Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.2016/36. 21 Oct 2016

Hunt for the Arctic Ghost Ship
Channel 4: Sat 22 Oct 2016, 19.05 – 20.00. Secret History (First shown: 4 Aug 2015)
A film about the 2014 expedition that found HMS Erebus: the Royal Navy ship that disappeared in 1845 while searching for the Northwest Passage. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hunt-for-the-arctic-ghost-ship

Britain’s Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson
Channel 4: Sat 22 Oct 2016, 20.00 – 21.00. 2 / 3
Continuing his trekking along paths used by our ancient ancestors, Tony Robinson walks the Ridgeway through Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Following in the tracks of Celtic chariots, he sees a burial chamber older than the pyramids. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/britains-ancient-tracks-with-tony-robinson

Tutankhamun
ITV: Sun 23 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 2 / 4
A drama based on the story of archaeologist Howard Carter and his backer, Lord Carnarvon. It is 1918 and Howard Carter resumes his search for a lost tomb. https://itvstudios.com/programmes/tutankhamun

Hitler: the Rise and Fall.
More 4: Sun 23 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 4 /6
In this episode experts examine Hitler’s body language and behavior state of mind during the early days of the Second World War. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/hitler-the-rise-and-fall

Poldark
BBC One: Sun 23 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 8 /10
Having reached the point where, in terms of the overarching plot in Winston Graham’s books, there’s a key encounter between Ross and Elizabeth. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0813lwc
The history behind the Poldark series: http://www.historyextra.com/article/bbc-history-magazine/poldark%E2%80%99s-cornwall-history-behind-hit-series

The Victorian Slum
BBC Two: Mon 24 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 3 /5
The living history series moves to the 1880s. It was another difficult decade for those living in London’s East End, a time of high unemployment and terrible living conditions. The Potters become street vendors selling sheep’s trotters and jellied eels, and a slum tour party pays a visit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0812m7y

The Russian Revolution in Colour
Discovery History: Tue 25 & Wed 26 Oct 2016, 18.00 – 19.00. (From 2012)
A two-part documentary that uses colourised archive footage and dramatic reconstructions; exploring the overthrow of the Tsar and the rise of the Soviet state. Continuing and concluding the story of the bloody and brutal civil war that broke out in 1921 and led to the deaths of millions.

Medieval Dead
Yesterday: Tue 25 Oct 2016, 19.00 – 20.00
The archaeology series continues with a focus on artefacts related to medieval Italian mercenaries. http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/medieval-dead/

Great Continental Railway Journeys
BBC Two: Tue 25 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. Rotterdam to Utrecht.
Michael Portillo heads for the Netherlands where he sees the historic Binnenhof government buildings and learns about the roots of Holland’s reputation for tolerance. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0816pb2

The Anglo-Irish Century
BBC Radio 4: Tue 25 Oct 2016, 21.30 – 22.00. 2 / 4 (Repeat of April 2016 broadcast)
In the second programme in his series looking at the last hundred years of Anglo-Irish history historian Diarmaid Ferriter covers the period following the Anglo-Irish agreement of 1921 which brought into being the Irish Free State and saw then saw it descend, within a year, into a bitter civil war. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07889g8

Timeshift: Sailors, Ships and Stevedores – The Story of British Docks
BBC Four: Wed 26 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00
Today, we associate Britain’s oldest dockland areas with waterside gentrification. As this evocative documentary focusing on cities such as Liverpool, London and Cardiff makes clear, it wasn’t always thus. Not only were Britain’s docks commercial portals, they were gateways too for the arrival of new sounds, styles and cultures. Narrated by Sue Johnston. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b080dvyc

In Our Time: John Dalton
BBC Radio 4: Thu 27 Oct 2016, 9.00 – 9.45.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the scientist John Dalton who was born in North England in 1766. Although he came from a relatively poor Quaker family, he managed to become one of the most celebrated scientists of his age. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07zzy8b

Railways: The Making of a Nation
BBC Four: Thu 27 Oct 2016, 20.00 – 20.30. The New Commuters.
Historian Liz McIvor considers how the railways transformed food distribution in the UK.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07xn9fv/episodes/player

Secrets of Great British Castles
Channel 5: Fri 28 Oct 2016, 20.00 – 21.00. 1 / 6. New Series.
Historian Dan Jones returns with a second series of the show in which he explores the history of British battlements. He begins with Edinburgh Castle. http://www.channel5.com/show/secrets-of-great-british-castles

The Clifton Suspension Bridge
Channel 5: Fri 28 Oct 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 3 / 6
The story of Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
http://www.channel5.com/show/britains-greatest-bridges

Sources: Radio Times / History Extra