How to watch VE Day 80 on TV: Best TV shows celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
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Commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day this May with our special collection of documentaries and programmes
By Simon Ward, Content Director
- Published
- 7 May 2025
On 8 May 1945, Prime Minister Winson Churchill delivered the news to the nation that war had ended in Europe, declaring: “I say that in the long years to come not only will the people of this island but of the world, wherever the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts, look back to what we’ve done.”
Eighty years later, we continue to commemorate the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of the Second World War across the continent. It’s a time to reflect upon a conflict that cost the lives of millions while celebrating the men and women who fought so hard to secure peace.
This year, there will be a whole host of programmes across various channels. There will also be full coverage of the day across the BBC, including the memorial concert at Horse Guards Parade in London as well as VE Day 80: A Celebration To Remember on BBC One (CH 101) and BBC iPlayer on Thursday 8 May from 8pm.
As a Virgin TV customer, you can also access our VE Day 80th Anniversary Collection from Monday 5 May until Friday 16 May. Here’s what you can watch:
The Sound And The Fury
Stream season 1 from Thursday 8 May in On Demand > Sky History
This epic series takes us closer than ever before to rediscover the Second World War for what it is: the most significant event of the contemporary world. Blending sweeping global events with intimate, personal stories of those who lived through the chaos, this series explores the full scale of the conflict that reshaped history.
VE Day – Forever In Their Debt
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Buy now. Cert U
First released in 2020 to celebrate VE Day’s 75th anniversary, this documentary tells the stories of those who experienced the end of the war in all its many forms. From the children who remember the street parties and celebrations to the servicemen who remember not having to buy a single drink that day, relive their stories.
VE Day 80: War Is Over
Watch on History Hit HD (CH 224)
If you’re a customer with our Virgin TV V6 box (powered by TiVo®), Virgin TV 360 or our Stream box, tune in to History Hit HD (CH 224) for premieres of new documentaries commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day, including The Room Where It Happened and Victory Remembered.
Spitfire
Stream it now in On Demand > Sky Documentaries
The Spitfire is the most iconic British fighter aircraft in history. It became a symbol of freedom and wartime resistance during the summer of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. This documentary, narrated by Charles Dance, tells its story through the words of some of the last surviving veterans.
Monty: Our WW2 Hero
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Stream it now in On Demand > 5
Bernard Law Montgomery was one of the most impactful military leaders Britain has ever known. He commanded the Allied forces on D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history, and a pivotal moment that turned the tide of the war. The documentary looks back on the life events of the man affectionally known as “Monty”.
British Planes That Won The War With Rob Bell
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Stream season 1 now in On Demand > 5
Engineer Rob Bell explores four legendary British-built planes that became masters of the sky and pioneered a new era of flight. From the Sopwith Camel to the Lancaster Bomber, military experts, historians and pilots reveal what made each aircraft so influential.
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Catch Up TV: Catch Up TV content available for up to 7 days or up to 30 days after broadcast, depending on content.
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