Network First is a wide-ranging documentary strand broadcast on ITV in the U.K. from January 1994 to December 1997, and was a part replacement for First Tuesday. Unlike other documentary series on ITV such as World in Action, Network First, was not centred on current affairs or politics, but broadcast a range of one-off programmes covering various subjects such as biography, history, and science. Programmes were usually transmitted in the 22:40 slot after News at Ten, each usually running for an hour. The strand was not "owned" by any one ITV franchise, and individual programmes were contributed by the various ITV companies. As a strand, Network First never became a household "name" - unlike the likes of World in Action or This Week - possibly because of its diverse subject matter. The series appears to have been dropped quietly by ITV in the lead up to the high-profile axing of both World in Action on 7 December 1998 and News at Ten on 5 March 1999.
Florence and Robin
Jan 4, 1994
Documentary set in San Francisco about a lesbian couple who have a long-term relationship and want a child of their own.
Women Who Kill
Jan 11, 1994
Five women explain why after years of mental and physical abuse they finally killed their partners.
An Everest to Climb
Jan 18, 1994
In October 1993 a party of climbers left for the Himalayas, including seven British mountaineers who had mental or physical disabilities. The film follows their attempts to climb the Pokalde peak in the Everest range.
Supermodels
Jan 25, 1994
A revealing look at the fashion industry with supermodels Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington. The programme goes behind the scenes at Paris Fashion Week and tells sad tales about British models trying to cope.
Bhopal: The Second Tragedy
Feb 1, 1994
Mark Tully returns to Bhopal, 10 years after the gas leak, to find that the American chemical giant has wriggled out of its responsibility towards the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster. He travels to the USA, Mexico and Brazil to find if the world has learned any lessons from Bhopal.
Nightfighters
Feb 8, 1994
Follows the formation of the 332nd fighter group in Italy during World War II, the first all black air squadron in the United States Air Force, from its beginnings in Tuskegee, Alabama in July 1941.
Children of the Holocaust
Feb 15, 1994
History of four Jewish children who survived Auschwitz.
Top Chef
Mar 1, 1994
Young chefs compete with other chefs at the Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise, cooking classic dishes against the clock. They have five hours to create two perfect dishes for a panel of chefs and cookery writers.
Ballet School
Mar 8, 1994
A behind-the-scenes look at a term in London's Central School of Ballet.
Last Voyage of the Lusitania
Mar 22, 1994
Documentary on the sinking by a U-boat of the 'Lusitania' in 1915 in which nearly 1200 men, women and children were drowned. Dr Robert Ballard investigates the wreckage to see if the ship was really carrying arms, according to the Germans.
Stigmata: A Modern Miracle?
Mar 29, 1994
A documentary examining evidence from people claiming to receive the open wounds of the stigmata. The programme features stigmatics from around the world, including the three from the UK, and throughout history from St Francis to Padre Pio. It covers the various theories that have been put forward to explain the phenomenon: multiple personality disorder, self-infliction of wounds, the psychosomatic reproduction of injuries of trauma years after the event.
The War Against the Mafia Part 1: The Founding Father
Apr 5, 1994
How America's law enforcement agencies tackled the Mafia. Concentrates on the Gambino family from 1980 to 1993. Includes secret FBI recordings, interviews and allegations that the family were responsible for the deaths of 200 people.
The War Against the Mafia Part 2: Death in the Family
Apr 12, 1994
The programme begins with the funeral of Carlo Gambino, the model for The GODFATHER. His successor, Paul Castellano, turned the Mafia into a billion dollar business by controlling New York's waste disposal and construction industries.
The War Against the Mafia Part 3: The King of Little Italy
Apr 19, 1994
The programme looks at the rise and fall of gangster, John Gotti, who took charge after arranging the murder of Paul Castellano. Bribing his way to freedom, justice finally caught up with him and he is now doing a life sentence.
Mandela: From Prison to President
Apr 26, 1994
An intimate portrait of South Africa's President-in-waiting, looking at the sacrifices Mandela made in his quest for peace and power and examines the problems he will face in the future.
Inside the Channel Tunnel
May 3, 1994
The story of the bi-lingual company Eurotunnel which has taken possession of the Channel Tunnel, opening on Friday, 6th May 1994.
The Professional Beggar
May 10, 1994
Documentary about the Orbis International Flying Eye Hospital, a charity-funded medical service that works at restoring sight to the blind in Third World countries.
Apollo: When the World Held Its Breath
Jul 26, 1994
Documentary telling the stories of Apollos 11 and 13, two of the most important missions in space exploration, revealing how close they came to fatal disasters.
Murder in the Family
Aug 8, 1994
Documentary about Roderick and Newall, the brothers accused of murdering their wealthy parents in New Jersey, USA.
Date Rape: The Investigation
Sep 6, 1994
Documentary drama of a typical "date-rape" case, using actors to represent the victim, the accused and their friends; but real professionals to represent the police, medics, judge and lawyers; followed by a dramatised trial.
Date Rape: The Trial Day 1
Sep 7, 1994
The alleged victim gives her evidence and is cross-examined.
Date Rape: The Trial Day 2
Sep 8, 1994
The prosecution witnesses are now taking the stand.
Date Rape: The Trial Day 3
Sep 9, 1994
The alleged rapist is cross-examined and the summing-up begins.
Date Rape: The Verdict
Sep 13, 1994
Follows the alleged victim's case through the Crown Court, giving her evidence to the Court and the defence demanding graphic details of the alleged rape. We hear the jury's deliberations before they reach a final verdict.
Waking from Coma
Sep 20, 1994
Report from the Royal Hospital in Putney, London, where pioneering work is carried out on severely brain-damaged patients who are in deep comas.
Inside Castro's Cuba
Sep 27, 1994
Documentary on Cuba after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Features an interview with President Fidel Castro who speaks about their economic crisis, the US economic blockade and Cuba's success in pharmaceuticals and tourism.
Miami Front Line
Oct 4, 1994
Documentary about the tragedy taking place on the coastal waters off Florida, where thousands of Cuban and Haitian refugees have perished - the victims of sharks, storms and the sun, as they flee persecution in their homeland.
The Secrets of Porton Down
Oct 11, 1994
Documentary about human guinea pigs being used at the secret Porton Down research facility to help with the development of chemical weapons. Former volunteers talk about their health problems, and about their struggle to win compensation.
Nicholas and Alexandra Part 1: Anointed by God
Oct 18, 1994
First of a two part programme about the assassination of the last Tsar, Nicholas, and his wife Alexandra amid the bloody Russian revolution. Includes testimonies, letters, diaries, photographs and tape-recorded descriptions of the murders.
Nicholas and Alexandra Part 2: The Slaying of the Tsars
Oct 25, 1994
Prince Michael of Kent reveals details of the tragic deaths of the last Tsar and his family, and the consequent discovery and identification of the family's remains in woods close to Ekaterinburg.
Stalker Investigates
Nov 1, 1994
Former deputy Chief Constable John Stalker investigates the murder of Hilda Murrell in 1984, including her involvement in anti-nuclear activities and the sinking of the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano during the Falklands War.
The Russian Love Connection
Nov 8, 1994
Documentary offers an insight into the burgeoning industry in Post-Communist Russia of supplying Russian women as brides for Western men. Also follows the women as they leave their family and friends for a new life in America.
Flying the Flag - Arming the World
Nov 15, 1994
The British arms business and its implications in World politics.
The Visit: Coma - Connie's Story
Nov 22, 1994
A return visit to Connie Taylor, who was knocked down by a car outside her house eight years ago and nearly died. Featured in THE VISIT in 1987,she was starting to recover from her coma. Now she is taking driving lessons.
The Visit: Chariots of Wire
Nov 29, 1994
Documentary about three young British businessmen who design and manufacture a revolutionary cheap wheelchair which they make available to people all over the world through a charity they set up named 'Motivation'.
The Visit: A Life for Polly
Dec 6, 1994
Documentary on Polly East, a five-year-old who has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Follows her family as she undergoes the painful and distressing course of treatment.
Between Life and Death
Dec 13, 1994
Documentary about the Near Death Experience, and scientific research which has tried to explain how people who have technically died can make astonishing recoveries and remember inexplicable encounters or religious experiences.
Talking to the Enemy
Dec 20, 1994
Documentary about IRA's foot-soldier Dermot Finucane. The programme also records the moving testimony of Robert Ewart-Briggs, whose father was blown up in 1976 by an IRA landmine, and who refuses to dismiss the IRA as criminals.
The Plague Monkeys
Jan 3, 1995
Documentary about a group of viruses, known as filoviruses, which can kill within two weeks and which are transmitted via monkeys.
UFO
Jan 10, 1995
Documentary about the phenomena of UFO sightings, and the history of authorities ignoring or debunking theories associated with them.
Love, Lies and Bigamy
Jan 17, 1995
Documentary about the experiences of four modern bigamists - three men and a woman - who were prosecuted.
The Man Who Saved Animals
Jan 24, 1995
Profile of conservationist Richard Leakey, the Director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, who for many years has been a prolific campaigner to save the world's wildlife.
Commando
Feb 7, 1995
Documentary from behind the scenes with a Royal Marines commando unit as it takes part in a dramatic training exercise in Norway.
Desperately Seeking Asylum
Feb 14, 1995
Report on the treatment of people arriving in Britain seeking asylum. Follows the stories of some of the refugees through each stage of the complicated process, and includes secretly recorded footage of a deportation taking place.
The Yardies
Feb 21, 1995
Profile of the Yardies, a crime syndicate that's more powerful than the Mafia, originating from Kingston, Jamaica, now moving into Britain and America. A special police unit has been set up to combat them.
Confronting Crime
Feb 28, 1995
Report on the pioneering work of Leeds Mediation and Reparation Service, as it brings victims and offenders face to face for the first time.
Hollywood Vice
Mar 7, 1995
Profile of the career of detective Fred Clapp, who has been with the Los Angeles Vice Squad for 25 years, involved in undercover operations into prostitution and drug dealing to the Hollywood elite.
The Troubleshooters
Mar 14, 1995
For the last 25 years Belfast's leading press agency, Pacemaker, has built up a stunning visual record of The Troubles. It's photographers have witnessed the grief and suffering of others, and have put themselves in danger to bring us those unforgettable images. In a momentous 12 months, Network First cameras have followed them as Ulster has moved from violence to uneasy peace.
Paul McKenna's Secrets of Hypnosis
Mar 21, 1995
Documentary about hypnosis, exploring the uses for its technique, such as learning, pain control, and eyesight enhancement. Also looks into the more sinister uses of hypnosis for mind control by cults, advertisers, and politicians.
Escape from Tibet
Mar 28, 1995
The fortunes of a group of Tibetans as they try to escape from the Chinese over the Himalayas.
Small Miracles
Apr 4, 1995
Documentary about the work of a London surgeon who operates on babies still in the womb, following a mother whose seriously ill unborn twins might be saved by womb surgery at the Harris Birthright Unit at King's College Hospital.
What Makes Linford Run?
Apr 11, 1995
Profile of the world class athlete Linford Christie and his relationship to his coach of 16 years, Ron Roddan.
Confession
Apr 18, 1995
The subject matter of the television broadcast was a purported account by Mr Eamon Collins of his activities and experiences as a member of the Provisional IRA.
Vietnam: The Last Battle
Apr 25, 1995
Documentary examining how Vietnam has fared since the end of the conflict with America twenty years ago. There is also a look at Hollywood distortion of the Vietnam War.
Confronting the Hit Men
May 2, 1995
Documentary about the South African "Truth Commission", a reconciliation program, where former leaders of both black and white terror campaigns meet with the victims they orchestrated to see if past horrors can be forgiven.
Last Letters Home
May 9, 1995
Re-creates nine Second World War stories through the letters that passed between forces abroad and their friends, families or lovers back home, including some servicemen who wrote "last letters" in the event of their deaths.
Igor, Child of Chernobyl
Jun 6, 1995
Documentary about Igor Pavlovets, who was conceived shortly after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, and was born with deformities. The film follows Igor as he travels to England and documents the suffering of the children left behind in Minsk.
Eilish: Life Without Katie
Aug 29, 1995
Documentary about six-year-old Eilish Holton from Ireland, three years after she was surgically separated from her conjoined twin sister Katie, who sadly did not survive. This documentary shows Eilish starting school and her journey with learning to walk with a prosthesis. We also get to follow Eilish on a trip to the US to meet the still conjoined sisters Abigail and Brittany Hensel, who are about five years old here.
When a Woman Kills Her Man: The Investigation
Sep 5, 1995
Documentary about domestic violence, portraying a hypothetical case of Rachel and Peter Palmer. Peter is found fatally wounded; and Rachel was charged with the murder.
When a Woman Kills Her Man: The Trial
Sep 12, 1995
Concludes the dramatised examination of domestic violence, following the fictional trial of Rachel Palmer through to the verdict.
A Very Special Baby
Sep 19, 1995
Documentary about the lives of four people involved in a surrogate birth. Christine had a hysterectomy at age 31, with the possibility of never having children. Then, her husband's brother suggested surrogacy, which was accepted.
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Oct 17, 1995
Documentary from behind the scenes of British racing, revealing the way racehorses are treated, and what happens to them when they are too old or injured to race.
Fear and Counting in Las Vegas
Oct 24, 1995
Documentary following the fortunes of Dominic O'Brien, World Memory champion, as he tries his luck at the card tables of Amerian casinos in Biloxi, Tunica, Foxwoods and finally, Las Vegas.
Defender of the Children
Oct 31, 1995
Documentary about the efforts of Irish priest Shay Cullen to rid the Philippines of the child sex industry. Includes evidence of organised paedophilia tourism, with Britain providing one of the largest markets.
Gettys - A Tragedy of Riches: Part 1
Nov 7, 1995
Examines the life of the wealthy American Getty dynasty, focusing on John Paul Getty.
Gettys - A Tragedy of Riches: Part 2
Nov 14, 1995
History of the Getty family focusing on J Paul Getty's grandchildren - Mark, who is a businessman; Balthazar, an actor; and Aileen who works promoting various AIDS charities with her former mother-in-law, Elizabeth Taylor.
Man and Animal
Nov 21, 1995
New York dogs model Larry Roth canine fashions while Chinese cats marinate in the kitchens of Guan's Cantonese restaurants, the Jain monks in India commit a crime if they kill even the smallest insect while bulls are ritually tortured in the name of religion in Spain. Award-winning filmmaker Antony Thomas travels to nine countries to examines the absurd contradictions and shockingly contrasting traditions which make up man's relationship with the animal world.
Midnight Callers
Nov 28, 1995
Documentary about those who phone a late night radio show in Bradford, discussing their personal problems: one seducing other men's wives; and a woman being the victim of a paedophile who is dreading his imminent release from prison.
Peace for the Wicked: Tales of Ethnic Cleansing
Dec 5, 1995
Documentary about a period after the Second World War in Germany, when many Germans were expelled from parts of their country, sent to ghettos and camps, and often murdered.
Guys as Dolls
Dec 12, 1995
Documentary about transvestism and the effect it has on marriages and social relations.
Entertaining Angels Unawares
Dec 19, 1995
Documentary examining the history of angels, looking at orthodox and unorthodox views of scientists and churchmen on the subject, and featuring interviews with people who claim they have seen and been helped by angels.
Frontline Britain: Part 1
Feb 27, 1996
First part of a two-part documentary reporting on rising crime in Great Britain and the connection between crime and poverty.
Frontline Britain: Part 2
Mar 5, 1996
Final part of a documentary examining the divisions in British society, and its fight against drugs. In London, violence and gang warfare from drug use is examined, and in Bristol, a large-scale heroin use on one community is spotlighted.
The Killing of Kathleen Waugh
Mar 12, 1996
Investigation into the death of Kathleen Waugh, a woman with learning difficulties, who went missing four years ago. Irregularities in the management of the residential care home, concerning anti-depressive drugs, have been highlighted.
Inside Burma: Land of Fear
May 14, 1996
Documentary about the military ruling regime in Burma, its use of forced and child labour to build road and rail links, and how the participation of Western countries aid the system by investing in poorly run projects.
Miss Popular's Crack City
May 21, 1996
Documentary about two women whose crack-cocaine habits lead them to prostitution. Wendy was 13 when she started to sleep with men to support her habit; Karen Lawson was a middle-class housewife who became hooked.
High Stakes at Highclere
May 28, 1996
Documentary about life behind the scenes at Highclere, the Earl of Carnarvon's estate in Hampshire. A new castle manager is appointed, and makes changes to the tea room, the housekeeping, and the castle tour to encourage more visitors.
HMP Dartmoor
Jun 4, 1996
Documentary about life inside Dartmoor Prison in Devon.
A View to a Kill
Sep 10, 1996
Documentary about a Texan family who exercised a new state right to watch the execution of the man who brutally killed two of their children.
Three Men and a Balloon
Sep 17, 1996
Documentary following Richard Branson and his fellow balloonists as they made plans to fly a balloon non-stop around the world. Bad weather, politics and financial squabbles prevented the attempt from taking place.
Riddle of the Gaul
Oct 8, 1996
Documentary about the 1974 sinking of the Hull trawler Gaul, in which all 36 crew members were lost. Inquiry concluded the Gaul had succumbed to bad weather; although there has been speculation that the ship was captured by the Russians.
The Connection
Oct 15, 1996
Documentary following the heroin drugs trail from the poppy fields in Columbia to the streets of Britain. Carlton were fined £2,000,000 by the ITC over this documentary, as the programme contained a number of faked scenes.
Cut-price Package
Oct 22, 1996
Documentary about nine British women who travel to Wroclaw in Poland for cut-price plastic surgery.
Going to Chelsea
Nov 12, 1996
Follows Stephen Woodhams, society florist and garden designer, as he prepares and creates a garden for the world famous Chelsea Flower Show.
Psychosurgery
Nov 19, 1996
Documentary following three people who have suffered from depression and have decided to try psychosurgery, where parts of the frontal lobes of the brain are destroyed in an attempt to damage the parts of the brain which controls emotions.
Breaking the Cycle
Nov 26, 1996
Documentary about disruptive children and the help available to families to deal with them. Visits the Marlborough House Day Unit in Swindon, where children spend one day a week in structured discipline, and whose results were positive.
The Widow, the Terrorist and the SAS
Dec 3, 1996
Documentary about the aftermath of the October 1977 hijacking of a plane by Palestinian terrorists. The four terrorists killed the pilot and held the passengers hostage for five days before the SAS stormed the plane.
Silent Victim: The Untold Story of the Yorkshire Ripper
Dec 10, 1996
Documentary re-examining the case of Peter Sutcliffe, asserting that he may have been responsible for many more crimes than those he was convicted for.
Conspicuous Consumption
Dec 17, 1996
Documentary about the fashionable and exclusive department store Harvey Nichols, visiting the London and Leeds branches, talking to staff and customers.
Forgotten Mothers
Jan 14, 1997
Documentary in which five women talk about how they gave their babies up for adoption in the 1950s and 60s, and the profound sense of loss and guilt they still feel.
Return to the Place of the Dead
Jan 21, 1997
Documentary following two British soldiers - Bob Mann and Richie Mayfield - as they return to Borneo, where in 1994 they almost died. Bob Mann looks for a video he made containing an emotional farewell message to his wife and son.
Born to Be Small
Jan 28, 1997
Stories of four families affected by dwarfism: a couple's baby with achondroplasia; a couple expecting their first baby; a teenager's operation to add three inches to her height; and a couple fighting for equal rights for small people.
Igor, the Boy Who Dared to Dream
Feb 11, 1997
Sequel documentary about a year in the life of Igor Pavlovets, who was deformed by the Chernobyl blast. Igor is on holiday in Spain, captaining his team in the school sports day, camping with the Cubs, and receiving visitors from Russia.
Breaking the Mirror: The Murdoch Effect
Feb 18, 1997
Programme in which journalist John Pilger makes a tribute to the Daily Mirror newspaper. He traces the history of the tabloid, considering the influence of Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell and how the standard of journalism has dropped.
All in the Genes
Mar 11, 1997
Documentary examining genetic engineering and cloning, and how it is transforming medical science, showing scientists at work in efforts to prevent genetical disorders such as Hunters syndrome, cancers and Alzheimers.
Stolen Brides
Mar 18, 1997
Documentary about two girls who left Britain to join their Yemeni father in 1982 for a holiday, but were married and prevented from leaving the country. The programme follows their mother's attempts to bring the girls back to England.
The Blind School
Mar 25, 1997
Behind the scenes at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh to record the inspiring story of how its pupils learn to overcome their visual disabilities.
The Boy Business
Mar 26, 1997
Documentary about British paedophiles who prey on homeless and vulnerable children. The programme confronts the men who trade in child pornography, investigates the recruitment of young boys, and talks to the victims and relatives.
Between the Lines
May 6, 1997
Documentary about Paul Malone, who spent nearly ten years in jail after being found guilty of four armed robberies. The programme follows his attempts to have his convictions overturned.
Victoria & Albert Part 1: He Influenced Me in Everything
May 13, 1997
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent presents his great great grandparents - Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. This programme deals with Albert's courtship of the impressionable young queen.
Victoria & Albert Part 2: A Queen Alone
May 20, 1997
The programme follows the life of Queen Victoria following the death of her husband, her self-imposed isolation during her long mourning, and her relationships with Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli and her Highland servant John Brown.
For the Love of Roy
Sep 23, 1997
Documentary about the legacy of Roy Castle's battle against lung cancer. and the world's first lung cancer research centre in Liverpool. Friends of Castle pay tribute to him and his wife talks about continuing his campaigning work.
Out of the Shadows
Sep 30, 1997
First part in a two-part documentary following the then shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown during the run-in to Labour's election victory in May 1997.
We Are the Treasury
Oct 7, 1997
Second part of a two-part documentary following Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's transition into government, featuring his first month in office and events leading to his maiden budget.
Life with Grace
Oct 14, 1997
First part in a two-part documentary about Monaco's Princess Grace, from her Hollywood career and fairy-tale marriage to her dark side - troubled marriage, rumoured lovers, the paparazzi and her tragic early death in a car crash.
Life After Grace
Oct 21, 1997
Concluding part of a two-part documentary about Monaco's Grimaldi dynasty. After the early death of Princess Grace, the media turned their attention to her children, Albert, Caroline and Stephanie.
Windsor Restored
Nov 20, 1997
Documentary in which The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Duke of York give their personal accounts of the fire that ravaged the north-east corner of Windsor Castle in November 1992; and following the restoration process.
