Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.10. 8 April 2015.

The Last Days Of… Mary Queen of Scots.
Channel 5: Thu 9 April 2015, 20.00 – 21.00. 1/6. New
An examination of whether Mary, Queen of Scots, was a victim of her cousin Elizabeth I’s treachery or the author of her own destruction. http://www.channel5.com/shows/the-last-days-of/episodes/mary-queen-of-scots-2

The Normans
BBC4: Thu 9 April 2015, 23.00 – 23.55. Repeat of three-part 2010 documentary series. 3/3
Normans of the South: Professor Robert Bartlett explores the impact of the Normans on southern Europe and the Middle East. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00thpzb

Banished.
BBC 2: Thu 9 April 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. 6/7.
Historical drama series, set in an Australian penal colony: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qqp8r

Secrets of Great British Castles
Channel 5: Fri 10 April 2015, 20.00 -21.00. 2/6. New:
Historian Dan Jones explores the turbulent history behind six of the UK’s great fortresses; this episode features the Tower of London: http://www.channel5.com/shows/secrets-of-great-british-castles

Sex and the Church
BBC 2: Fri 10 April 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. New. 1/3: From Pleasure to Sin:
Theological historian Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch explores how Christianity has shaped western attitudes to sex, gender and sexuality throughout history. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05ql6hf

Poldark.
BBC 1: Sun 12 April 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. 6/8
Drama set in 18th century Cornwall continues. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qqg9c

Railways of the Great War
BBC 4: Mon 13 – Wed 15 April 2015, 19.30 – 20.00. Episodes 2 to 4 repeat of 2014 series.
Michael Portillo finds out how the railways helped to precipitate a mechanised war, shaped how it was fought, conveyed millions to the trenches and bore witness to its end.
Other episodes / iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04ddmt3/episodes/guide

The First World War from Above
BBC 4: Mon 13 April 2015, 20.00 – 21.00. Repeat of 2010 broadcast.
Fergal Keane tells the story of the Great War from a unique new aerial perspective. Featuring two remarkable historical film finds: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vyrzh

Treasures of Ancient Greece.
BBC 4: Wed 15 April 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. 2/ /3
The Classical Revolution: Alastair Sooke unpicks the reasons behind the dazzling revolution that gave birth to classical Greek art, asking how the Greeks got so good so quickly. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05qqgrr

Medieval Dead: The Knight of Saint Bees
Yesterday: Mon 10 April 2015, 20.00 – 21.00. Series 2 | Episode 1
Fascinating forensics reveal the secrets of our past. A Cumbrian knight’s body is found in a near-perfect state of preservation, even though he died in 1368. Episodes: http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/medieval-dead/