imagine... - Season 39

imagine… profiles acclaimed British director Stephen Frears. Despite decades of success across both cinema and television, Frears likes to fly under the radar, subscribing to Billy Wilder's maxim, ‘The best director is the one you don't see'. He has helmed an array of critically acclaimed films - My Beautiful Laundrette, The Grifters, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen and Philomena, to name just a few. Some say he's notoriously grumpy, others that he's mischievous and misunderstood. Now for the first time, Frears opens up about his life and career. What drives this 81-year-old, who has over 70 productions to his name across cinema and television?

The programme follows Frears as he embarks on his latest project in Vienna – a new drama series for HBO starring Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet. Alan Yentob spends time with him in the city where The Third Man was filmed, following in the footsteps of Orson Welles's character Harry Lime on the famous Ferris wheel and down the sewers.

With contributions from Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Glenn Close, Hugh Grant, John Malkovich, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Hanif Kureishi, Christopher Hampton and film critic Ellen E Jones.

imagine... tells the story of Aviva Studios, Manchester's colossal new cultural venue, and goes behind the scenes at the world premiere of its opening production, Free Your Mind.

imagine... follows celebrated British TV writer Russell T Davies as he prepares to return as the showrunner of Doctor Who – with two Doctors and bigger ambitions.

imagine... profiles the UK's most successful double act of the last 40 years, French & Saunders, exploring a brand of comedy based on satire, silliness and, above all, friendship.

Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, are the most successful duo in the history of British pop. They have sold more than 50 million records, produced over forty Top 40 singles, four UK number ones, performed in several world tours, and they are still making new music together.

Their songs have often commented on Britain and the world around them with wit, sensitivity and intelligence driving the stories they want to share through some of the most memorable synth-pop music ever created.

Maintaining their privacy and mystique has kept cameras at bay for decades and now for the first time they have allowed backstage access as Alan Yentob and imagine... accompany them on their global Dreamworld tour - filming rehearsals in London and backstage in Helsinki.

Spring 2024 sees the release of their latest album, Nonetheless, which comes 40 years after the original release of their timeless hit West End Girls. imagine... is given a sneak preview of the new album and talks to Tennant and Lowe about its creation and their creative evolution over the past four decades.

Contributors include fellow musicians Brandon Flowers, Jake Shears, Olly Alexander and Marc Almond, music journalist Miranda Sawyer, and creative collaborators Stuart Price, James Ford, Es Devlin, Javier De Frutos, Tom Scutt and Mark Farrow.

This is an intimate look inside the world and creations of Pet Shop Boys with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe unguarded, poignant and hilarious.