Seven Ages of Britain [DVD]

I already have David Dimbleby's "A Picture of Britain" (which I've watched several times) and "How we built Britain", so I was expecting a lot from this new series "Seven Ages of Britain". I was not disappointed.

True, it is about England rather than Britain but I won't complain about that when I see the polished and personable presenter visiting Italy, Germany, Turkey, India and America, sometimes looking for artefacts which are part of British history but which finished up in different countries.

True, Mr Dimbleby is not a professional historian, as one rather nit-picking reviewer told his readers in a London newspaper. But, as someone else has pointed out in these customer reviews, he ranks alongside Sir David Attenborough for his knowledge, skill and manner. We can be thankful beyond measure that the BBC didn't emulate National Geographic and use some unknown "celebrity" in a voice-over commentary dripping with hyperbole.

David Dimbleby has a relaxed natural sense of humour and a ready smile, particularly when something momentarily goes wrong. He has fun when he dances with the elderly but still lively Gilbert and George, and when his face is thrown into muddy water by... no, I shan't explain, but let you have the pleasure of seeing it when it happens.

The episodes might be somewhat arbitrary but I reckon they work very well:

1. "Age of Conquest" AD 43 - 1066
From the Roman Invasion to the Norman Conquest.

2 "Age of Worship" 1170 - 1400
The art of the Church, the Knights of the Garter, and other artworks made during the Age of Worship.

3 "Age of Power" 1509 - 1609
Secrets of some of the most powerful British monarchs, from Henry VIII to the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I.

4 "Age of Revolution" 1603 - 1708
How art in the 17th century reflected the extremist and revolutionary politics of the age.

5 "Age of Money" 1700 - 1805
Art in the age of commerce, the creation of a new `middle' class and the rise of consumerism

6 "Age of Empire" 1770 - 1911
Art and the British Empire, from the earliest colonies in North America to the acquisition of India.

7 "Age of Ambition" 1914 - Now
Art of the modern age, from the paintings of the first World War to the contemporary art of today.

Along the way, we see all sorts of things we've never seen before. Not in a TV programme, anyway. And we learn a few odd snippets of information, e.g., the value of a red haired boy's urine for one group in bygone society.

When it comes to personal tastes and preferences, I was delighted to see the inclusion of Paul Nash, an artist whose work I first discovered in the 1950s. I was less than delighted to see someone's huge heaps of concrete worms and another chap shooting lumps of wax at a wall. This is Art? Hmmm. On the other hand, although I don't really "like" the work of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, David Dimbleby's descriptions and explanations of the context are well worth seeing/hearing.

The remarkable Mr Dimbleby is now 71. It saddens me to think that he might not make any more series such as this, but who knows? He's a lovely chap.

David Dimbleby's passion and personality is the icing on the cake for a beautiful, informative, riveting series looking at choice morsels of British art through the ages. The editing of such a vast subject into seven distinct chapters of our history must have been a huge job, and the finished product, succinct, beautifully filmed (the camera dances in such beautiful sync with David, leading us like excited children into the artworks, causing the camera itself to become a piece of the art it so wonderfully presents), with a gorgeous soundtrack, and finished with the presenters witty, vibrant narration, is my television highlight of the year.

WATCH IT!!!

This is one BBc series that i am quite amazed is already available for purchase on DVD.

I am writing this on Monday 8th February a day after only the second episode was aired.

So far it has been one of the most impressive programmes on Britains past history that i have seen in many a year.

Mr Dimbleby has the perfect manner for presentation with an enthusiasm that is almost on par with the great David Attenborough.

The second episode on Heraldic Chivalry and the early middle ages was supream and the manuscripts and illuminated Bibles he showed were superb.

I thought his attempt on stained glass restoration was most interesting and his involvement of members of the public however it was camera staged brought something new and entertaining to this quality series.

I had heard of Pilgrim Tokens bought by Chaucers friends on their pilgrimage to Cantubury in his famous tails but seeing them there in the cloisters of Cantubury after an apsense of 700 years brought great meaning to the whole programme.

The crown worn by the Queen to King Richard 11 held in a very secure strongroom in Germany of all places was stunning.

The longsword handled and owned by King Edward 3rd and used in hand to hand combat was one of the highlites of episode two.

I can go on and on about this series but Sunday evenings at 9pm BBc1 are now a thing of excitement and expectation.

More of the same Dave.

I cannot write anything about the rest of the series because nobody in the Uk has yet seen it but this is one DVD that is a must purchase and i realise they want to maximise it's selling impact but the series is so good

A small update to my review is now called for.

Every episode of this remarkable series has been of the highest quality.

After episode 1+2 one would have thought it would have been extreamly difficult to improve on content and viewer interest.

David must have had a team of very talented researchers gathering information on such a long period in Britains history.

The recent edition highliting William Penn and Pensylvania and the empires in the East especially India were magnificent in their detail and analysis.

This has been a series of incredible diversity and interest, and one we must thank Mr Dimbley for making it.

Trully magnificent and impossible to find any fault throughout it's broadcast, which today is a rarity indeed.