1982x1 - A Genius Like Us: A Portrait of Joe Orton

November 9, 1982

1982x2 - Mike Leigh Making Plays

September 4, 1982

1982x3 - The Orson Welles Story

May 18, 1982

First of a two-part film profile of Orson Welles, looking at his life and career in theatre, radio and particularly film. With Jeanne Moreau, John Huston, Peter Bogdanovitch, Robert Wise, Charlton Heston, and a detailed interview with Welles himself. This part deals with his work up to Touch of Evil.

1982x4 - The Orson Welles Story: Part Two

May 21, 1982

Second of a two-part profile of Orson Welles, looking at films including The Trial, Chimes at Midnight, The Immortal Story and F for Fake and discussing his many unfinished projects, including The Other Side of the Wind and Don Quixote.

1982x5 - Desert Island Discs

February 23, 1982

Arena celebrates Roy Plomley's Desert Island Discs with the help of many celebrity castaways, including Paul McCartney, Frankie Howerd, Russell Harty, Trevor Brooking, the Lord Mayor of London, Professor J.K. Galbraith and Arthur Askey. The special guest for the 40th anniversary programme was Paul McCartney who was also a fan of the show: "I love its homeliness. It conjures up the best in traditional British pleasure, like the great British breakfast. It's an honour to be asked."

1982x6 - The Private Life of the Ford Cortina

January 19, 1982

This quirky Arena, made in 1982, looks back to a time when the humble Ford Cortina was the most popular, and the most stolen, car in Britain.

1982x13 - Three Steps To Heaven

November 30, 1982

Documentary which looks at the life and premature death of rock n' Roll star Eddie Cochran, with comment from Larry Parnes, Adam Faith, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown, Cochran's mother and his fiancee Sharon Sheeley.