40 Minutes Season 11, Episode 13: Cowboys in the South Pacific

Alec the Pole

For 47 years Alec Krawczynski has lived in Scotland. He is known as Alec the Pole. But his real name is not Krawczynski and he has never been to Poland. He came from the Ukraine and for nearly 50 years has kept a deadly secret. Now, as the Ukraine reaches out for independence, he discovers members of his family are still alive. He returns to the Ukraine to discover if his country and family are ready to forgive him for being, in his own words, a traitor.

40 min

Short, Sharp and Shocking

40 min

Autogeddon

40 min

Anyone for Tennis?

40 min

Berlin Lights

40 min

Torn Apart

A rape in the Irish village of Bray divides the community. Local man Gerry is sent to prison, separated from his wife Saundra and his children. But the rape victim is also isolated by her neighbours. "Nobody believed her. In Irish society it's all black and white, virgin or whore." Fifteen months later, Gerry's appeal draws near, raising new hopes in Saundra and old conflicts in the small world torn apart by the crime.

40 min

Windermere's Burning

40 min

Heads on Beds

During the property boom, big profits could be made buying and selling London hotels used by councils to house the homeless. Now property prices have dropped and councils are cutting back on bed and breakfast bills. 40 Minutes takes a closer look at this notoriously secretive world.

40 min

Boobs in Toyland

40 min

When the Canaries Stop Singing

40 min

Wild Men

40 min

Charlotte and Abi

40 min

She Married a Lifer

40 min

Miami Wild

Capturing escaped pythons, confiscating pet cougars or wrestling with exotic crocodiles - it's all in a day's work for Miami specialist police officer Lieutenant Kat Kelley. The locals are crazy about owning flamboyant pets and many of these exotic animals have escaped and multiplied over the years, threatening both people and native wildlife. Kelley is on call 24 hours a day and never knows what she will have to face. "We're fighting a losing battle here. Basically, nature is out of control."

40 min

Elvis in Jarrow

40 min

So Much to Lose

At 34, 5ft 2ins tall and weighing 16 stone, Annette is desperate to lose weight. She has been told the only permanent solution is a stomach stapling operation. The surgeon says that with a specially adapted staple gun he can reduce the size of Annette's stomach to the length of a teaspoon. And that would mean she would only ever be able to eat tiny portions of food. Unable to bear her fat any longer, and with a family history of diabetes and heart disease, Annette feels she has nothing to lose. Meanwhile her friend Kath, who reduced from 19 to seven stone after her operation, is now back to a size 22 and about to enter hospital for a fourth operation.

40 min

Farewell, Fab 208

The story of Radio Luxembourg, from its inception until 30 December 1991; the last day of broadcasting on 208 metres. Features interviews and appearances by many of its DJs

40 min

Soldier's Diary

40 min

Get Out!

40 min

Not at Their Age

40 min

A Child for Hitler

40 min

Dear Mr. Pink

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