Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.09 1 April 2015.

The Normans
BBC4: Thu 2 April 2015, 23.00 – 23.55. 2/3
Conquest: Robert Bartlett explores the impact of the Norman conquest of Britain and Ireland, and looks at how England adapted to its new masters. Repeat of three-part 2010 documentary series.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tfdsk/the-normans-2-conquest

Banished.
BBC 2: Thu 2 April 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. 5/7.
Historical drama series, set in an Australian penal colony: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pxd51

David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Peter.
BBC 1: Part 1 – Fri 3 April 2015, 09.00 – 10.00. Part 2 – Sun 5 April 2015, 09.00 – 10.00.
The actor goes in search of one of the most puzzling characters in history. Detailed views of contemporary swords and fishing boats sit alongside reverent visits to sites and examination of historical scholarship.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05q063m

Secrets of Great British Castles
Channel 5: Fri 3 April 2015, 20 -21.00. 1/6. New:
Historian Dan Jones explores the turbulent history behind six of the UK’s great fortresses; the first episode features Dover Castle: http://www.channel5.com/shows/secrets-of-great-british-castles

The Lakes: Walking Through History
Channel 4: Sat 4 April 2015, 19.00 – 20.00. Repeat of Series 2: 2/3
Details & previous: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/walking-through-history/episode-guide
PDF download: Rome in the Lakes walking guide:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/walking-through-history/articles/series-2/walking-guide-the-lakes

Chemistry: A Volatile History.
BBC 4: Sat 4 April 2015, 19.00 – 20.00. 3/3 The Power of the Elements:
The story of chemists’ battle to control and combine the elements: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qck1t
Poldark.
BBC 1: Sun 5 April 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. 5/8
The new dramatisation of Winston Graham’s well-loved novels set in 18th century Cornwall continues. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qqg9c

Medieval Dead: Battle at Aljuborrata
Yesterday: Mon 6 April 2015, 20.00 – 21.00. Series 2 | Episode 3
Tim Sutherland explores the medieval world using archive, archaeology and forensic research; numerous discoveries as bones from the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota – in which Portugal routed Castile – are examined.
Episodes: http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/medieval-dead/
Series details: http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/medieval-dead/article/about-series-2/

Beyond Endurance
BBC Radio 4: Wed 8 April 2015. 14.15 – 15.00
Radio drama with Dominic West as Ernest Shackleton in Meredith Hooper’s play, charting the great explorer’s 1914 Endurance expedition planning to cross Antarctica, told in the words of the explorers themselves.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pnvq9