Arena
Series Overview
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. Voted by leading TV executives in Broadcast as one of the top 50 most influential programmes of all time, it has run since 1 October 1975 with over five hundred episodes made, directed by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Alan Yentob, Roly Keating, Frederick Baker, Volker Schlondorff and Vikram Jayanti. Arena's subjects are a roll-call of the world's best known cultural figures from the 20th and 21st centuries, from singers Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse to academics Edward Said and Eric Hobsbawm, from writers Jean Genet and V S Naipaul to artists Francis Bacon and Louise Bourgeois. The current series editor is Anthony Wall.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
1 Season • 692 Episodes
90 min per episode
1975 – Present
Premiered: Wed, Oct 1, 1975
Creative Production Team
Latest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 686: “Maria Callas: The Final Act”
In this new film from Arena, a cast of musical experts and admirers uncover the truth about the Maria Callas myth and the gift of her extraordinary voice.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Nicholas Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, John Read
Adam Low, Debbie Geller, Anthony Wall, Alan Yentob, Diana Mansfield
Department Leadership Roster
Nicholas Shakespeare
Writer
Adam Low
Producer
Debbie Geller
Producer
Anthony Wall
Producer
Harold Pinter
Writer
John Read
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Arena.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Arena
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is Arena about?
Arena is a British television documentary series, made and broadcast by the BBC. Voted by leading TV executives in Broadcast as one of the top 50 most influential programmes of all time, it has run since 1 October 1975 with over five hundred episodes made, directed by the likes of Martin Scorsese, Alan Yentob, Roly Keating, Frederick Baker, Volker Schlondorff and Vikram Jayanti. Arena's subjects are a roll-call of the world's best known cultural figures from the 20th and 21st centuries, from singers Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse to academics Edward Said and Eric Hobsbawm, from writers Jean Genet and V S Naipaul to artists Francis Bacon and Louise Bourgeois. The current series editor is Anthony Wall.
How many seasons does Arena have?
Arena comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in Arena?
Key cast members in Arena include Not specified.
Who created or directed Arena?
Arena was developed and directed by Not specified.