Coast Series 4 [DVD]

 

 

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Any doubts that the "Coast" Team would not be able to maintain the high standard of the first three series are dispelled by this "Coast and Beyond" series 4. Purists may not like the fact that some programmes travel beyond the British Isles (France and Norway are visited) but the tried and tested mix of history and geography continues to both educate and entertain. Worth every penny!

Coast has established itself as one of the most popular factual programmes on British TV and the fourth series continues to charm, inspire and educate.
The format remains the same; a journey around the UK coastline taken in geographical segments, dipping a toe into the social, geological, historical, maritime and natural history of each area in turn. Each hour-long episode covers a variety of topics, switching between engaging expert presenters. There are usually half a dozen in-depth items and half as many snippets - in this series the shorter pieces are occasionally present by locals, explaining their craft, trade or artistic endeavour in person.
Each episode of Coast provides an interesting mix of glorious landscape photography and extremely affable, personal investigations into little-known secrets from each area. The presenters themselves offer a wide range of talents - this series is anchored by `action historian' Neil Oliver (never shy about stripping off, it seems!) with regulars Dr Alice Roberts, Hermione Cockburn and Nicholas Crane among others. There are new contributors too, and it was especially interesting for me to see wild swimmer Kate Rew taking the crew to new places off the Dover coast.

Although the format is familiar, the series producers have cleverly extended the scope of this series to keep it fresh and provide new material. So as well as the UK coast, Series Four visits further afield to the shores of Normandy and the land of the Vikings. This is an interesting twist, and one which helps to demonstrate the heritage we share with our nearest neighbours. Other highlights include casting a bronze sword using Cornish tin, the tale of a German POW great escape, the earliest writing in the British isles, the background to the Plimsoll line, the secret maps of the D-Day beaches, bats which live in abandoned bunkers, how silent movies were made, the geology of the Isle of Wight, the final port of call for the Titanic, and one of Brunel's most spectacular sections of railway. Plus you can rely on Coast to come up with at least one good lighthouse each season!

Coast is genuinely educational as well as being very entertaining. It frequently captures a passing moment in modern history, reflecting the ever-changing nature of an island nature. For example, the last `mud horse' fisherman appears in this series - in another decade, that craft may have gone for good. The delight of this series is that you discover you've learned a load of stuff at the end of each episode, and you weren't even trying to...
One very minor complaint about this series is that some of the newer presenters have taken to talking more about themselves than about the item they are investigating. A bit too much `me me me' - the older hands tend to concentrate on the subject matter and their reports are more interesting as a result.

No doubt this series will be repeated many times across the BBC channels, but it is certainly worth watching several times. It might have seemed as if the team had told all the stories worth hearing in previous seasons, but this collection of episodes proves that point to be wrong. There's probably even enough material for a fifth series, I suspect...

9/10

At a time when many factual programs are presented with flashy graphics, over-bearing music and dizzying camerawork, Coast presents something a beacon of hope. It manages to avoid being dumbed down by presenting just enough interesting detail at a sensible length without being too cloying in the attempt to be educational in a populist way. And best of all there's not a celebrity in sight to take us on their holidays, sorry, the journey.

Any thought that after three years of sea, sand and cliffs the format would be running out of material are put to rest to the extent that this series is perhaps the best since the first one. Sensibly the makers have spread the definition of the UK coast to include areas far away from mainland Britain such as Normandy and Norway, with the acceptable conceit that many years ago they would have shared a common coastline. This enables them to tell fascinating stories such as completing the story of the Shetland Bus by showing what happened on the other side, as well as items on the D-Day landings.

This all suggests the format can continue for a while longer. I hope so.

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5.0 out of 5 stars More Brilliance from the "Coast" team!
This series is so good I have every season of these programmes and never get tiered of watching them every once in a while. Read more

Published 6 months ago by K. M. Jacobs

5.0 out of 5 stars Bettering itself
Having watched Coast 1-3 I thought that it would go on like that - enjoyable and becoming addictively so -, until I ordered and watched Coast 4! Read more

Published 8 months ago by Volker Knopp

4.0 out of 5 stars COAST DVD
I ordered this DVD for my brother's Christmas present and he was absolutely thrilled, as he is a great fan of the series. Read more

Published 13 months ago by A. Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars Coast
I have watched the TV progs and have purchased this for a Christmas Gift and sent it to Australia to show friends just how beautiful Great Britain is.

Published 14 months ago by E. A. Muston

5.0 out of 5 stars A full toast to Coast!
I watched the tv series and just had to buy for a gift for my father now living in South Africa. Scenery is beautiful, full of historical facts, a worthwhile gift to someone who... Read more

Published 15 months ago by bluebellgirl

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Rexaling & interesting
Everyone has their own views. For me,I have found this series Very, Very relaxing and very easy to watch. Read more

Published 16 months ago by si

5.0 out of 5 stars coast series
''COAST''.IS THE BEST TOUR AROUND BRITAIN YOU CAN GET.IT NEVER GETS BORING.YOU CAN WATCH IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.IT NOT ONLY TAKES THE TOUR, IT SHOWS HOW BRITAIN TICKS.. Read more

Published 19 months ago by xfactornutteron

5.0 out of 5 stars Coast Series
An excellent, very informative series, presented in a very user-friendly manner.

I now know so much more about our wonderful coastline and its history.

Published 24 months ago by A. L. Matterface

5.0 out of 5 stars United Kingdom Coastline
I have only seen one of the discs, as I live in Australia, and was lucky enough to view this as it was borrowed. Read more

Published on 18 Dec 2009 by Mrs. Joy L. Bowa

5.0 out of 5 stars Coast Series 4
We have bought all the Coast series and as with all the others it is brilliant, enjoyed all of it - can't wait for the next one!

Published on 28 Nov 2009 by sailing richard

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