05: Inventing the Teenager | James May’s 20th Century

Duration: 29'20''

Synopsis

During the 20th century teenagers evolved to the point of almost becoming a separate species. James May is on a journey to find out how this came about. Was it the promise of sex, the power of pop, or the pull of a 50cc Japanese two-stroke?

Further Information

More clips from James May's 20th Century

01: Honey I Shrunk the World | James May's 20th Century

01: Honey I Shrunk the World | James May's 20th Century

BBC Two | 2007 | 29'05''

James May discovers how planes, cars, televisions and computers made our world seem a whole lot smaller.

02: Blast Off! | James May's 20th Century

02: Blast Off! | James May's 20th Century

BBC Two | 2007 | 29'11''

James May investigates what the Space Race did for all of us who never got a chance to blast off into orbit.

03: Body Fantastic | James May's 20th Century

03: Body Fantastic | James May's 20th Century

BBC Two | 2007 | 28'57''

James May discovers just how far he can push his body, exploring some of the most remarkable medical advances over the last hun...

04: Take Cover! | James May's 20th Century

04: Take Cover! | James May's 20th Century

BBC Two | 2007 | 28'56''

James May investigates some of the most ingenious ideas to emerge from 20th century warfare, flying in the RAF's latest supersonic...

06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century

06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century

BBC Two | 2007 | 28'35''

Each day 180,000 people move into a city somewhere on the planet. James May investigates how the high-rise urban livin...

More resources about The nature of childhood

Poor Kids

Poor Kids

BBC One | 2011 | 58'57''

Documentary telling the stories of some of the 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK. They give their thoughts on their situation and their future prosp...

Episode 1 | Back in Time for School

Episode 1 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'42''

Fifteen pupils and three teachers embark on a time-travelling adventure to discover how much life at school has changed. The class start ...

04: The 80s | Back in Time for the Weekend

04: The 80s | Back in Time for the Weekend

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'58''

A family gives up its 21st-century technology and travels back in time. The family embrace the 80s, where TV and shopping dominate...

01: The 50s | Back in Time for the Weekend

01: The 50s | Back in Time for the Weekend

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'59''

A family gives up their 21st-century technology and travels back in time. As they enter the 50s, it's goodbye to the flat-screen T...

The Consequences of Poor Socialisation | Kids Behind Bars

The Consequences of Poor Socialisation | Kids Behind Bars

BBC Three | 2011 | 10'23''

Children and young people living in a secure residential unit. Explores issues such as poor socialisation, formal a...

Episode 2 | Back in Time for School

Episode 2 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'40''

Pupils and teachers embark on a time-travelling adventure. The class enters the interwar years. They learn bizarre new languages, test th...

Episode 6 | Back in Time for School

Episode 6 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'01''

The class embrace the new world of the 1980s. With robots, early computers and synths, the kids get to grips with Britain's new high-tech...

02: The 60s | Back in Time for the Weekend

02: The 60s | Back in Time for the Weekend

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'44''

A family gives up their 21st-century technology and travels back in time. As they enter the 60s, there's more fun to be had - a tr...

03: The 70s | Back in Time for the Weekend

03: The 70s | Back in Time for the Weekend

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'54''

A family gives up its 21st-century technology and travels back in time. Rob and Steph share more time together, playing darts with...

Episode 3 | Back in Time for School

Episode 3 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'36''

Pupils and teachers embark on a time-travelling adventure. The class enters the 40s and 50s - deportment, debate and even dancing are on ...

Episode 4 | Back in Time for School

Episode 4 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'58''

Pupils and teachers embark on a time-travelling adventure. In the swinging 60s, the class experience bricklaying, typing, cooking and eve...

05: The 90s | Back in Time for the Weekend

05: The 90s | Back in Time for the Weekend

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'58''

A family gives up its 21st-century technology and travels back in time. The family enter the 90s, where new technology arrives at ...

Episode 5 | Back in Time for School

Episode 5 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'44''

The class enters the experimental 1970s. They rewrite the rule book and learn weird and wonderful lessons as the free spirit of the era c...

04: Children | The British Family

04: Children | The British Family

BBC Two | 2010 | 58'37''

Kirsty Young looks at how children have come to dominate family life in the last decade and reveals just how far we have come from the 'see...

06: The Future | Back in Time for the Weekend

06: The Future | Back in Time for the Weekend

BBC Two | 2016 | 58'46''

A family gives up its 21st-century technology and travels back in time. In the final episode, they discover what the future mig...

Parenting Secrets | Britain's Secrets with Anne Robinson

Parenting Secrets | Britain's Secrets with Anne Robinson

BBC One | 2016 | 57'51''

Anne Robinson delves into different areas of contemporary British life. She tackles parenting, looking at some of th...

Radicalisation of Young Men Online | Inside The Secret World Of Incels

Radicalisation of Young Men Online | Inside The Secret World Of Incels

BBC One | 2019 | 8'35''

An exploration asking does violence online lead to violence offline?<br><br><strong>(Contains sensitiv...

The Rise of the Hoodies | History Of Now: The Story Of The Noughties

The Rise of the Hoodies | History Of Now: The Story Of The Noughties

BBC Two | 2010 | 4'47''

During the 2000s anti-social behaviour rose, hoodies became popular amongst young people and were banned...

Episode 7 | Back in Time for School

Episode 7 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 59'04''

The pupils and teachers arrive in their final time-travelling decade, the 1990s, ready to embrace girl power, Brit pop, Oasis and Blur, M...

Episode 8 | Back in Time for School

Episode 8 | Back in Time for School

BBC Two | 2019 | 58'58''

Our class return for one final adventure. Reflecting on the past 100 years, they venture beyond, into a future filled with virtual classr...

More from James May

Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know

Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know

BBC Two | 2012 | 2'45''

James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...

S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People

S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People

BBC Two | 2014 | 59'26''

James May discovers how cars became an everyday part of people's lives. His journey begins in Europe, where he reveals a tale of war,...

S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club

BBC HD | 2012 | 59'20''

Dara O Briain and his expert team examine the science behind music. James May explores how music is linked to our emotions and M...

Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab

Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab

BBC Two | 2011 | 10'50''

James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.

06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century

06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century

BBC Two | 2007 | 28'35''

Each day 180,000 people move into a city somewhere on the planet. James May investigates how the high-rise urban livin...