When to watch the Aberfan anniversary documentaries on BBC and S4C

Two documentaries about Aberfan are scheduled on BBC One Wales on Monday 19 October, ahead of the 60th anniversary of the disaster on 21 October. The evening begins with Aberfan: The Village That Fought Back at 9pm. Unseen: The Aberfan Portraits follows at 10.40pm, according to the BBC’s published Wales schedule.

The campaign after the disaster

The Village That Fought Back examines the community’s campaign for the remaining coal tips above Aberfan to be removed. The BBC describes a fight with the government over justice and safety after the disaster. The programme page lists a running time of 59 minutes and Ceri Isfryn as director. BBC One Wales carries the 9pm broadcast in Wales; the programme is also listed on BBC Two outside Wales. Its BBC page says it will be available shortly after broadcast.

Portraits and a separate S4C programme

Unseen: The Aberfan Portraits is a 14-minute documentary about a collection of portraits and what they have meant to bereaved families. The current programme page lists its BBC One Wales broadcast at 10.40pm on 19 October. It is not currently available on iPlayer. Alex Jones: Un diwrnod yn Aberfan is a separate programme. Its BBC listing for S4C gives a first broadcast of Sunday 18 October at 8pm and a further showing on Wednesday 21 October at 10pm. The 48-minute documentary follows the presenter’s visit to Aberfan 60 years after the disaster.

Check the programme listings

The broadcast dates above come from the broadcasters’ own programme pages, checked on 14 October. Schedules can change, so use the linked listings for the latest times and availability. Cover has separately reported the national minute’s silence, museum displays and the new immersive learning experience. This guide concerns the television programmes; it does not describe a new public remembrance event.