Uploaded April 2017 | Updated September 2026, 51 minutes ago
When the 20th century opened, Britain dominated world affairs, and America stood on the sidelines. Now their positions are reversed. This is the story of how it happened.
This is Part 7 of David Dimbleby's much acclaimed 1988 documentary in seven parts on British-American relations in the 20th century. Dimbleby explores the relationship between Great Britain and the United States from World War I to the 1980s, and examines the people, ideas, and events that have shaped the mutual history of the two nations.
The final programme in the series brings the relationship up to the (then) present day, 1988: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher form an alliance against the Soviet Union. The United States aid Britain during the Falklands War.
This episode reveals the full extent of support given secretly to Britain during the Falklands War - 'You would have been defeated without us', claims the Secretary of the US Navy; Mrs Thatcher's rage over the invasion of Grenada - 'like Krakatoa', reports someone dining with her that night; and the divisions created by the Tripoli raid - 'The Americans pushed us to the edge on that one,' says one Cabinet member.
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An Ocean Apart
Eminent British television journalist David Dimbleby presents this seven-part BBC documentary TV series from 1988 on the history of British-American relations from the beginning of the First World War and Wilson to the end of the Cold War and Thatcher. Produced by Adam Curtis.
Presented By: David Dimbleby
Editor: David Gladwell
Executive Producer: George Carey
Producer: Adam Curtis
Production assistant: Linda Parker
When the 20th century opened, Britain dominated world affairs, and America stood on the sidelines. Now their positions are reversed. This is the story of how it happened.
This is Part 7 of David Dimbleby's much acclaimed 1988 documentary in seven parts on British-American relations in the 20th century. Dimbleby explores the relationship between Great Britain and the United States from World War I to the 1980s, and examines the people, ideas, and events that have shaped the mutual history of the two nations.
The final programme in the series brings the relationship up to the (then) present day, 1988: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher form an alliance against the Soviet Union. The United States aid Britain during the Falklands War.
This episode reveals the full extent of support given secretly to Britain during the Falklands War - 'You would have been defeated without us', claims the Secretary of the US Navy; Mrs Thatcher's rage over the invasion of Grenada - 'like Krakatoa', reports someone dining with her that night; and the divisions created by the Tripoli raid - 'The Americans pushed us to the edge on that one,' says one Cabinet member.
----------------------------------
An Ocean Apart
Eminent British television journalist David Dimbleby presents this seven-part BBC documentary TV series from 1988 on the history of British-American relations from the beginning of the First World War and Wilson to the end of the Cold War and Thatcher. Produced by Adam Curtis.
Presented By: David Dimbleby
Editor: David Gladwell
Executive Producer: George Carey
Producer: Adam Curtis
Production assistant: Linda Parker
