy, via Wales, France, Iceland, Norway and Canada and includes the classic series Borgen, available on the BBC for the first time in nearly a decade.
International Drama boxsets | BBC iPlayer – March 2022
- BORGEN (Denmark)
- The Bridge (Sweden/Denmark)
- Spiral (France)
- The Killing (Denmark)
- The Promise (France)
- Young Montalbano (Italy)
- Paris Police 1900 (France)
- The Hunt for a Killer (Sweden)
- Twin (Norway)
- Cardinal (Canada)
- Hidden (Wales)
- Beck (Sweden)
- Inspector Montalbano (Italy)
- Missions (France)
- Darkness: Those Who Kill and Blinded: Those Who Kill (Denmark)
- Stieg Larsson’s MILLENNIUM (Sweden)
- State of Happiness (Norway)
- Wisting (Norway)
- DNA (Denmark)
- The Valhalla Murders (Iceland)
How BBC Four opened up international dramas to the UK
When BBC Four first began picking up international drama, it was not common to see foreign language programmes with English subtitles in primetime hours.
This meant dramas were mostly from the UK, North America, Australia or New Zealand. Streaming services hadn’t yet come on to the scene to offer viewers an alternative, meaning BBC Four secured a niche in the market.
Now it is common place for streaming providers including Netflix to offer viewers dramas with English subtitles, with Sky and Channel 4’s Walter Presents all offering viewers international drama.
Speaking of the arrival of the boxsets, Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisition, BBC, says:
“These boxsets are just a selection of the many wonderful international drama series that BBC Four has been proud to introduce to the UK over the years. We hope that viewers will enjoy the opportunity to become reacquainted with old friends, and take pleasure in discovering new ones.”