BBC Four tonight — Invasion! with Sam Willis

close
thelonious T
thelonious Dec 5, 2017 18:16:22

Might be worth a watch (don't think it's been on before?)

BBC Four 9 o'clock tonight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09hr5pc

"Three-part series in which intrepid historian Dr Sam Willis reveals a remarkable story of invasion in Britain spanning thousands of years.

From the time continuous settlement began in Britain over 10,000 years ago to Iron Age hillforts and Viking ships, Sam explores the many invasions of Britain. He unearths hidden stories to build a vivid picture of both successful and unsuccessful invasions and examines how they have shaped our psyche, including fear of invasion.

Some invasions are bloody, some bloodless. Some were by invitation, some absurd and doomed. From Barbary pirates and brutal border raids to the air attacks of the 20th century; these invasions have shaped modern Britain and made us the people we are today.

In this first programme, Sam fells a tree with a flint axe in Kent, gets to grips with the technology of Viking boats and rides an Iron Age chariot. He also searches for clues of invasion at Silbury Hill and tracks down evidence of the Beaker people who brought ceramics, metalwork and beakers to Britain."

S Sanctuary
Sanctuary Dec 5, 2017 19:04:27
Replying to thelonious

thelonious wrote:
Might be worth a watch (don't think it's been on before?)

BBC Four 9 o'clock tonight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09hr5pc

"Three-part series in which intrepid historian Dr Sam Willis reveals a remarkable story of invasion in Britain spanning thousands of years.

From the time continuous settlement began in Britain over 10,000 years ago to Iron Age hillforts and Viking ships, Sam explores the many invasions of Britain. He unearths hidden stories to build a vivid picture of both successful and unsuccessful invasions and examines how they have shaped our psyche, including fear of invasion.

Some invasions are bloody, some bloodless. Some were by invitation, some absurd and doomed. From Barbary pirates and brutal border raids to the air attacks of the 20th century; these invasions have shaped modern Britain and made us the people we are today.

In this first programme, Sam fells a tree with a flint axe in Kent, gets to grips with the technology of Viking boats and rides an Iron Age chariot. He also searches for clues of invasion at Silbury Hill and tracks down evidence of the Beaker people who brought ceramics, metalwork and beakers to Britain."

Excellent - thanks for the heads-up Thelonious.

I bet that tree that is felled by Sam with a flint axe isn't like one of those 1 metre diameter ones that were felled for use at Stanton Drew!! :-)

S spencer
spencer Dec 5, 2017 21:26:07
Replying to thelonious

Only just seen your heads-up after tripping up over it unawares and watching from 10mins in..was going to alert peeps that it's good but you've beaten me to it. Well worth another look

T tjj
tjj Dec 5, 2017 22:28:32
Replying to thelonious

Thanks! A bit of a linear romp through prehistory - the Ice Age, Cresswell Crags, Neolithic farmers, the Beaker people to the Celtic/Cultural invasion of La Tene artifacts. Am watching on iplayer so we're up to 793AD and the Vikings ...

Sam Willis is likeable and has a light touch.

Maybe Nigel Farage should be tied up and made to watch ...

E Evergreen Dazed
Evergreen Dazed Dec 6, 2017 10:12:05
Replying to thelonious

Bugger, missed it. Will watch it on the iplayer. Cheers thelonious.

Detectorists tonight too, last but one episode.
I seem to have developed a crush on Lances girlfriend.

D drewbhoy
drewbhoy Dec 7, 2017 18:48:08
Replying to thelonious

We watched that Mr T, a wee bitty gloss over but overall it was pretty good!