Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.18.

[Ray Boyles]

Ray’s History Radio & TV Picks. No.18. 4 June 2015.

Castles: Britain’s Fortified History
BBC Four: Thu 4 June 2015, 20.00 -21.00. 2/3: Kingdom of Conquest.
Sam Willis tells the story of the English ruler who left the most indelible mark on the castle – the great Plantagenet king, Edward I, who turned it into an instrument of colonisation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tt2f9

Tales of Irish Castles.
Yesterday: Thu 4 June 2015, 21.00-22.00. New Series, Episode 1.
Simon Delaney celebrates the stunning citadels of Eire. The Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century led to the mass-building of castles across the isle. http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/tales-irish-castles/

Art of China.
BBC Four: Fri 5 June 2015, 12.05 – 01.05. Repeat of 2014 series. 3/3.
Andrew Graham-Dixon charts the journey from imperial to modern – the glorious rise and calamitous fall of China’s last dynasty: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04dg5q7

Holy Grail Conspiracy: Secrets Of The Knights Templar
Channel 5: Fri 5 June 2015, 21.00 – 22.00.
Conspiracy theorists believe that suppression of the Templars in the early 14th century and subsequent underground activities were the source of Freemasonry and other secret societies, which still hold power today.
http://www.channel5.com/shows/mysteries-of-the-bible/episodes/the-knights-templar

Anzac Girls
More 4, Fri 5 June 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. Courage 6/6
This Australian World War I period drama is based on real letters and diaries of five young women from Australia and New Zealand in the First World War. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/anzac-girls

1864
BBC Four: Sat 6 June 2015, 21.00 – 23.00. Danish drama with English subtitles.
7: The Danish soldiers are totally outnumbered as the Prussian and Austrian forces prepare to bombard the defences at Dybbol: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05y3m23
8: Defeat is difficult for the politicians in Copenhagen to accept: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05y3m25

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
BBC 1: Sun 7 June 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. 4/7: All the Mirrors of the World:
Returned from war, Strange joins Norrell to try to cure England’s mad king, George III, but is frustrated at his refusal to discuss the magic and legends of old times: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05ysm6b

Armada: 12 Days to Save England.
BBC 2: Sun 7 June 2015, 21.00 – 22.00. Repeated Mon 23.30 – 00.30. 3/3: Endgame.
Newly discovered documents reveal a remarkable web of misunderstandings that stopped the Spanish from invading, and show how the English victory forged the reputation of Elizabeth: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05yxltf

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives.
BBC Radio 4: Mon 8 – Fri 12 June 2015, 13.45 – 14.00. Episodes 21-25 of new daily series.
Professor Sunil Khilnani on Rammohan Roy: Humanity in General, William Jones: Enlightenment Moghul, Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi: Badass Queen, Jyotirao Phule: The Open Well, and Birsa Munda: Have you Been to Chlkad?: Series details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05rptbv

Ayo Gorkhali: The Gurkhas Are Coming!
BBC Radio 4, Mon 8 June 2015, 11.00-11.30
This year marks 200 years of Gurkha service to the British Crown. Military historian Hew Strachan reflects on this special relationship and the future of this crack fighting force.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xd44k

Inside the Medieval Mind
BBC Four: Mon 8 June 2015, 20.00 – 21.00. Repeat of 2008 series. 4/4: Power.
Professor Robert Bartlett examines how a social revolution transformed relations between those with absolute power and those with none. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00b6w6m

Music of the American Civil War
BBC Radio 2, Tue 9 June 2015, 22.00-23.00. 2/2:
To mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War, Kris Kristofferson looks back over the music and musical legacy of the Civil War era. In episode two, Kris looks over the past century and its impact on American music today. He discovers how the war inspired 20th and 21st century songwriters and artists including Elvis Presley, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Band: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xr97d

Shadow of the Sun King
BBC Radio 4, Wed 10 June 2015, 11.00-11.30, 2/2.
As we approach the 300th anniversary of the death of Louis XIV, Professor Julian Swann assesses the Sun King’s life and achievements – and also examines his key role in unwittingly spurring Britain to become a global super-power. In this second of two programmes, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Guildhall, Spitalfields, Trafalgar Square and many other sites reveal how resisting the Sun King’s military adventurism shaped Britain’s parliamentary system and its economy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xgkxj

Napoleon
BBC 2: Wed 10 June 2015, 21.30- 22.30. 1/3
New series of three documentaries telling the story of Napoleon. With access to a unique archive of Napoleon’s personal letters, many of which have never been published before, historian Andrew Roberts journeys through the history and geography of Europe to bring this story vividly to life as he retraces the footsteps of the legendary leader himself: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05yxzlj

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