Talking Pictures
Talking Pictures is a TV show on BBC2. A look back at television appearances by legends of the silver screen, using archive footage to tell the story of their lives and careers. The program has been available since 2024. A total of 22 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in June 2025.
Last episode
Talking Pictures
Celia Imrie tells the story of the 1960 epic Spartacus, starring Kirk Douglas, revealing how the film, which was then the most expensive of all time, made it onto the big screen.
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The story of the Hollywood musical, featuring interviews with stars from the genre's golden age, as well as some of the directors and songwriters who helped create them.
A look back at television appearances made over the years by the Oscar-winning actor Sir John Mills, capturing the milestones of his life and career.
Celia Imrie celebrates the cinema’s marvellous musicals, venturing back through the BBC’s archives to look at film’s most joyous and arguably enduring genre.
A look at the life of acting legend Michael Caine, using rarely seen television interviews and classic archive clips to tell the story of one of Britain's most successful actors.
Sylvia Syms looks at the handsome heroes, gorgeous heroines, pin-ups and bombshells who came to be known as cinema's greatest sex symbols, hearing from the stars themselves.
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Jack Lemmon, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
An examination of the life of actor Paul Newman, using rarely seen interviews from the BBC archives to tell the story of a career that made him one of Hollywood's greatest stars.
A look at the life and work of the late Richard Attenborough, with interviews and archive clips illustrating a career that has made him one of cinema's most popular figures.
Episodes 2024
Celia Imrie unwraps a selection of the very best Christmas movies ever made and looks at why films are such an important part of the festive ritual.
Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actors, Dame Judi Dench.
Celia Imrie takes a look at some of the leading ladies who’ve proved time and again, year after year, that they are amongst the very best of British talent.
A look back at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood legend Bette Davis, capturing the milestones of her life and career. Narrated by Sylvia Syms.
Sylvia Syms presents rarely seen footage from the BBC archives that explores the life and career of one of Britain's best-loved actresses, Maggie Smith.
Sylvia Syms looks back on the legendary leading ladies of Hollywood - the glamorous and often powerful stars who helped define what it was to be a woman in cinema's golden age.
An examination of the life and career of one of cinema's most glamorous stars, Sophia Loren, with rarely seen archive material telling the story of her hugely successful career.
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall, following the changes and highlights of her life and career.
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Hollywood director Alfred Hitchcock, capturing the highlights of his life and career.
To this day, Alfred Hitchcock is looked on as one of cinema's best and most influential directors. But how did the stars of his films find working with the great man?
A look back at the life of actress Debbie Reynolds. In a selection of rare interviews, Debbie discusses her favourite film roles and her relationship with daughter Carrie Fisher.