His song may have been cut from Hamilton, but one of American and European history’s most influential figures is put under the spotlight in this major two-part documentary from a renowned filmmaker, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: A FILM BY KEN BURNS, which airs at 7.45pm on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th April. Franklin (1706-1790) lived through an era of unprecedented change. The 18th century saw dramatic advances and upheavals in science, technology, literature and politics, and this prolific and influential polymath would leave an indelible mark on each of these fields of human endeavour.

Franklin gained worldwide fame for his dazzling variety of achievements, yet his personal relationships would suffer. Although he spoke out against slavery, he had also been known to own slaves, and his attitude to colonialism was equally inconsistent. A complex man, full of startling contradictions, as this in-depth profile amply illustrates.