In Scotland in the 1980s, a slump in the whisky market brought about the closure of some of the country's most iconic distilleries. These sites become known as 'ghost' distilleries - where spirit production has stopped, but where some stock is still available.

In this programme, Elizabeth Hotson will be discovering why some of these distilleries are now being brought back to life.

She visits the legendary Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay for its much-anticipated re-opening and hears from the master blender there, and she takes a tour of London’s fabled Vintage House.

A whisky writer explains what makes a truly great dram and we learn why investors need to be careful if they’re planning to jump on the whisky bandwagon.

(Picture: A bottle of Port Ellen whisky bottled in 1980. Credit: Elizabeth Hotson/BBC)

Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson

Elton John, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran - all artists who've had sell-out world tours in recent years.

And new markets, such as India, are being added to the global tour map. But the same can’t be said for smaller venues. In the UK and Australia, the lights are off, and thousands are closing their doors. We hear from musicians, promoters and the people who run venues; asking why there’s such a contrast between sell out stadium tours and struggling grassroots venues.

And we see what the future could hold for India's live music scene. Produced and presented by Megan Lawton

(Image: Ed Sheeran performing in Mumbai, India in 2017. Credit: Getty Images)

Ed Butler travels to Kosovo to find out what the prospects are for this young, ethnically divided population.

After Ukraine, it's Europe's poorest region, where a brutal past still casts a shadow.

But it's also a territory full of economic promise – with precious minerals buried underground, and vast vineyards. If only the politics would stop getting in the way.

(Image: A wine maker in Kosovo, Milan Lakicevic, standing in front of stainless steel tanks, while holding a bottle of his wine.)

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

Meet Sharvari, Belinda and Brenna, three female bike mechanics from different corners of the world. From setting up a female run workshop in India, teaching skills to other women, or working within elite sport: these three are all making a living in the male dominated world of bike mechanics. Hear their stories and find out what happened when we got them all talking to each other.

Presenter/producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Photo: Bicycle mechanic Belinda Everett, Credit: Ryan Goff, #rygoff)

Over its long history women have been mostly excluded from the Tour de France. Until recently.

In 2022, after a long campaign by some of female cycling's biggest names, the Tour de France Femmes was introduced. So how is it doing? And will it ever be on a level footing with the much older and long-established men's race?

We hear from competitors, sponsors, broadcasters and race director Marion Rousse.

Produced and presented by Lexy O'Connor

(Team Jumbo Visma rider Marianne Vos wears the yellow jersey during 3rd stage of the first Tour de France Femmes in 2022: Getty Images)

The 'pink pound' or 'pink dollar' is believed to be worth billions of dollars, and tourism is one sector looking to benefit. We find out how the industry is trying to attract LGBT travellers, with countries like Nepal taking steps to be a more appealing destination.

Plus, we head to the coastal town of Sitges in Spain, where gay people have been holidaying for more than 100 years.

Producer/presenter: Daniel Rosney

(Photo: The Nomadic Boys in New Zealand. Credit: The Nomadic Boys)

Ireland has just launched a scheme to charge a deposit on bottles and cans which is refunded when consumers return them to recycling machines in supermarkets.

The Irish have set up a non profit making company to manage the scheme, funded by the drinks making firms, which should avoid the financial problems that have dogged the industry in the United States.

Many privately owned American recycling companies are in danger of going out of business because the fee they get from state governments, under the Bottle Bill, has not been increased for years, even though their costs have soared.

Produced and presented by Russell Padmore

(Picture: Reverse vending machines for Ireland’s new deposit return recycling scheme)

We speak to the Armenian entrepreneur behind the popular photo editing app used by millions on Instagram, and by businesses too.

Mr Avoyan tells us about his childhood, growing up in a country which only gained independence when he was in his 20s. He tells us how this liberation set free his entrepreneurial spirit, and why he relocated his company from Armenia to the US.

Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw

(Image: Hovhannes Avoyan)

As modest fashion week starts in Istanbul, we look at the growth of this area of the fashion industry.

Long considered a faith-based choice, it is gaining in popularity, proven by the modest-friendly options that many leading brands now offer.

We hear the thoughts of retailers and designers on why more women are choosing to dress modestly. And content creator Maha Gondal explains how she's bringing her take on modest fashion to her thousands of followers.

Plus we look at what can go wrong when brands try to cash in on what they see as a lucrative market.

Presented and produced by Megan Lawton

(Image: Woman wearing a maxi dress with long sleeves, standing in front of a wall covered with foliage. Credit: Getty Images)

What happens when your favourite movies and TV shows fall off streaming sites?

We find out why, speaking to industry insiders, and those preserving our film and TV titles.

Plus, we speak to a US-based writer whose programme has disappeared to find out what the impact is on creators when their work no longer exists online.

(Image: Man watching TV next to a dog. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Matt Lines

Earlier this year, on International Women's Day, the Irish electorate was asked to vote in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care.

One of those questions was whether they wished to remove a reference to the role of women in the home, which some view as being out-of-step with modern Irish society.

A lot has changed since the constitution was written in 1937. Ireland is now among the highest-ranking countries in Europe for gender equality. However, in both referendums, voters rejected the bid for constitutional change.

In this programme, Leanna Byrne travels back to her home city of Dublin to explore Ireland's story when it comes to women, the family and work; speaking to Irish women about their experiences over the decades to now.

(Image: From left to right Niamh O'Reilly, Lorraine Lally and Rena Maycock, who spoke to the BBC World Service in Dublin in March 2024.)

Presented and produced by Leanna Byrne

More of us are searching for cheaper and efficient ways to power and heat our homes.

As energy prices remain high, what about taking matters into your own hands and putting solar panels on your roof, or putting a small wind turbine in your garden?

Produced and presented by Rick Kelsey

(Image: A wind turbine on a roof of a house in Amsterdam. Credit: Getty Images)