Empire of the Seas - BBC1 Friday 15th Jan (UK)

[Silent Invader]

…

[Astor]

Thanks for the heads-up! I'd seen the ad the other day but forgot when it was on. 

I didn't know (or forgot) it was a 4-part series, though - I thought it was just a one off. Oh well, that's a month of Friday nights gone!

[Galloping Major]

Looking forward to it 

[Gluteus Maximus]

Just to flag that at 21:00 on Friday 15th Jan, BBC1 is screening the first of a 4 part series that charts the history of the Royal Navy.

It is fronted by Dan Snow and (in The Times at least) gets a good preview.  For what it's worth I recently read Snow's new book on Quebec, which included much finely addressed detail on the Royal Navy during the F&IW, and so I shall be sure to watch and record it. 

Thanks! I like Dan Snow and his other historical programmes have been worth watching, so I'm very optimistic for this. Will have to try and set the Skyplus thingy for series record   

[Captain Blood]

I shall be watching, glass of rum in hand, a barrel of weevily biscuits on standby and - well, sodomy and the lash we'll have to see about. Need to check with the wife first 

Looking forward to it.

[Earther]

I shall be watching, glass of rum in hand, a barrel of weevily biscuits on standby and - well, sodomy and the lash we'll have to see about. Need to check with the wife first 

Looking forward to it.

Good grief! I've just snorted coffee all over my keyboard thanks to that sodomy comment!

[Gluteus Maximus]

  Missed it! Mrs Maximus and young Minimus decided they had two programmes to record whilst watching a third on terrestrial tv, so I was inevitably outvoted.

Hopefully it will be on iPlayer, or repeated on BBC 3 or 4 

[Captain Blood]

Yes, decent enough, but somewhat contrived in places. Dan Snow seemed to be suggesting that the entire English Civil War and execution of Charles I was down to the fact that the Navy wasn't being managed properly. Ditto the removal of James II and the Glorious Revolution. All down to mishandling of the Navy.

Well, I suppose it might have been a minor contributory factor in both cases, but not exactly the driving force behind either English revolution I don't think - and extremely disingenuous and pretty shoddy to suggest otherwise.

But apart from that - quite good. Lots of nice shots of big boaties, that's the main thing.

[Gluteus Maximus]

It's repeated this evening (Saturday) at 19:00 on BBC2

Thanks! 

[Doug ex-em4]

Lots of shots of Dan Snow on a ship, finishing a piece to camera then turning to gaze meaningfully out to sea.

Don't think I'll bother with episode 2.

Doug

[Captain Blood]

Lots of shots of Dan Snow on a ship, finishing a piece to camera then turning to gaze meaningfully out to sea.

Don't think I'll bother with episode 2.

Doug

 

Yes, I actually did snort aloud with laughter when I say him standing in a manful pose atop the mizzen mast, peering nobly across the glittering swell. What a tosser.
And let's face it, he only got the gig because of his dad and his uncle...
Bring back Michael Wood. Or Sooty.

[Captain Blood]

Oh yes, I shall keep watching