I visited Glasgow earlier this week for the preview screening of a new BBC documentary series, Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made The Commonwealth. The series will be broadcast on BBC 2 Scotland in April and on BBC 4 nationwide later this year.
One of the BBC team described the series as Who Do You Think You Are for ships and, judging by the preview screening, I think that's a pretty accurate description. The episode shown was about the cable repair ship CS Mackay-Bennett and her role in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. It combined fascinating information about the ship with gripping human interest stories, all set in the wider context of the communications revolution brought about by the laying of undersea cables.
The first episode will be about the Cutty Sark and I spent several months last year doing research for the BBC into various members of her crew. I was then asked to take part in the programme to present some of my findings. This involved being interviewed by the lovely series presenter - the distinguished Scottish actor David Hayman - in the splendid surroundings of the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
The programme will feature new information which I have uncovered about the Cutty Sark's notorious "hellship voyage" and will, I hope, lead to a more balanced view of one of the key people involved. I will be able to write more about this once the programme has aired, so watch this space!
One of the BBC team described the series as Who Do You Think You Are for ships and, judging by the preview screening, I think that's a pretty accurate description. The episode shown was about the cable repair ship CS Mackay-Bennett and her role in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. It combined fascinating information about the ship with gripping human interest stories, all set in the wider context of the communications revolution brought about by the laying of undersea cables.
The first episode will be about the Cutty Sark and I spent several months last year doing research for the BBC into various members of her crew. I was then asked to take part in the programme to present some of my findings. This involved being interviewed by the lovely series presenter - the distinguished Scottish actor David Hayman - in the splendid surroundings of the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
The programme will feature new information which I have uncovered about the Cutty Sark's notorious "hellship voyage" and will, I hope, lead to a more balanced view of one of the key people involved. I will be able to write more about this once the programme has aired, so watch this space!