First episode in a three-part documentary series, marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, that focuses on the real, complex and often difficult man behind the great composer.

A look at how the composer's return to the town of Heiligenstadt led to one of the most extraordinary outpourings of creativity in the history of music, from the earth-shattering Eroica through to Symphony No. 7, while his repeated failed attempts to find love resulted in the famous Immortal Beloved letter found after his death.