Episode 6

CATALONIA – JAMES MATES

After recent turmoil in Catalonia revealed the depth of divisions between the Catalan government in Barcelona and the Spanish authorities in Madrid, Europe Editor James Mates asks whether there really is a desire for independence in the majority of Catalan homes. He also investigates whether the recent actions of the national government have pushed the pressure for an independence vote to critical, and looks into the history behind the movement that could reshape Spain as we know it.

SATIRE AND TRUMP – MARTIN GEISSLER

What happens when reality is too surreal for satire? One year on from the US election, correspondent Martin Geissler travels to New York to explore how American satirists and comedians have dealt with the Trump administration. Martin meets Trump impersonators, political cartoonists and satirists to ask whether we are living in the golden age of political comedy.

THE RAREST PASTA IN THE WORLD – MARY NIGHTINGALE

Mary Nightingale travels to a tiny village in Sardinia to meet Paola Abriani, a 62 year old grandmother who can make su filindeu (‘threads of God') – the rarest pasta in the world. It's a family tradition. Paola is one of only three women who can make it - the other two are her niece and sister-in-law. Last year, a team of engineers from Barilla pasta came to see if they could reproduce her technique with a machine, but they couldn't. The sacred dish has only been served to the faithful who complete a 20-mile pilgrimage on foot or horseback from Nuoro to the village of Lula for the biannual Feast of San Francesco. Mary follows the 1,500 pilgrims as they descend on Lula, to discovers what makes this delicate pasta so special.