Richard E Grant discovers how three hundred years ago the Arabian Nights first exploded into the West. Ever since then its stories have entranced generations of children, and seduced us with a vision of an exotic, magical Middle East. Richard meets writers and poets in Cairo’s old city to learn why  the fantasy, strange humour and the wild, wily women of the Nights are key to understanding the real Arab world

Critics: Richard E Grant had a brilliant time travelling the Middle East uncovering the history and dissemination of Scheherazade’s stories in Secrets of the Arabian Nights and gave the viewer a brilliant time right back. Lucy Mangan, The Guardian