A bit late in posting, but knowing how often they repeat programmes on BBC4, it will be on again. 'Canals: The Making of a Nation'. A very good 6 part series, looking at the history of the canals. Obviously Birmingham and the Black Country feature heavily. The last programme dealing with the future of the canals is mostly centered on Birmingham and how well they came out of the industrial age, re-invented themselves and the canal network. Great views of Birmingham and unusually for the BBC, complimentary comments about Birmingham.
BUT, as this was the BBC I do have an old gripe. The BBC basically dislikes Birmingham and rarely misses an opportunity to have a dig. Recently BBC news was at the opening of the refurbished New Street station. Sir Digby gave his usual positive outlook on the city.
And then we get the predictable old put down. I think every BBC journalist is trained like this, Oh you are going to speak about Birmingham, then don't forget to include the old Telly Savalas film. This is the short film that Telly Savalas did the voiceover in
1980 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoHVO1eSMFc. Everytime the BBC wish to laugh at Brum they show a clip from this film. As good as Canals: The Making of a Nation was, they just couldn't help themselves they had to include a clip from Savalas. Telly did the same time of film for Portsmouth and Aberdeen, but they have been given the dignity of resting in peace, just as they should be.
Gripe over.