Alan Yentob continues to explore the history and culture surrounding the world’s favourite instrument and the personal stories of those who have dedicated their lives to it.

The second episode of the series continues with the story of how the guitar went electric. It begins with the legend of Robert Johnson, a blues guitarist from the Mississippi Delta.

The blues has a deep hold on the mythology of the guitar but, surprisingly, the first electric guitar arose not from the world of blues and jazz, but from the requirements of the leading popular guitar players of the Twenties and Thirties.

Alan Yentob talks to Les Paul – one of the pioneers who helped turn the guitar electric. He is still playing in New York at the age of 93. He gave his name to one of the most popular electric guitars ever made, which is still revered today.

Another of the great survivors from this era is living legend BB King, who has been playing for more than 60 years and is still on the road today. He tells the story of how his guitar, Lucille – almost as famous as BB himself – got its name.

On entering the Fifties, a solid-body guitar war began, thanks to the mass-produced Telecaster, the brainchild of former radio repairman Leo Fender. He went on to produce arguably the most successful guitar, the Fender Stratocaster.

A chorus of British-based players, from Hank Marvin to Mark Knopfler, describe the extraordinary influence of The Shadows and the first red Fender Stratocaster to hit these shores. Bought by Cliff Richard, it seemed like an object from another planet. It reached its apotheosis in the hands of legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

Sunday 12 October
10.20-11.25pm BBC ONE