Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks
Turner painted the world like no-one else, yet his life remains a mystery. Tracey Emin, Timothy Spall and Ronnie Wood explore his personal sketches to reveal the man behind the art.
A look at the hidden psychology of renowned painter JMW Turner through his 37,000 private sketches, drawings, and watercolours – an extraordinary archive that reveals the man behind the masterpieces.
For the first time on television, these pages - including previously unseen erotic sketches - are used as a window into Turner’s inner world, exposing his private thoughts, creative obsessions and emotional life.
Guiding viewers through his life story are actor Timothy Spall, who portrayed the artist in Mike Leigh's film Mr Turner, as well as Tracey Emin, Ronnie Wood, Sir John Akomfrah, Orna Guralnik, Chris Packham and an array of leading art historians.
On TV
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Rosie Schellenberg |
| Producer | Rosy Rickett |
| Production Manager | Marianna Petrilli |
| Executive Producer | Kari Lia |
| Executive Producer | Hamish Fergusson |
Broadcasts
- Next Wednesday 21:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD
- Next Wednesday 23:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only
- Sun 23 Nov 2025 23:30ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD
- Wed 26 Nov 2025 23:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two Northern Ireland HD & Northern Ireland only
- Sat 29 Nov 2025 00:35