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Stephen Dowling

Stephen Dowling

BBC

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How the young Stalin inspired a Star Wars series

It may be set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but Tony Gilroy's Star Wars series takes a key plot from a real robbery masterminded by...

20.04.2025 30

BBC

Stephen Dowling

When Italy's cities became ghost towns

Italy saw the first major outbreak of Covid outside Asia. As the cases spiked, its world-famous tourist sites were plunged into silence. When the...

28.03.2025 30

BBC

Stephen Dowling

When 'The Great Empty' became the new normal

French photographer Gilles Sabrié captured this dystopian scene as the world headed towards lockdown in February 2020. On Saturday 25 January 2020,...

01.03.2025 9

BBC

Stephen Dowling

Colossal squid: An eerie ambassador from the abyss

The world's largest invertebrate remained hidden from humanity until a tantalising glimpse 100 years ago. It would take decades, however, before we...

01.02.2025 80

BBC

Stephen Dowling

How a photographer captured the start of Covid-19

In January 2020, Thai authorities were amongst the first to have to grapple with a worrying new disease. The frontlines included the country's...

01.02.2025 9

BBC

Stephen Dowling

How an epic BBC series on Asia's wildlife was filmed

Filming the BBC's landmark series Asia took its crew on a four-year-long odyssey from the open ocean to the "roof of the world". From frozen...

10.01.2025 8

BBC

Stephen Dowling