BBC's Seven Ages of Britain explores Ancient London with David Dimbleby
In a joint partnership with the Open University, the BBC broadcast the first of a seven-part series which is looking at the History of Britain through art and artefacts over the past 2,000 years in a TV series called "Seven Ages of Britain". Shot in high definition, the programme is written and presented by the respected veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby who recounts the ancient-era story of the nation in the first episode. Heritage Key's new series - Ancient World in London - which starts next week will build on the insights with a look at the age of Roman and Norman conquest, and how they impacted the history of the captial city.
David Dimbleby travels across the country, as well as abroad to Italy, Germany, Turkey, India and America to track down the artefacts which helped shape Britain, yet have now left the Isles. The eminent presenter starts the programme wading through the waters of the Thames, grunting as he pulls out a large object from the riverbed - the bronze head of the Roman Emperor Hadrian!
Commenting on the series, David Dimbleby says: "Seven Ages Of Britain has proved an exhilarating quest. The television camera offers a spectacular view of some of our most precious national treasures. It allows us to see them in ways beyond the reach of the human eye as we tell the story of our country's history over 2,000 years through the art we have created in good times and bad." You can meet David Dimbleby at the Victoria and Albert Museum later this month as he promotes his series.
Scouring the lengths of Britain, looking at artefacts stored at the British Museum, to the Roman city of Chichester and examining the exquisite Alfred Jewel at Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, and looking at the Roman wall next to the Tower of London.
It's a fantastic overview of the ancient story of Great Britain, which you can explore in more depth over the next three months as Heritage Key prepares its web-series which will journey through London and the surrounding areas, piecing together the past and how you can learn so much about the ancient past outside the museums. Keep an eye out for The Ancient World in London which will kick off from Monday!
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This series should be re-titled Seven Ages of England, unless there is a plan to go back over the same time periods while changing the geography. The program is fascinating but nothing is more helpful to the SNP separatists than the national TV company (partly paid for by Scottish licence payers) completely ignoring Scotland when supposedly discussing Britain.
Admittedly, the first episode did seem to concentrate a bit much on England. There is a lot of heritage from Scotland too, for example the Lewis Chessmen and Cladh Hallan Mummies. I can't see the series continuing without a mention of Cutty Sark though, surely?
Well the Cutty Sark was British and the Lewis Chessmen and Cladh Hallan Mummies were Scottish; and the rest? Well, it was all about England and continues to be so, therefore it was certainly misleading calling it The Seven Ages of Britain. I prefer proper historians for high profile programs such as this. I don't bother watching it now.
Very interesting and would be better if there was not incessant music drowning out the script.
This seems to be a problem with all programs produced these days.
The content of the programme is very interesting. I am sure that historical experts will argue about the prominence (or lack of it) given to certain areas of Britain and the history pertaining to them. My complaint is that viewing this programme is very frustrating. We see Dimbleby standing in front of a bank of Hogarth paintings and the camera focuses on......Dimbleby. This happens all the time with these epic programmes. The presenter is always at the fore. Why do we have to see their faces at all? David Attenborough narrates skilfully as a background informative guide. These egocentric presenters would do well to follow his example.
Chris, Basildon
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