Simon Schama Remembers... A History of Britain

Sir Simon Schama looks back on his series A History of Britain, a journey through 5,000 years of life in the British Isles, with each episode centred on a key moment from Britain’s past. Simon has described the presentation of popular history as telling stories - something his ambitious series tackled head on.

Simon tells us of the long debates over what to include, and just as crucially, what was left out. He shares his memories of filming and the search for apt locations, such as an abbey in France where Thomas Beckett hid and an abandoned military warehouse in Kent. He explains why he tried, and failed, to get battle reenactors to undress for one shot. And he talks of his inspirations - Kenneth Clark and Alistair Cook - and his drive to make history accessible, wanting audiences to share his passion in the stories the series imparted.