Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.2016/40 21 Nov 2016

Rewriting the Past: from Empire to Ivory – Start the Week
BBC Radio 4: Mon 21 Nov 2016, 21.30 – 22.00.
Andrew Marr looks back to the end of Empire when government officials systematically destroyed the records of imperial rule, and he explores the impact of outside organisations on a nation’s ability to govern,Shortened repeat of earlier broadcast. Details & full podcast here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b082x79f

Back In Time for Brixton
BBC 2: Mon 23 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 1 / 2
The Irwin family turn their backs on the 21st century and visit south London circa 1948. Here, they learn at first-hand about the experiences of those who arrived aboard the Empire Windrush. Part of the Black and British season, hosted by Giles Coren and social historian Emma Dabiri. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b083xysq

Russia: A Century of Suspicion – A Timewatch Guide.
BBC 4: Tue 22 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. (Repeated Wed 23 Nov 20.00 – 21.00)
Military historian Saul David draws on classic Timewatch documentaries and a wide range of BBC archive to examine how television has portrayed Russia through the years. I think the BBC have the text correct on this link but have incorrectly posted a photo David Olusoga rather than that of Saul David:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b083dd1g

Treasures of the British Library
Sky Arts: Tue 22 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. (Sky 121, Virgin 122). Repeated Thu 24 23.10 – 00.10.
This series features famous faces who pick out what they believe are the most important items in the British Library. In this last episode trumpeter Alison Balsom views items including the charts made for Tudor royalty to help protect the country from invasion. http://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2016/october/new-celebrity-biography-series-treasures-of-the-british-library-to-air-on-sky-arts

Medieval Dead
Yesterday: Tue 22 Nov 2016, 19.00 – 20.00.
The archaeological team investigate the origins of a hill fort. http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/medieval-dead/

Black and British: A Forgotten History
BBC2: Wed 23 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 3 / 4: Moral Mission (Repeated Thu 24 Nov 23.15 – 00.15)
David Olusoga tells the story of the Victorian-era moral crusade against slavery. It’s a story that encompasses how Queen Victoria came to have a black goddaughter, tragedy in Jamaica, and how the mill workers of Rochdale took a stand against the system in the American south. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b083rb2v

In Our Time: The Baltic Crusades
BBC Radio 4: Thu 24 Nov 2016, 9.00 – 9.45.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Baltic Crusades, the name given to a series of violent attempts to convert the pagans of north-east Europe to Christianity. From the 12th century, Papal Bulls endorsed those who fought or the church, such as the Teutonic Order, and the knights’ actions had profound effects on European history.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0832rmz

Close to the Enemy
BBC2: Thu 24 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 3 / 7. (Repeated Fri 25 Nov 23.15 – 00.15)
Stephen Poliakoff’s drama of the post-Second World War era finds its principals putting aside their differences in order to search for a missing German girl, Lotte. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0844h1m

Secrets of Great British Castles
Channel 5: Fri 25 Nov 2016, 20.00 – 21.00. 4 / 6.
Dan Jones explores the history of Leeds Castle. http://www.channel5.com/show/secrets-of-great-british-castles

Britain’s Greatest Bridges
Channel 5: Fri 25 Nov 2016, 21.00 – 22.00. 6 / 6
Engineer Rob Bell recounts the history of the Humber Bridge detailing why it took so long to build such a groundbreaking structure and how it changed the lives of the people of Hull & Grimsby.
http://www.channel5.com/show/britains-greatest-bridges

Tommies: 25 November 1916
BBC Radio 4: Fri 25 Nov 2016, 13.45 – 14.00. 3 / 4.
After the horrors of the Battle of the Somme Captain Mickey Bliss is on leave in Paris where he is drawn into the shady world of intelligence and politics in this story by Nick Warburton. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0834086

Sources: Radio Times / History Extra