After much searching (it is no longer available on BBC iplayer) I eventually found it. You can view it here.
Cecil Beaton - Hat Box - Vogue - 1934.
I think that Sophie Ellis-Bexter was a great choice here as she naturally has a 1930s look about her. Rankin shot two versions of this image; the first he used a similar camera and light, the second he shot digitally. The authentic version actually captured the look much better because it was truer to the original.
Erwin Blumenfeld - Vogue Cover - 1950.
Rankin used Heidi Klum to recreate this Vogue cover. In the original Blumenfeld actually bleached out and added colour at the printing phase -I had not realised it was actually shot in black and white. After shooting, Rankin had the image manipulated using 21st century techniques. By Klum sticking her tongue out in Rankin's version they have created a cheeky update of a timeless classic.
Richard Avedon - Dovima with elephants - Harpers Bazaar 1955
This image saw Rankin take a trip to Whipsnade Zoo with Erin O'Connor. As Rankin himself says this is the "perfect photograph combining grace, beauty and creative inspiration", and I very much agree.
David Bailey - Jean Shrimpton - Vogue 1963.
For his own take on this striking image by Bailey Rankin has chosen to shoot his own girlfriend who is a model. This is probably the only image in his series that I am unsure about. I would of expected him to select someone who looked like Shrimpton as he has with the majority of the other images. Aside from that he did initially keep to an authentic technique by using the same camera that Bailey himself used. Also instead of a wind machine a large piece of card was used to go get movement through the hair. The shot was then produced again digitally for comparison. I still remain unconvinced, yes the pose is nearly identical and I guess you could argue that Rankin has used someone he has a personal connection with which definitely puts his own mark on the photo.
Helmut Newton - Rue Aubriot - Vogue 1975.
Again the details are as accurate as possible with even the original street being used and Rankin receiving assistance from the model in the original shot. Jade Parfitt was used for the recreation an her position is almost spot on.
Guy Bourdin - Untitled Vogue 1970.
Again I was a little unsure about this photo. Rankin has used model and fashion designer Daphne Guinness for the recreation. Bourdin was well known for creating commercial images that have the feel of art, and I just don't think that Rankin's version has the same feel about it.
Herb Ritts - Fred with tyres - Per Lui 1984.
Rankin shot this photo of model David Gandy with the same camera Ritts used and then with a Polaroid. The background of the image has been digitally altered so that it appears darker like Ritts original so that Gandy stands out more.
I really enjoyed watching this program and found it particularly interesting. I think that it has successfully illustrated how fashion photography is constantly reinventing itself and how these original images helped to mould what we know as fashion photography today. Rankin has made me want to try something similar and select images I feel a connection to, to then recreate my own interpretations.
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