Panorama
Season 2012
TV-PG
Long-running factual programme reporting on all aspects of life in Britain.
Where to Watch Season 2012
49 Episodes
- Stephen Lawrence: Time For Justice
E1Stephen Lawrence: Time For JusticeOn verdict day of one of the most eagerly awaited trials in recent history, this Panorama Special on the Stephen Lawrence case reveals the untold story of the murder that changed Britain. For more than a year, reporter Mark Daly and the Panorama team have exclusively followed Stephen's mother Doreen Lawrence as her 18-year fight for justice for her murdered son neared its conclusion. This moving film charts the history of this iconic case through the eyes of a grieving mother, and reports the inside account of the trial of the two men accused of the black teenager's killing. - Hunting the Internet Bullies
E4Hunting the Internet BulliesOnline bullying is rapidly growing in size and intensity. A new breed of self-styled "trolls" are stalking social networking websites, aiming their vicious attacks at victims who range from TV celebrities to grieving teenagers. Declan Lawn meets X Factor star Cher Lloyd, who describes how cyber attacks are ruining her life, and highlights a new survey revealing that one in thirteen young people face persistent online bullying. Panorama tracks down some of the bullies and asks: what more could be done to stop them? - Poor America
E5Poor AmericaPanorama's Hilary Andersson comes face to face with the reality of poverty in America and finds that, for some, the last resort has become life in a tented encampment. Just off the side of a motorway on the fringes of the picturesque town of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a mismatched collection of 30 tents tucked in the woods has become home - home to those who are either unemployed, or whose wages are so low that they can no longer afford to pay rent. Conditions are unhygienic. There are no toilets and electricity is only available in the one communal tent where the campers huddle around a wood stove for warmth in the heart of winter. Ice weighs down the roofs of tents, and rain regularly drips onto the sleeping campers' faces. Tent cities have sprung up in and around at least 55 American cities - they represent the bleak reality of America's poverty crisis. - The Cost of Raising Britain
E7The Cost of Raising BritainWith nurseries and childminders costing families up to a third of their income, and working mums feeling squeezed out of the workplace, Panorama investigates the rising cost of childcare. Shelley Jofre meets a family who moved abroad for a better deal, and reveals why budget cuts are forcing some parents to consider taking over their own nurseries. - The Money Farmers
E8The Money FarmersSamantha Poling reveals how millions of pounds of public money are being paid out to businessmen and millionaire farmers in an abuse of the farming subsidy system. Investors tell us how they have been paid without having to do any farming at all. And Samantha also sets out to see if she can take advantage of the subsidy system and become rich from the loophole. The programme also examines the rest of the subsidy system and hears criticism of large payments to wealthy individuals like the Queen and the Duke of Westminster simply on the basis of owning large amounts of land. - Homs: Journey into Hell
E9Homs: Journey into HellBBC reporter Paul Wood, who has only just come out of Syria, charts the rise and brutal suppression of the uprising in the Syrian city of Homs. During the past four months, he and cameraman Fred Scott have been smuggled in and out of the city and surrounding areas - crawling for miles through unlit drainage tunnels to witness first-hand the Syrian government's bombardment of the city and its people. Their time in and around Homs charts the progress of the uprising there - from its start with hope of revolution, to following the refugees now fleeing the city to escape retribution at the hands of President Assad's security forces and angry with the rebel forces they believe have deserted them and left them to their fate. - Britain's Crimes of Honour
E10Britain's Crimes of HonourThousands of crimes in Britain are going unreported: beatings, imprisonment - even murder - committed by those closest to the victims, their families. These are crimes of so-called 'honour'. With access to police investigations, Panorama reveals the shocking details of 'honour' killings, of women driven to suicide and also hears from those on the run, in fear of their lives. The UK's lead prosecutor on 'honour' crimes says he will not tolerate multicultural sensitivities when it comes to this issue and a leading campaigner accuses her own community leaders of a failure of leadership in not speaking out against this abuse. - Murdoch's TV Pirates
E11Murdoch's TV PiratesAs Rupert Murdoch faces accusations of law-breaking and corruption at his British tabloid newspapers, Panorama reveals fresh hacking allegations striking at the heart of News Corporation's pay-TV empire. The investigation examines the role of former senior police officers in recruiting people to break the law - in order to bring down Murdoch's commercial rival. Vivian White reveals fresh allegations of hacking at the heart of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, this time involving its pay-TV services. The investigation examines the alleged role of former senior police officers in recruiting people to break the law in order to bring down one of the media mogul's commercial rivals. Postponed from Monday March 12. - The Honeymoon Murder
E12The Honeymoon MurderWith exclusive access to CCTV footage never before seen publicly, this Panorama special examines in detail the hours leading up to the death of Anni Dewani while on honeymoon in Cape Town. The film investigates the case against her husband Shrien, currently fighting in UK courts to avoid extradition to South Africa to stand trial for her murder. Did the wealthy businessman engage a taxi driver to arrange his wife's death, or is he wrongly accused? The CCTV images reveal a different side to the couple than has so far been portrayed. - The Great Apprentice Scandal
E13The Great Apprentice ScandalWith one in five young people out of work, life for many is just one long rejection letter. The government believe that apprenticeships offer a way forward and promise a million more by next year at the cost of more than a billion pounds of public money. But what is the reality behind the return of the apprentice? Panorama investigates a story of poor quality training, of disappointed young people, and highlights the example of some training companies who are making a killing out of public funds. Reporter Shelley Jofre speaks to insiders who are blowing the whistle and hears claims of forged and doctored paperwork and of apprentices who are entering the world of work without proper training, work experience or qualifications. - Billionaires Behaving Badly?
E15Billionaires Behaving Badly?It's the biggest company you've never heard of. Glencore - a commodity giant that trades huge quantities of wheat, coal and much of the world's copper. John Sweeney talks exclusively to its boss, Ivan Glasenberg, who became a billionaire five times over when the company was listed on the London stock exchange last year. But, in Congo and Colombia, Glencore stands accused of reckless greed. Panorama investigates. - Undercover: Elderly Care
E16Undercover: Elderly CarePanorama reveals the appalling treatment of an elderly care home resident with dementia, captured on film after a concerned relative hid a secret camera. The abuse - in a care home passed as "excellent" by the national regulator, the Care Quality Commission - has led to five care workers being sacked, with one pleading guilty to assault. It was recorded by a secret camera placed in the elderly woman's bedroom by her daughter, who speaks for the first time about what happened. Fiona Phillips, whose parents suffered from dementia and whose mother died in a care home, investigates whether the regulator and care home provider did enough to prevent such abuse and asks whether the system of elderly care itself can be trusted. - Madeleine: The Last Hope?
E17Madeleine: The Last Hope?Five years ago next week, Madeleine McCann disappeared from a family holiday apartment in the Algarve, Portugal. Why has the little girl, aged three when she went missing, never been found? Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, are adamant that their daughter was abducted. Frustrated by Portuguese police and public opinion that viewed them with suspicion, Madeleine's parents persuaded prime minister David Cameron to order a review of the case. Is this new investigation, by a top unit of the Metropolitan Police, the last chance of discovering what happened? For the first time, the senior UK investigator tells Panorama how he is working collaboratively with Portuguese police and explains why he believes he has the best opportunity yet to help solve the mystery of Madeleine McCann. - The Truth About Tax
E18The Truth About TaxAggressive tax avoidance was branded 'morally repugnant' by the chancellor in the last budget. But what does he mean? Panorama investigates how some of the UK's most famous companies are using a tax haven at the heart of Europe to save millions in tax. Armed with a cache of secret documents, the programme reveals how global names have received big tax breaks on billion-pound transactions in the tiny country of Luxembourg. They say legal tax efficiency is good news for shareholders. In these austere times, Darragh MacIntyre asks: is big business paying its fair share? - Eurovision's Dirty Secret
E19Eurovision's Dirty SecretPanorama goes undercover inside Azerbaijan, the host country of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, to discover the extraordinary truth about this secretive country and its approach to the world's most watched non-sporting event. Reporter Paul Kenyon finds out how the contest has been used as a tool of intimidation: viewers have been interrogated for voting for the nation's long-term enemy, Armenia; a protest singer has been told to flee before Eurovision or he will be thrown in jail; and dozens have had their homes bulldozed to make way for the Eurovision event itself. The US embassy in Baku has compared the ruling family to the Mafia. The regime has held onto power through a combination of rigged elections, jailing opponents, and by irregular control of the country's vast oil wealth. So, why did the organisers of the world's best-loved music event agree to host it in Azerbaijan? - Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate
E20Euro 2012: Stadiums of HateWith just days to go before the kick-off of the Euro 2012 championships, Panorama reveals shocking new evidence of racist violence and anti-Semitism at the heart of Polish and Ukrainian football and asks whether tournament organiser UEFA should have chosen both nations to host the prestigious event. Reporter Chris Rogers witnesses a group of Asian fans being attacked on the terraces of a Ukrainian premier league match and hears anti-Semitic chanting at games in Poland. And with exclusive access to a far right group in Ukraine which recruits and trains football hooligans to attack foreigners, Panorama asks: how safe will travelling football teams and their supporters be at this summer's European festival of football? - Life and Debt: A Greek Tragedy
E21Life and Debt: A Greek TragedyVeteran reporter John Humphrys has enjoyed a 20-year love affair with Greece, which is home to his son and grandchildren. With the debt-laden country voting in a new election which could signpost the future of Europe, Humphrys meets ordinary Greeks to investigate the harsh truth about the austerity measures which have helped bring the country to its current crisis. - Call Centres Undercover
E22Call Centres UndercoverBritain is being affected by an 'epidemic' of unsolicited and unwanted calls and texts. With an estimated three billion marketing calls and messages received every year, Panorama goes undercover to expose how some firms are getting round the regulations designed to protect consumers. - Britain on the Brink: Back to the 70s?
E23Britain on the Brink: Back to the 70s?Britain today is suffering the longest peacetime slump in decades. Our economy is in a double-dip recession for the first time since 1975. Panorama asks whether Britain is ready and able to cope with a new age of austerity with surprising echoes of the 1970s. Reporter Adam Shaw examines if we're about to suffer the same social and political upheaval that emerged from that decade. - Britain's Biggest Waste Dumpers
E24Britain's Biggest Waste DumpersReporter Raphael Rowe tracks down some of Britain's biggest illegal fly-tippers - criminals who have pocketed tens of thousands of pounds handed over by motorists to recycle their used tyres. Money that was meant to protect the environment has instead vanished, leaving our countryside littered with massive piles of used tyres - many large enough to be seen from space. - The Truth About Sports Products
E25The Truth About Sports ProductsAs many of us try to get fitter in this Olympic summer, Panorama investigates the sports products that promise to boost your performance. Are those pricey trainers worth the money? Can sports drinks really help you work out for longer? Are protein shakes any more effective at honing the physique than ordinary food? With exclusive access to the findings from a unique study by the British Medical Journal and Oxford University, reporter Shelley Jofre tests the science behind the bold advertising claims made by some of sport's biggest brands. - Disabled or Faking It?
E26Disabled or Faking It?Panorama investigates the government's plans to end the so-called 'sick note culture' and their attempts to get millions of people off disability benefits and into work. In Britain's modern welfare state, millions are being paid to private companies to assess sick and disabled claimants but is the system working? Or are new tests wrongly victimising those who deserve support the most? - Rats, Traps, Bugs and Cutbacks
E27Rats, Traps, Bugs and CutbacksRats, bedbugs, cockroaches: pests we may all have to learn to live with more in the future, according to environmental health experts. Budget cuts mean some councils are disbanding their pest control teams while others are now charging for services which had been free. Will this lead to more pests and the diseases they carry? - Justice Denied: The Greatest Scandal?
E28Justice Denied: The Greatest Scandal?The case of the Cardiff Three - wrongly convicted of murder in 1992 - refuses to go away. Twenty years after a BBC Panorama investigation helped to clear the original men, the same team returns to investigate why the trial against the police officers accused of perverting the course of justice collapsed last year, and asks: is this the biggest scandal in British legal history? - Kony: Hunt for the World's Most Wanted
E29Kony: Hunt for the World's Most WantedSomewhere in the vast, dense jungles of central Africa, is hidden Joseph Kony, one of the world's most wanted men. For the past 25 years, Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army have waged one of the continent's darkest conflicts; using an army of abducted and brutalised children to kill and maim tens of thousands of people. But how has one man, said to take his orders from the spirit world, managed to escape capture for so long? In the wake of the infamous 'Kony 2012' internet campaign to bring him to justice this year, Bafta-winning reporter, Sorious Samura, investigates the myths surrounding Kony and travels to the front line of the fight to bring one of Africa's most bizarre and brutal leaders to justice. - Dial 999... and Wait?
E30Dial 999... and Wait?With police, fire and ambulance services facing cuts in public spending, Panorama examines the effect on 999 response times. Declan Lawn reveals the areas where people needing immediate help from our emergency services are left waiting, and investigates claims that lives are being put at risk. - Trouble on the Estate
E32Trouble on the EstateDrugs, anti-social behaviour, family break-ups and joblessness: all part of life on Britain's poorest housing estates. Filming with families, kids and police, as well as undercover with drug dealers, Panorama spent months on one estate in Blackburn finding out what it's like to live and grow up there. There's eight-year-old Oshi who is desperate to see his dad after a two year absence. Jordan, who at only 15, is threatening to leave his family home because of the trouble and 20-year-old Jessie, whose behaviour frightens other residents and keeps landing him in prison. Richard Bilton asks, is this really a picture of 'Broken Britain' - a place at the edge of where the state can make a difference? - Reading, Writing and Rip-Offs
E34Reading, Writing and Rip-OffsPanorama investigates the computer supply companies whose directors have grown rich signing up hundreds of schools across the country to deals that have taken them to the brink of bankruptcy. Parents are usually unaware that their school can be carrying debts of up to £1.9 million for overpriced or sub-standard equipment. - Undercover: Debt on the Doorstep
E35Undercover: Debt on the DoorstepThe economy is showing few signs of recovery, but one area of business is doing well: door-to-door loans. Panorama investigates the debt business, a world of cash on the doorstep and high interest rates. We go undercover to reveal the tactics of the trade: the real costs of a loan and the techniques which mean that some customers may never clear their debt. And we find victims - the vulnerable and mentally ill, who are sold loans in apparent breach of industry guidelines. - Britain's Secret Health Tourists
E36Britain's Secret Health TouristsDeclan Lawn reports on how 'health tourists' are obtaining free NHS treatment they should be paying for - at a cost of millions to our health service. Panorama goes undercover inside a black market where NHS access is being bought and sold, and finds an NHS practice manager taking money to register health tourists. Declan also discovers how easy it is for foreign nationals to get free treatment - with many hospitals across the country not making the required checks. - Return of the Supergrass
E37Return of the SupergrassThe recent shootings of two Manchester policewomen have highlighted Britain's problem with violent crime. Now a previously-discredited weapon is being used to try to fight the most serious and organised crime - the supergrass, criminals prepared to turn on their own and give evidence in court. Panorama investigates the remarkable deals that these often violent gangsters are being offered to become the next generation of supergrasses. The agreements have led to gunmen getting off life sentences. A teenage gang member has also escaped prosecution, despite helping to cover up a fatal shooting. And Panorama reveals cases where the credibility of the supergrass is already in question. - Kill at Will? America on Trial
E38Kill at Will? America on TrialAhead of America's costliest-ever elections, Raphael Rowe investigates how powerful lobby groups helped create laws blamed for one of the most controversial killings in recent US history. The shooting dead of a 17-year-old teenager by a neighbourhood watchman polarised America, provoked presidential intervention and shone a light on an extreme American law, called 'Stand Your Ground'. It provides immunity from prosecution or, as some say, a 'License to Kill'. But does gun politics also show how America really works? Panorama asks: is American democracy for sale? - The Hospital That Stopped Caring
E40The Hospital That Stopped CaringLast year BBC Panorama exposed the violent abuse of people with learning disabilities at Winterbourne View hospital outside Bristol. Now, using undercover footage never seen before, the programme reveals new evidence of poor training and false record-keeping. A number of former patients have faced further assaults or unnecessary restraints in other care establishments. Following the closure of Winterbourne View, and as 11 of its former staff are sentenced in court, Panorama asks: are the most vulnerable people in society any better protected? - Gambling Nation
E41Gambling NationEven in recession-hit Britain, the gambling industry is still making a profit - £5.6 billion last year. With casino-style gambling now available day or night at the touch of a button in our homes and on our phones, Panorama explores its popularity... and reveals a darker side. Reporter Sophie Raworth hears from those who have found their lives spiralling out of control, and from industry insiders who say violence and frustration, linked to fast-paced high-stake gambling machines, are increasing in our high street betting shops. Panorama goes undercover in some of Britain's bookies to test those claims. - Badgers: Dodging the Bullet?
E42Badgers: Dodging the Bullet?Last month, days before it was due to start, the government suddenly postponed its controversial badger cull. The plan was to shoot thousands of badgers to try to control the spread of tuberculosis in cattle. Animal rights activists were ready for the biggest clash in the countryside since fox hunting was banned, while scientists questioned the evidence justifying the cull. In the face of this opposition, Panorama asks, will the government have the stomach to enforce the badger cull next year? - The Mind Reader: Unlocking My Voice
E43The Mind Reader: Unlocking My VoiceIn a world exclusive, Panorama follows a group of severely brain injured patients and reveals the revolutionary efforts made to help them communicate with their families and the outside world. Never before filmed, this Panorama Special spent more than a year with a group of vegetative patients in Britain and Canada. They witness the moment when a patient regarded as vegetative for more than a decade is able to answer a series of questions whilst inside a brain scanner. The findings have profound implications for the patients and their families, as well as ethical consequences for scientists and medical staff. - Who's Watching the Detectives?
E44Who's Watching the Detectives?As the Independent Police Complaints Commission is handed the investigation into Hillsborough, the biggest policing scandal in UK history, reporter Mark Daly investigates whether the body that polices the police is fit for purpose. Panorama hears from families who say they have been failed by the police watchdog and examines growing concerns that it does not have sufficient power or the independence to hold the police to account. - How Safe is Your Hospital?
E46How Safe is Your Hospital?The NHS is under huge pressure with increasing demand, limited finances and facing the largest reorganization in its history. With the latest data on hospital death rates, Panorama reveals poor patient care is putting thousands of people at risk of death or serious injury every year. Many of these problems were first highlighted five years ago during the scandal at Stafford Hospital when hundreds of people died unnecessarily. Despite assurances that it could never happen again, reporter Declan Lawn finds serious ongoing problems in trusts across the country - and a systemic failure to act on warnings that patients are being put at risk. - The Secret Drone War
E47The Secret Drone WarAmerica's CIA is fighting a secret war in the badlands of Pakistan - targeting al Qaeda and other militants with hellfire missiles in drone strikes that the UN says are illegal. No one knows the true number who have died, but it is estimated that the death toll may be around 3,000 - some of them, it is claimed, innocent women and children. Panorama goes to Waziristan, one of the most dangerous places in the world, to report on the drone war and to find out from its victims why they are seeking justice in the British courts
