Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Road To Waterloo | 20240407 | 20240406 (R2) 20240427 (R2) | They're famous for their marriages, divorces, and impossibly perfect pop songs. But how much do you really know about ABBA? In this series, Sara Cox is your guide to Sweden's biggest musical export. When Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, their lives changed forever. But that win didn't come easy. Because the road to Waterloo is a long one. It took years of hard work, and the combination of four world-class talents - each of them already successful in their own right - to pull it off. Through the BBC's archive and new interviews with experts and insiders - as well as the group's timeless back catalogue - you'll get to know ABBA like never before. Sara Cox tells the story of ABBA's individual origins. In Eras: ABBA, Sara Cox is your guide to Sweden's biggest musical export. Episode 1 tells the story of how ABBA started on their path to pop-world domination in 1974. Marking the 50th anniversary of ABBA winning Eurovision Song contest with Waterloo! The stories of the biggest artists in the world told over the years in their own words. |
| 02 | The Arrival | 20240407 | 20240406 (R2) 20240427 (R2) | With Waterloo, ABBA became an international act. But in the aftermath, they were almost written off as one-hit wonders. In Episode 2 of ABBA: Eras, Sara Cox tells the story of how the group pulled themselves back from the brink of obscurity - and found legions of new fans a very long way from Sweden. Featuring rare BBC archive material, expert interviews and lashings of ABBA's indelible pop, this is your window into the musical genius and sheer perseverance that brought ABBA to their rightful place at the top. Sara Cox follows ABBA from potential one-hit-wonders to global superstardom. In Episode 2, ABBA struggle to overcome the expectation that they'll become one-hit wonders, and ABBAmania erupts in an unexpected place. Marking the 50th anniversary of ABBA winning Eurovision Song contest with Waterloo! The stories of the biggest artists in the world told over the years in their own words. |
| 03 | Said And Done | 20240414 | 20240413 (R2) 20240427 (R2) | It's 1979, and ABBA are one of the world's most famous bands. But beneath their successful surface, things are changing. In Episode 3, Sara Cox follows the band to the peak of their career. As ABBA release some of their most iconic and sophisticated music, their personal relationships come under incredible strain. The band play on - but how long can they really last? Through the BBC Archive and brand new interviews, we chronicle the beginning of the end for the masters of the scene. ABBA have never been more famous - but is this the beginning of the end? In Episode 3, Sara Cox finds ABBA at their peak - and documents the beginning of the end for the Swedish foursome. The stories of the biggest artists in the world told over the years in their own words. |
| 04 | Thank You For The Music | 20240414 | 20240413 (R2) 20240427 (R2) | After a wildly successful but grueling decade, ABBA were no more. Their ‘indefinite hiatus' allowed each member of the group to follow their own path. But nothing lasts forever - not even endings. In Episode 4, Sara Cox tells the story of a comeback like no other. From pop history's greatest Greatest Hits, to theatrical smashes, Hollywood acclaim and futuristic entertainment experiences, ABBA have achieved a truly timeless legacy. Through the BBC Archive and brand new interviews, you'll understand exactly why. Sara Cox tells the story of pop history's greatest revival. Nothing lasts forever - not even endings. Sara Cox tells the story of pop history's greatest revival. The stories of the biggest artists in the world told over the years in their own words. |
| 05 | Abba Voyage | 20240504 | After establishing themselves as one of music's pop giants, the ABBA legacy continues in an exciting new chapter - ABBA Voyage. The futuristic and visually groundbreaking show ignites a new love for ABBA, once again. In Episode 5, Sara Cox sits down with the producers of ABBA Voyage - Svana Gisla and Ludvig Andersson (who is also Benny from the band's son) to discuss how the concept came about, and what really went into creating one of the most talked about shows of the last decade. As Svana and Ludvig give us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at ABBA in the studio and Sara Cox also digs into what might be on the cards for ABBA in the future. A Cup & Nuzzle Production for BBC Sounds and Radio 2. Sara Cox interviews the producers of ABBA Voyage. The stories of the biggest artists in the world told over the years in their own words. Sara Cox is your guide to Sweden's biggest musical export. In Episode 5 she meets the producers of the groundbreaking ABBA Voyage and finds out what might be next for ABBA. |