Battlefield Britain

Infobox Television
show_name = Battlefield Britain


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genre = Documentary
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presenter = Peter & Dan Snow
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country = UK
language = English
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 8
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distributor = BBC
exec_producer = Jane Aldous
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runtime = 60 minuntes
channel = BBC 2
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first_aired = 6 August, 2004
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related = 20th Century Battlefields
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imdb_id = 0421157
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"Battlefield Britain" is a 2004 BBC television documentary series about famous battles in the history of Great Britain. From Boudicca's destructive rebellion against the Romans to the incredible feats of "The Few" who saw off the Luftwaffe, these battles all had wide-reaching consequences and implications for the future of the British isles.

The series is presented by father and son team Peter and Dan Snow with Peter explaining the battleplans of the generals while Dan explores the sites to give the perspective of the common soldier, sailors and airmen.cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/03_march/17/bbc2_spring2004_factual.shtml | title=BBC Two: Spring & Summer highlights 2004 | accessdate=May 16 | accessdaymonth= | accessmonthday= | accessyear=2008 | author=BBC Press Office | last= | first= | authorlink= | coauthors= | date= | year= | month= | format= | work= | publisher= ]

The episodes also featured "interviews" with soldiers from both sides, re-enactments of the battles and computer generated scenes with bird eye views and blocks to show troop movement.

Production

Dan Snow has stated that he had never intended to work with his father. This however had changed when someone at the BBC saw a video-diary about the 2000 Oxford and Cambridge boat race that Dan had recorded. Peter Snow was then telephoned and asked if he wanted to do a history series with his son. Peter originally rejected the proposal claiming that it was a ridiculous idea. Dan was able to talk him round and a pilot was filmed. Dan has stated that he didn’t find the work easy.cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article1263796.ece | title=Peter Snow and his son Dan | accessdate=May 17 | accessdaymonth= | accessmonthday= | accessyear=2008 | author= | last=Fox | first=Sue | authorlink= | coauthors= | date= | year= | month= | format= | work= | publisher=The Times | quote= ]

After the success of this pilot a full series was commissioned, although Dan Snow has admitted that he was told which battles to discuss by the BBC, rather than being free to select engagements about which he had gained some knowledge from his undergraduate studies.

Media information

A companion radio show "Battlefield Ramblings" was broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 4 to accompany the series. Each week a guest would join the presenter Muriel Gray for a walk in areas linked to the people and events featured in the TV show.cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/08_august/05/battlefield.shtml | title=Alexander the Great won the Battle of Hastings... | accessdate=May 16 | accessdaymonth= | accessmonthday= | accessyear=2008 | author=BBC Press Office | last= | first= | authorlink= | coauthors= | date= | year= | month= | format= | work= | publisher= ] The first episode was broadcast from Boudicca’s Way in Norfolk with guests Dan and Peter Snow who argued constantly during the program and drew a reprimand for Peter from Gray for admitting to having carried his son up a Welsh mountain just 27 days after he was born.cite web | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article467530.ece | title=Radio | accessdate=May 17 | accessdaymonth= | accessmonthday= | accessyear=2008 | author= | last=Campling | first= Chris | authorlink= | coauthors= | date= | year= | month= | format= | work= | publisher=The Times | quote= ]

Companion book

* cite book
date = Jul 29 2004
title = Battlefield Britain
last = Snow
first = Peter & Dan
publisher = BBC Books
id = ISBN 978-0563487895cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/06_june/battlefield_britain.shtml | title = Battlefield Britain by Peter and Dan Snow | accessdate = May 16 | accessdaymonth = | accessmonthday = | accessyear = 2008 | author = BBC Press Office | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | date = | year = | month = | format = | work = | publisher = ]

DVD release

* "Battlefield Britain: The Complete Series" (3-disc box-set), Region 1 (NTSC) and Region 2 (PAL), BBC Worldwide, Oct 23, 2006

Reception

The series became known for historical inaccuracyFact|date=May 2008, the presentation as fact of wild speculation unsupported by historical evidenceFact|date=May 2008 and gimmicks such as footage of Dan Snow at rugby practice. This does however explain certain elements of life and military strategies which are difficult to explain to people without knowledge of history.

It won Best Visual Effects at the BAFTA craft awards in 2004.

Episode listing

Episode 1: "Boudicca's Rebellion Against The Romans"

Find out what really happened when Boudicca stood up against the mighty Roman Empire in 60AD.

Episode 2: "Medieval Warfare At The Battle of Hastings"

Heralding the beginning of the Norman Conquest, the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when William the Conqueror faced King Harold on the south coast, was one of the bloodiest and most important battles ever fought on British soil.

Episode 3: "Owain Glyn Dwr And The Battle For Wales"

A look at the Battle for Wales in 1403 and the leader of the Welsh rebellion, Owain Glyndwr.

Episode 4: "The Spanish Armada"

Britain’s defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 was a victory against one of the great sea-going nations. The dramatic events helped seal the British reputation as a seafaring people.

Episode 5: "Routing The Royals: The Battle of Naseby"

The Battle of Naseby in 1645 saw Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army win the decisive battle of the English Civil War, effectively bringing an end to the absolute power of the monarchy.

Episode 6: "A Clash Of Kings: The Battle Of The Boyne"

The story of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 - the effects of which are still having consequences in everyday life in Ireland today.

Episode 7: "Culloden: The Jacobites' Last Stand"

The Battle of Culloden in 1746 was the last pitched battle on British soil and brought an end to Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebellion, securing the crown of Britain for the House of Hanover.

Episode 8: "Their Finest Hour, The Battle Of Britain"

The final instalment looks to the skies for the Battle of Britain and the RAF's struggle to prevent a Nazi invasion in the darkest days of World War II when Britain stood alone.

ee also

* 20th Century Battlefields

External links

* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article614469.ece Dan Snow on Culloden]

References