Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.2016/38. 5 Nov 2016

Britain’s Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson
Channel 4: Sat 5 Nov 2016, 20.00 – 21.00. 3 / 3: North Downs Way
Tony visits one of Britain’s oldest oak trees and the shrine of Thomas Becket, uncovers a lost battle site of Julius Caesar and marvels at the discoveries of Darwin, on the North Downs Way in Kent. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/britains-ancient-tracks-with-tony-robinson

Operation Gold Rush with Dan Snow
BBC Two: Sun 6 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 2 / 3: Lakes & Rivers
Having made their way through Alaskan coastal mountains, Dan and his team now attempt to cross waterways featuring unpredictable weather and turbulent rapids. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082w0zw

Tutankhamun
ITV: Sun 6 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 4 / 4
In 1923, when the dig is in limbo and its ownership in dispute, Carnarvon falls dangerously ill from food poisoning, forcing a reconciliation with both Carter and his daughter. Carter returns to the excavation. http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep4week45/tutankhamun-0

Poldark
BBC One: Sun 6 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 10 /10
In this last episode, Dwight enlists in the navy to forget Caroline, and Demelza visits Verity to spend some time apart from Ross. While Ross considers rejoining his regiment, Elizabeth and George settle into married life, but George’s plans provoke the locals to riot. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082s5y4

Our Man in China: The Diaries
BBC Radio 4: Mon 7 to Fri 11 Nov 2016, 13.45 – 14.00. Five daily episodes.
Extracts from the diaries of Victorian diplomat Robert Hall – who rose to become one of the most powerful figures in the Chinese court and helped transform China into a modern trading nation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081ld34
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0834l5x/episodes/guide

The Victorian Slum
BBC Two: Mon 7 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 5 /5: The 1900s.
In the final episode the slum dwellers move into the 20th century and social change is in the air. Community spirit is embodied by the arrival of the cooperative movement and shopkeepers the Birds have members to look after, rather than customers to profit from. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082q72z

Medieval Dead
Yesterday: Tue 8 Nov 2016, 19.00 – 20.00
The archaeology series examines the Norse and Scots clans that settled in Ireland after the Scottish Wars of Independence. http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/medieval-dead/

Cadburys at War
BBC4: Tue 8 Nov 2016, 19.30 – 20.00. (Repeat of World War I at Home episode from June 2014)
Brothers Laurence and Egbert Cadbury saw plenty of action during the First World War, but only one of them was a fighter. Former world champion boxer Richie Woodhall investigates the untold story of the chocolate king’s sons, a tale full of conflict and conscience. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b045gjw5

The Anglo-Irish Century
BBC Radio 4: Tues 8 Nov 2016, 21.30 – 22.00. 3 / 4 (Repeat of April 2016 broadcast)
Diarmaid Ferriter’s story moves from the darkest days of the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland by way of the Sunningdale agreement, the false dawns of Margaret Thatcher’s era, the Downing Street Declaration and the Good Friday peace process. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b079rfwz

Black and British: A Forgotten History
BBC2: Wed 9 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 1 / 4: First Encounters. (Repeated Thu 10 Nov 23.15 – 00.15)
Historian David Olusoga explores the enduring relationship between Britain and people whose origins lie in Africa. From the African Romans who guarded Hadrian’s Wall in the 3rd century AD, to the black trumpeter of the Tudor courts, David uncovers a history that is as surprising as it is revealing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082w9p9

In Our Time: The Fighting Temeraire
BBC Radio 4: Thu 10 Nov 2016, 9.00 – 9.45.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss “The Fighting Temeraire”, one of Turner’s greatest works and the one he called his ‘darling’. It shows one of the most famous ships of the age, a hero of Trafalgar, being towed up the Thames to the breakers’ yard, sail giving way to steam. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081r260

The Film Programme: Napoleon and I
BBC Radio 4: Thu 10 Nov 2016, 16.00 – 16.30
Historian Kevin Brownlow tells Francine Stock about his 50 year quest to restore Abel Gance’s silent masterpiece Napoleon to its six hour glory, and why the search for missing scenes still continues even though the film is about to be released on DVD for the very first time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081tdpf

Tommies: 11 November 1916
BBC Radio 4: Thu 10 Nov 2016, 13.45 – 14.00. New series: 1 / 4.
This drama story by Jonathan focuses on the women combatants and drivers of the Serbian Army,.
Doctor Celestine de Tullio, has gone from doctoring to fighting in Serbia. Today she’s commanding an offensive up a near-vertical mountain deep in snow. The military objective is at the top of the mountain. But Celestine has another target in her sights. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081thls

Close to the Enemy
BBC2: Thu 10 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 1 / 7. (Repeated Fri 11 Nov 23.15 – 00.05)
A new period drama from writer/director Stephen Poliakoff. At the end of the Second World War Captain Callum Ferguson is assigned a final task by the Army – to ensure that a captured German scientist helps the British develop the jet engine. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082sx5b

Erebus
BBC Radio 4 Extra: Thu 10 Nov 2016, 21.15 – 22.00
A poetic drama by Jo Shapcott about the search for the North-West Passage. The 1845 expedition led by John Franklin was lost in the ice and never returned. The mysteries remain.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0196td4

Sources: Radio Times / History Extra