Sandi Toksvig embarks on a journey across the nation as she digs out the history buried beneath our feet. But one discovery pushed her over the edge, leaving her in tears.
Sandi Toksvig is no stranger to curiosity, but in her latest series – Hidden Treasures with Sandi Toksvig – she’s delving deeper than ever before and one moment left her in floods of tears.
The beloved broadcaster is turning her lifelong love of archaeology into a full-scale adventure, uncovering the history buried beneath Britain’s soil.
“I studied archaeology many years ago at Cambridge University. It was a theoretical course, so I never went on a dig,” Sandi Toksvig says. “So when I got offered this, it was a bit that was missing in my education. I really needed to do this.”
Teaming up with her friend, archaeologist Raksha Dave, Sandi, 67, embarks on a thrilling nationwide journey across four episodes. From Dorset to Northumberland, the duo dig up remarkable discoveries that stretch from the Iron Age to the Second World War.
The series begins in Dorset, where a team from Bournemouth University excavates a 2,000-year-old Iron Age cemetery belonging to the Durotriges, one of Europe’s earliest women-centric communities.
From there, Sandi and Raksha head off to join the University of Reading at Cookham Abbey, before venturing north to explore Hadrian’s Wall and finally taking on their most ambitious dig in Essex – uncovering the wreckage of a US fighter plane from the Second World War.
“It’s such an astonishing range,” Sandi says. “We cover everything from the Romans to the Iron Age, which is the period from about 800 BCE to 43 CE, to look at the Durotriges. They were a local Iron Age tribe in modern Dorset and one of Europe’s first women-centric communities.”
But not every discovery is easy to process. In the opener, deep in a two-and-a-half-metre pit, Sandi comes face-to-face with a haunting find.
“We discovered a 15-to-17-year-old skeleton face down with a break across one of the arms,” Sandi recalls. “The arms had been tied together prior to death. The nature of the death seemed to be violent and suggested this was perhaps a sacrificial grave. Everybody was being careful.”
Experienced and steady, Raksha handled the skeleton with care. “She very carefully picked it up and handed it to me,” Sandi says. “I turned the face at last to the light and it felt like the person was looking at me.
“At that moment, I unexpectedly burst into tears. I could not stop crying. To hold that person’s head in my hands was one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
For Raksha, the discovery was groundbreaking. “It was pretty gobsmacking,” she says. “It’s very rare to find a human sacrifice. That’s not the first one they’ve discovered, there’s an obvious pattern that follows from years of digging. This suggests that it was the norm for the Durotriges.”
The chemistry between Sandi and Raksha is a highlight of the show. “Very occasionally, you meet somebody and you think, ‘We’re going to be friends,’” Sandi says.
“I am so drawn to anybody with expertise; Raksha has archaeology running throughout her bones. She is a magnet for archaeological finds. Give that woman a trowel and stick her in a couple of inches of dirt – she’ll find you something fantastic!”
Raksha laughs, saying, “Sandi calls me a magpie because every time I turn up on the site, I find stuff.” But it’s not all glamour and golden relics. “Camera crews don’t realise how crazy it can be,” says Raksha, 48.
“There’s a lot of dirt flying around. Quite often, you can be in challenging places, not all sites are accessible. You don’t know what the weather’s going to be like, it could be really horrid and muddy.
Also, camera crews are not used to an archaeological digging timetable. When you’re down a hole shovelling into a wheelbarrow all morning, you need to have a break.”
Despite the challenges, the pair’s friendship made every trench, trowel and muddy pit worth it. “Raksha is really good fun,” Sandi says. “We had beer, sitting back in a wheelbarrow – she taught me that leaning back in a wheelbarrow is a rather comfortable chair.
We’re friends and I admire her beyond words. The fact she’s been President of the Council for British Archaeology doesn’t surprise me.” Their shared laughter balances the show’s emotional weight, but both women hope the series sparks a bigger debate about archaeology’s future.
“I hope more will volunteer. Things are beginning to rot because of climate change,” Sandi says. “The safest way to protect something was to leave it buried. Now, we need to get cracking. I would encourage everybody to volunteer. It’s a fantastic experience.”
Hidden Treasures with Sandi Toksvig airs on November 4th, on Channel 4.
The ruins of the abandoned village of Tide Mills can still be seen today, nestled between Newhaven and Seaford in East Sussex. It was once a thriving hub home to many families
A seaside town that was once buzzing with life is now a mere ghost of what it once was after its inhabitants were forced to leave.
Today, Tide Mills in Sussex is little more than crumbled bricks and mortar. In fact, you’d be forgiven for not realising that a town once stood on this spot of tranquil marshland. Yet less than a century ago, this tiny part of the south coast was filled with industry and village life.
As the name implies, the tight-knit community was built around a tidal mill that began operating in 1761. At first, it was a small affair, with local men loading barges with corn and wheat and women darning the flour sacks. They lived in a handful of cottages built around the mill.
Bloody drama befell Tide Mills in 1795 when hungry English troops fighting in the Napoleonic Wars stole 200 sacks of flour from the town, leading to their swift capture and execution.
A decade later, the town was expanded significantly when William Catt purchased the mill. The industrialist was fascinated by exotic fruit and built a massive greenhouse where he grew figs and pineapples, according to the Tide Mills Project
It wasn’t all fun, games and tasty fruit, however. Catt ran the village with an iron fist, building walls around it and setting a tight 10.10 pm curfew when the gates were locked. On one occasion, some villagers arrived back from the pub 10 minutes late, prompting Catt to stop their beer tokens and ban them from leaving the village for a month.
Two major events signalled the beginning of the end of prosperity for Tide Mills. In 1864, the railway network extended to Seaford, making it cheaper and easier for farmers to send their grain to London to be milled. Just over a decade later, a huge storm caused a great deal of damage to the mill, including filling much of its pond with stones from the beach. It never got back up to full capacity.
“The way people lived changed a lot over the life of Tide Mills, especially when the Mill stopped working for good in 1883. The Mill, which provided work for so many men, had stopped and the beating heart of the village fell silent. The Mill buildings were converted and used as warehouses where some of the men continued to work,” the Tide Mills Project writes.
Slowly, community cornerstones such as the school, blacksmith, and carpenters began to disappear from the village. But the people stayed, surviving as best they could.
In the early decades of the 20th century, Tide Mills had a bit of a rebirth. A large radio mast was built there to guide ships, while a seaplane station base opened in 1917, bringing army traffic and soldiers, noise, and two big hangars for the planes on the beach.
However, the end of the settlement loomed ever closer. In 1930, Parliament passed a Housing Act that permitted local authorities to condemn housing as unfit for human habitation.
A lack of work and investment saw Tide Mills fall into disrepair. In 1936, a petition to evict the villagers from Tide Mills was launched in response to concern that the homes there were no longer fit for living. In 1937, a headline in the Daily Mail read ‘The Hamlet of Horror’, and described the squalor in which residents lived. It highlighted a lack of running water, sewage facilities and electricity.
Water was sourced from a single standpipe shared by all six houses, general waste was removed and discarded into the sea, and each house had a small outside building containing an earth closet whose contents had to be emptied and carried to the sea.
Later that year, Seaford council deemed the village of Tide Mills as unfit for habitation. It issued an eviction order, giving the residents nine months to move out. Everyone at Tide Mills, including Chailey Marine Hospital, was evicted. Those who refused to leave were forcibly evicted in 1940.
Today, it’s a challenge to distinguish the remnants of the buildings among the ruins that still stand. The only house that can be clearly identified is Station House, situated at the northern end of the village near the railway line.
In 1940, Stan Tubb, a war veteran, was permitted to remain for an additional two months due to his specialised knowledge that proved useful to the troops stationed there during WWII.
All buildings in the village and hospital were demolished as they would have obstructed the view of defending soldiers and hindered their ability to fire upon invaders.
Today, the ruins are open for exploration and Tide Mills is a popular walking and cycling route.
Tyneham village in Dorset was abandoned in 1943 when the British military requisitioned the village for training purposes during World War Two – and the villagers were never able to return
A deserted Dorset village stands as a unique relic in Britain, abandoned yet not erased from memory.
Tragic events forced residents to flee their cherished homes decades ago.
Located along Dorset’s breathtaking Jurassic Coast, a visit to Tyneham village feels like travelling through time.
Visitors can peer into the lives of locals who were compelled to desert the settlement during World War Two.
The year 1943 marked the moment when this thriving community of Tyneham would witness their existence transformed permanently.
During the height of the Second World War, British forces commandeered the village for military exercises.
This resulted in heartbroken residents receiving just one month’s warning to vacate properties where countless families had resided across generations.
The wartime administration seized Tyneham village and its surrounding territory to serve as a training facility for Allied troops, positioned adjacent to the Lulworth firing range.
Locals trusted they were sacrificing their dwellings for their nation’s benefit and expected to return following the war’s conclusion.
A message was attached to the church entrance, stating: “Please treat the church and houses with care. We have given up our homes where many of us have lived for generations, to help win the war to keep men free. We will return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.”
Sadly, the residents of Tyneham were never able to return home even after World War Two ended, as the village and surrounding land became a military training ground.
Now, nearly 80 years later, the village remains frozen in time and serves as a ‘thought-provoking and interesting’ tourist attraction. It opens at certain times of the year, offering visitors ‘fascinating insights into the lives of its former residents’.
When not open to the public, the gates blocking access are locked every evening.
One TripAdvisor review reads: “This deserted village has such an interesting history. The boards within the church detailing the villagers fight to be allowed to return to the village and the current position are very moving.”
Another review on TripAdvisor describes it as ‘a wonderful place – very atmospheric and sad but in a way that keeps drawing you back to visit’.
The last resident of Tyneham, Peter Wellman, passed away at the age of 100 in April this year. The centenarian made his final visit to the village in 2024, to see the place where he was born and raised.
During his last visit to Tyneham in 2024, Peter reminisced about his childhood days. He told the Dorset Echo: “We had no electricity, no mains gas and no running water – we had to pump that from near the church.
“I remember going to the beach and fishing and we often had mackerel. We were happy until we got moved out.”
Tyneham village, nestled in the Isle of Purbeck, is not actually an island but a peninsula, bordered by the English Channel in the picturesque county of Dorset.
This old RAF bunker once helped keep Britain’s radar network running during World War II – and is now a unique holiday home with incredible views of the Dorset coast
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas News Reporter
03:00, 29 Sep 2025
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During the darkest days of the Battle of Britain, it would’ve seemed just a little unlikely that the concrete bunkers built to defend against the Luftwaffe would one day see cheery holidaymakers arrive with luggage in tow.
But few getaways offer quite the same experience as the Standby Generator Bunker in Ringstead, Dorset, a converted former World War II radar facility that’s now a unique holiday destination.
Built in 1941, this hidden gem once housed a large generator that was crucial to keeping the Chain Home radar network running if the power grid failed, forming one of six subterranean spaces on the former RAF Ringstead site.
Its job was to provide back-up power for a transmitter bunker located a short distance up the road, which sent out radio waves into the Channel that would bounce back to a receiver if an enemy aircraft was detected. This information was then relayed to RAF Fighter Command, who was given the all-important task of intercepting German bomber planes before they could reach Britain’s major towns and cities.
After victory over the Axis was assured in 1945, RAF Ringstead carried on as a Rotor station during the first years of the Cold War, to guard against the new Soviet threat. The generator bunker was eventually decommissioned in 1956, and stayed empty for almost seventy years, disappearing further into overgrowth as the decades passed by.
Now marvellously restored and repurposed as a luxury holiday let, this Grade II listed structure sprang back to life as a holiday cottage in late 2024, with its owners keen to retain original wartime features while furnishing it with all the luxuries desired by a 21st-century holidaymaker.
I arrived on a pleasant September afternoon to find the bunker in tiptop condition. What’s obvious straight away is just how well this once-functional space has been adapted to its new role as somewhere to truly unwind and ‘get away from it all’, with comfortable furniture and an island kitchen spread across the spacious open-plan front room, all facing towards the enormous window.
Three bedrooms are located over two floors, including one double room, with the property sleeping eight people in total.
On the walls are some wonderful bits of wartime ephemera, including a selection of British and American civilian posters directed at the civilian population, as well as photographs showing the Chain Home network and RAF aircraft in action.
And then there’s the sublime coastal view – framed in a blast-shaped opening from the concrete surround – of the English Channel, which stretches out effortlessly into the horizon as you peer through a row of trees at the bottom of the garden.
A spot of lunch or perhaps a glass of wine can be enjoyed out on the balcony, giving you the same perspective that was once keenly surveyed by the military, albeit with the task of national survival on their minds, rather than rest and relaxation.
On the first day of our stay, my other half and I ventured down to Ringstead Bay to make the most of a spot of bright autumn weather. We acquainted ourselves with the giant seaweed on the pebble beach as we walked to the charming town of Osmington Mills.
By the following day, a Met Office weather warning had been ushered in across the south of England, and we elected to do what any sane person would in such a situation – head to the pub.
We tucked into a hearty roast at the Smuggler’s Inn, a 13th-century pub around 20 minutes walk away. Our visit coincided with the Iron Man triathlon in nearby Weymouth, and ripples of applause bounced around the cosy interior as competitors reunited with their families for a well-earned pint following a mammoth 69-mile trek.
For the final day, Durdle Door was top of our to-see list, as it should be for anyone who finds themselves in this part of the country. This famous colossal limestone arch has been shaped over millions of years by the relentless force of the sea, and attracts visitors from all over the world with its postcard-perfect beauty.
A choppy sea on our visit meant a particularly spectacular display of the waves crashing up against the sides of the arch, delighting the gaggle of tourists who lined the beach, taking selfies.
We then took a short walk over to Lulworth Cove, a natural horseshoe bay surrounded by dramatic jagged cliffs and rolling hills. One particularly recent addition to this beauty spot has been the Weld Estate’s Saltwater Sauna, which since April has given visitors the opportunity to get themselves nice and steamy in a booth overlooking the beach, before dashing into the cool waters a few yards below.
A great natural high, I’m told, though admittedly I was more interested in the comfort offered by the sausage rolls sold by the harbour.
And that was my time in Dorset, spent enjoying just a small slice of what this handsome area has to offer, and lounging in accommodation quite unlike any other I’ve ever been to.
When the autumn weather does catch up with you, there is certainly something to be said for coming back to a bunker like this one, with its living roof, expansive views and intriguing backstory. There being such fine scenery quite literally on your doorstep, you really don’t have to be a history buff to get into what the Standby Generator Bunker has to offer – though I would say in my case, it certainly didn’t hurt.
Book it
The Standby Generator Bunker is available for bookings through Sykes Cottages, starting from £1001 for seven nights.
Empire of the Sun was released in 1987 and is based on J.G Ballard’s novel of the same name. It stars Christian Bale and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video
A young Christian Bale(Image: Warner Bros)
The war epic that catapulted Steven Spielberg into the ranks of Hollywood’s top directors is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Empire of the Sun, which hit cinemas in 1987, features a glittering cast including Christian Bale.
Adapted from J. G Ballard’s novel bearing the same title, this 2hrs 32 min spectacle chronicles the life of Jamie ‘Jim’ Graham – portrayed by the erstwhile Batman actor – a well-heeled British lad residing in Shanghai during the early stages of World War II.
Separated from his parents amidst the Japanese invasion, he is ultimately captured and dispatched to an internment camp where he encounters the intriguing American wheeler-dealer, Basie, enacted by Of Mice and Men (1992) actor John Malkovich.
Striving to endure the severe conditions, Jim aspires to preserve his youthful innocence amid the turmoil and loss, reports the Express.
The cast also includes Southport-born Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers known for Coronation Street (2009-2019) and Chariots of Fire (1981), and The Matrix (1999) star Joe Pantoliano.
Empire of the Sun arrived in theatres in 1987(Image: Warner Bros)
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has awarded Empire of the Sun a critic score of 77%, while the audience score stands at a commendable 90%.
The film was highly acclaimed upon its release and is often hailed as the hidden jewel in Spielberg’s trove of blockbusters, with some asserting it surpasses the likes of Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and Schindler’s List (1993) as his finest work.
Don’t just take our word for it, with one critic saying: “One of Steven Spielberg’s most ambitious efforts of the 1980s, Empire of the Sun remains an underrated gem in the director’s distinguished filmography.
“Stephen Spielberg’s graduation to grown-up film-making,” added a second, while another added: “Empire of the Sun is a great, overwrought movie that leaves one wordless and worn out.”
Matt, a superfan of the movie, posted on Rotten Tomatoes: “This is one of my favorite films of all time. I’ve been watching it since it came out and it’s just as good each time I see it.
“Absolute stellar cast and should have won a lot of awards. This is actually my favorite Speilberg WWII movie.”
Empire of the Sun is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
One London tube station sensationally disappeared from the Underground map, in the same year that it opened, only to make a comeback nearly 20 years later with a new name
14:27, 05 Sep 2025Updated 14:50, 05 Sep 2025
One London Underground tube was mysteriously left off the official map for nearly 20 years
The iconic London Underground map, with its vast network spanning across various zones and neighbourhoods, hasn’t always been the same.
For nearly two decades, one station was noticeably missing from its intricate design after it mysteriously disappeared.
Kensington (Olympia) is a peaceful rail and tube stop in West London’s Zone 2, currently served by the London Overground and the District line.
It provides a handy shortcut to avoid Zone 1, as all its Overground services are entirely within Zone 2.
However, if we travel back to 1940, Olympia had a completely different purpose.
Initially opened as Kensington station in 1844, it was so unpopular that it shut down in December of the same year.
Kensington (Olympia)(Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images)
The station returned in 1862 with new services, including the Metropolitan line, and was renamed Kensington Addison Road in 1868.
But during the Second World War, the Metropolitan line was bombed, leading to the closure of the West London stations on the line.
However, this wasn’t the end for Kensington station. As it happens, the station was ideally situated, reports MyLondon.
Not only did it have rail connections to all of London, but it was also conveniently close to the headquarters of the Commander of the Allied Forces, led by Dwight D Eisenhower.
It became his preferred travel spot when he journeyed to Wales in 1944 to prepare for the Normandy landings.
Aerial view over Olympia and the Headquarters of the Post Office Savings Bank, 1935(Image: Getty Images)
In 1946, the station was renamed Kensington (Olympia) and began transporting workers at the Post Office Savings Bank.
Due to the National Secrets Act, the Post Office Savings Bank kept the station’s existence under wraps, and it wasn’t until 1958 that its presence was officially announced.
That year, Kensington (Olympia) gained a permanent platform and a District line shuttle service to Earl’s Court.
After a significant makeover, the station introduced more regular schedules, added a community garden, and received a facelift.
Despite these improvements, trains remain infrequent at Kensington (Olympia), making it one of London’s only part-time stations.
The programme might have slipped past some viewers’ attention, but it delivers an exceptional viewing experience.
One glowing IMDb review stated: “An immaculate, terrifying alternate history that is accurate down to the buttons. I love period pieces, and this scary projection of a post WW2 hegemony ruled by the Japanese and German empires certainly fits the bill.”
Another viewer gushed: “I’m a TV show lover, but never! ever! has a series made me want to write a review.”
They continued: “The story line is incredible. The acting is great. The emotions that it brought out of me was real and raw. It made me appreciate and think differently about the word/idea/concept that we all throw around ‘FREEDOM [sic].'”
Rufus Sewell starred in the groundbreaking series(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
A third reviewer entitled their assessment: “An amazing adaptation of the novel!”.
They elaborated: “The pilot episode was exceptional. It held my attention and made me believe in such an alternate history.
“I have read the book, and although it is different, it is an incredible adaptation. If the book was turned into a show without any edits, it would be far too complicated and very hard to enjoy (although the book is incredible).
“The acting, story, and visuals are spot on and only intensified what I had imagined when I read the book.”
The alternate history drama has proved captivating(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
Get Prime Video free for 30 days
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TV lovers can get 30 days’ free access to tantalising TV like The Boys, Reacher and Clarkson’s Farm by signing up to Amazon Prime. Just remember to cancel at the end and you won’t be charged.
Another viewer gave a glowing 10/10 review, exclaiming: “A must watch, absolutely amazing!” and added: “If you like Hunger Games, GoT, Legends, Vikings or any of these shows, you will like this. I highly recommend watching this, to everyone. Watch it! [sic].”
The Man in the High Castle first aired in 2015 and was Amazon Prime Video’s inaugural original series, spanning four seasons.
The series is an adaptation of renowned science fiction author Philip K. Dick’s 1962 novel bearing the same title.
The plot envisages an alternate history where Adolf Hitler and the Nazis emerged victorious from WW2, with the action set 15 years post-conflict.
A woman holds her hands up with soldiers pointing a gun at her(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
The storyline follows various characters living under the rule of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany in a divided USA.
The TV adaptation stays true to this premise and centres around Juliana Crain (portrayed by Alexa Davalos), who starts to rebel against the regime after viewing a subversive newsreel titled The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, which portrays a world where the USA and the Allies triumphed in the war.
The Man in the High Castle was Prime Video’s first major original series. The streaming platform kick-started its original programming by producing a series of pilots and inviting its users to vote on which one they wanted to see developed into a full series, with the science fiction alternate history emerging as the winner.
The Man in the High Castle boasts a star-studded cast including Davalos, Rufus Sewell from ITV’s Victoria and The Holidays, Luke Kleintank known for FBI and Bones, DJ Qualls of Z Nation fame, Joel de la Fuente from Hemlock Grove, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, renowned for Pearl Harbor and Netflix’s Lost in Space.
The Man in the High Castle is streaming on Prime Video now
RAF Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank has died at the age of 105Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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In 2013 with a Catalina flying boat, like the one he skipperedCredit: Getty
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The brave RAF ace stands proudly in his uniformCredit: PA:Press Association
It was 81 years ago that he performed an extraordinary act of sustained bravery, as he defied the agony of multiple severe injuries to bring home his badly damaged plane after a lethal encounter with a U-boat off the coast of Norway.
He was one of four Coastal Command airmen to receive this award, but his case was unique.
The other three had died in action and were honoured posthumously.
He had survived but it was a mighty close-run thing.
It was appropriate that this Scotsman of rock-hard resilience should hail from Aberdeen, long known as “the Granite City”.
He had left school in 1938 to become an apprentice in banking.
But the drumbeat of war was echoing across Europe so he volunteered for the Territorial Army, enlisting in the Royal Artillery.
Called up for service with this regiment in 1939, he transferred to the RAF two years later then went through initial flight instruction in Canada and the US.
Back in Britain, having won his wings as a pilot, he continued his training until March 1943 when he was assigned to 210 Squadron in Coastal Command, based at Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands.
The Last of the Few, John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway has died, age 105
Man of modesty
His squadron’s main duty was to protect Allied ships from U-boats and they were equipped with the rugged and reliable American-built twin-engine Catalina flying boat.
It was on July 17, 1944, soon after D-Day, that the incident occurred which lifted John Cruickshank into the record book, but almost killed him.
He was piloting an anti- submarine patrol off Norway when his radio operator John Appleton picked up a blip on the Catalina’s equipment.
John began to home in on the target, whose status as a U-boat was confirmed by fire from its 37 mm gun.
Appleton wrote in his memoir: “The skipper manoeuvred into a perfect attacking position astern of the submarine, just out of range of the enemy gunfire. He gave a blast on the klaxon and started the attack run-in from about two miles.”
As the plane got closer, flak from the U-boat intensified and was reinforced as its two pairs of 20mm cannon opened up.
The skipper manoeuvred into a perfect attacking position astern of the submarine, just out of range of the enemy gunfire. He gave a blast on the klaxon and started the attack run-in from about two miles
John Appleton
John flew on and appeared to have released the depth charges at the right moment.
But the bombs had hung up, so he then took the plane out of range of the U-boat, while his crew rearmed their own guns and checked the bomb-release mechanism.
“Everyone ready! Here we go again,” said John over the intercom.
Of the second attack, Appleton recalled: “This time all the flak was bursting much closer to us and I was surprised at how thick it could be.
“We seemed to be flying into a wall of black explosions.”
But again, John descended upon the target without hesitation.
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The first thing John said when he had regained consciousness in the stricken Catalina, was: ‘How are my crew?’Credit: PA:Press Association
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John was awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary act of sustained braveryCredit: Alamy
This time the depth charges hit their target with deadly accuracy. Seconds later, the U-boat began to sink. None of the 52 men on board had a chance of survival.
But by now John’s plane, caught by more enemy fire, was in serious trouble.
Flames and smoke began to fill the aircraft. The radar was wrecked and the nose canopy shattered.
One crewman was dead and four others were badly wounded, including John, who had been hit in his chest and legs and was bleeding heavily.
But all was not lost. With the use of extinguishers, some of the uninjured crewmen put out the fire.
As the co-pilot took over the controls, John was carried to the back of the plane.
Throughout, he set an example of determination, fortitude and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the service
Citation from Victoria Cross ceremony
Lapsing in and out of consciousness, he was in tremendous pain but refused any morphine from the emergency safety kit because he wanted to keep alert so he could help bring the Catalina boat plane home to Sullom Voe.
With almost superhuman fortitude, he returned to the cockpit to oversee the final descent just as dawn was breaking.
After landing successfully on the water, he ran the shattered plane on to the beach.
He had to be given an emergency blood transfusion before being taken to Lerwick Hospital, where he was found to have suffered 72 wounds.
His citation read: “Throughout, he set an example of determination, fortitude and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the service.”
From a generation that never sought the spotlight
Barney Crockett
But he was a man of profound modesty who hated talking about his exploits.
Even at his investiture, he crept out of a side door afterwards to avoid the attention of the press and public.
In the same vein, when he had regained consciousness in the stricken Catalina, the first thing he said was: “How are my crew?”
Though he had recuperated imp-ressively in hospital, the legacy of his injuries was too severe to allow him to return to flying duties, so for the rest of the war he held a staff job at Coastal Command HQ.
Later, on demobilisation at the end of the war, he resumed his career in banking, eventually working in international finance before he retired in 1977.
Happily married, he lost his beloved wife Marion in 1985.
In his final years, in sheltered accommodation, he disliked any fuss, whether about his VC or his birthdays.
Barney Crockett, the former Lord Provost of his native Aberdeen, once said John was “from a generation that never sought the spotlight”.
But it was also the generation that saved the world from tyranny.
The series is available to watch on Channel 4’s streaming service and is based on Mary Wesley’s novel of the same name
The series is on Channel 4’s streaming service(Image: CHANNEL 4)
Lovers of period drama are in for a real delight as a captivating Second World War series is now available to stream at no cost whatsoever.
Channel 4 is the proud broadcaster of this gem, which first graced television screens back in the early 90s and even snagged a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Serial in 1993. The narrative unfolds within the picturesque confines of Helena Cuthbertson’s Cornish country abode, with the series’ name inspired by a scenic stretch of land between her house and the coastal cliffs where pivotal moments occur.
Cornwall’s reputation as a prime setting for exceptional period dramas remains unchallenged. The role of Helena Cuthbertson is portrayed by none other than Felicity Kendal of The Good Life fame, with Toby Stephens as Oliver Ansty, Jennifer Ehle as Calypso, and Tara Fitzgerald as Polly.
The series is based on a heartbreaking book(Image: CHANNEL 4)
Spanning from just before the outbreak of the Second World War to its aftermath in the mid-1980s, The Camomile Lawn has earned acclaim from enthusiasts as “ingenious”.
Mary Wesley’s novel kicks off with a family gathering in Cornwall during the tranquil summer preceding the global conflict, reports Cornwall Live.
When the family reconvenes for a funeral almost fifty years on, they come to terms with the profound effects the war had on their lives.
Wesley was spurred to pen The Camomile Lawn following the passing of her second husband, an event that left her in financial ruin.
Drawing from her own experiences, parts of the book reflect Wesley’s formative years, with the Cornish house mirroring Boskenna – the historic settlement – where she spent considerable time during her younger days.
The Camomile Lawn became Channel 4’s top-rated drama ever(Image: CHANNEL 4)
Audiences expressed their views on the adaptation, with Antony Taylor declaring: “Simple and ingenious story, wonderful cast, perfect direction and a script full of sparkle. Watch it and love it.”
Drawing in over seven million viewers during its debut broadcast, The Camomile Lawn became Channel 4’s highest-rated drama of all time – a milestone it maintained as of 2022.
One admirer commented on IMDb: “The Camomile Lawn is one of my favourite British TV adaptations.”
Notmicro described it as “Compulsively watchable and great fun”, continuing: “I’d been curious for years to see this thing, both because of the very interesting actors, and the period setting.
“Now I’ve just watched the British DVD, and found that its absolutely brilliantly done, and compulsively watchable.
“It takes some time getting accustomed to the affected and presumably somewhat archaic upper-middle-class accents assumed by some of the actors.”
The Camomile Lawn is available to watch on Channel 4’s streaming service.
A new teaser trailer for upcoming historical thriller Nuremberg has left film fans with chills as they’re all saying the same thing about the upcoming World War II drama
Film enthusiasts have been left spellbound by the debut trailer for an eagerly awaited World War II drama that promises to be utterly compelling.
Boasting a stellar ensemble of British and Hollywood stars, this gripping thriller will delve into one of the most pivotal post-war moments in unprecedented detail.
No Time to Die and Oppenheimer actor Rami Malek takes on the role of American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley in the Sky Original production Nuremberg, the specialist charged with evaluating one of Adolf Hitler’s most loyal Nazi associates.
Prior to the landmark Nuremberg Trials, Kelley was given the responsibility of assessing the psychological state of senior Nazi officials before proceedings could commence.
Gladiator legend Russell Crowe transforms into Hermann Göring, the Nazi military commander and Hitler’s most devoted aide, reports the Express.
Sinister trailer for WWII thriller gets split reaction from fans(Image: SKY)
The historical drama’s synopsis states: “The film unfolds as a gripping cat-and-mouse drama.
“Nuremberg features a stellar ensemble cast, including Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, and Leo Woodall as translator Howard Triest.
“Set in the shadow of the unimaginable crimes committed during the war, Nuremberg explores the human mind at its most chilling and complex.”
Viewers will undoubtedly be thrilled to witness One Day heartthrob Woodall tackle his most demanding performance to date, appearing dramatically different from his charming romantic comedy persona.
With Nuremberg set to hit UK cinemas this November, cinema-goers have been expressing their excitement, with one particular element of the production capturing widespread attention. Russell Crowe’s latest role as Hermann Göring has certainly caught the attention of movie buffs, with one YouTube user expressing surprise: “I never thought I will see Russell ‘Maximus’ Crowe as Hermann Göring.
“But here we go. Packed with great actors. I put on my watchlist 4 sure.”
Another viewer anticipates the release, replying: “What a great cast, and original storyline. Looking forward to it.”
A third chimes in with praise for the star-studded lineup: “So many excellent actors, it’s going to be awesome,” and adds, “This is how movies should be made.”
Oppenheimer’s Rami Malek leads as psychiatrist Douglas Kelley(Image: SKY)
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This includes more than 100 channels, more than 1,000 films on-demand, plus subscriptions to Netflix, Discovery+, and Paramount+, plus two Vue cinema tickets every month.
Echoing the enthusiasm, another comments on the film’s visual appeal: “Cast and cinematography look stunning.”
However, not everyone on Reddit shared the same excitement, with some critical of the trailer.
One user didn’t mince words: “I can’t think of anything worse that a bombastic movie about the Nuremberg trial featuring Russell Crowe butchering another accent,” and sarcastically remarked, “Jesus what the hell was this trailer? Bwaaaaaah.”
Another Reddit user was unimpressed by the teaser: “This trailer kinda sucks lol I know it’s a teaser but is it really going to have this weird a** style with that subject matter?”
Yet, even the critics acknowledged the intriguing casting choices: “Very interesting cast though.”
With opinions divided, are you eager to see Nuremberg when it hits cinemas, or will you be skipping this WWII drama?
Nuremberg will be released in UK cinemas on 14th November, 2025.
Two British icons of the screen finally join forces in the new period drama Outrageous, releasing this week on U and U&Drama
Outrageous star James Purefoy has opened up about working with his long-time friend Anna Chancellor for the first time ever in the upcoming period drama.
This scandalous series coming this week on U and U&Drama takes viewers back to the 1930s when the shadow of World War II was beginning to loom.
While Nancy Mitford (played by Bessie Carter) becomes a reputable writer, her sisters follow drastically different career paths.
Under the stern eyes of their parents, David Freeman-Mitford aka ‘Farve’ (Purefoy) and Sydney Bowles aka ‘Muv’ (Chancellor), the family is catapulted into notoriety as the sisters become rebels, socialites and even rub shoulders with fascists.
Speaking to Reach at Outrageous’ London premiere, Purefoy explained his co-star has been a dear friend for years despite never sharing the screen.
‘Farve’ and ‘Muv’ try to rule their home with an iron fist(Image: U)
“She’s an amazing actress,” he said. “She’s the godmother to my eldest child, I’ve known her 35 years and this is the first time I’ve worked with her.
“It was just a joy working with a really old friend because there’s a lot of shorthand there and it was a very easy fit for us.
“It was just an enormous pleasure every single day.”
Throughout the six-part drama, the Mitford patriarch struggles to keep his foothold in high society following a substantial loss during the Wall Street Crash.
Although he attempts to rule his household with an iron fist, his anarchic daughters have other ideas.
As Britain faced economic turmoil in the years preceding the war, his daughters Diana (Joanna Vanderham) and Unity (Shannon Watson) blindly swear allegiance to the British Union of Fascists.
Meanwhile, Muv is simply desperate for her daughters to find good husbands during an era when family connections meant everything.
James Purefoy has known Anna Chancellor for more than 30 years(Image: U)
“The thing about Anna is she’s so curious about everybody and everything,” Purefoy added.
“She will talk to anybody about anything. And is always interested, and that’s what makes her such a good actress.”
This isn’t the first time Purefoy and Chancellor have been involved in the same project, however.
Chancellor portrayed a fascist herself, the villainous Dr. Frances Gaunt, in the popular Batman prequel series Pennyworth, starring Jack Bannon as the nocturnal hero’s future butler Alfred.
Despite not sharing scenes together, Purefoy also had a major role in the Epix and HBO Max series, playing Captain Gulliver ‘Gully’ Troy, aka Captain Blighty, in the second and third seasons.
As two legendary stars of the British stage and screen, don’t miss the chance to see Purefoy and Chancellor as married aristocrats in this scandalous new drama that truly lives up to its title.
Outrageous premieres Thursday, 19th June on U, U&Drama and BritBox.
This powerful hit drama is leaving Netflix later this month
Ketsuda Phoutinane Spare Time Content Editor and Lucas Hill-Paul Content Editor
22:25, 07 Jun 2025
WWII film that ‘blows Dunkirk out of the water’ is leaving Netflix soon
Joe Wright’s cinematic masterpiece Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, has made an indelible impact with its seven Oscar nominations and a box office return that quadrupled its budget.
Set against the backdrop of World War 2, Atonement is a riveting tale that unfolds over one sultry day in 1935, with consequences rippling through the decades. The film boasts an epic five-minute continuous shot featuring 1,000 extras that captures the Dunkirk evacuation chaos from McAvoy’s perspective.
For those intrigued, time is ticking to watch this war drama on Netflix, as it departs the service on 16th June.
The film enjoys an impressive 83% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critical consensus reads: “Atonement features strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and a unique score. Featuring deft performances from James MacAvoy and Keira Knightley, it’s a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel.”
Atonement clinched the Best Film accolade at the BAFTAs, took home the Best Original Score at the Oscars, and earned Saoirse Ronan an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress at just 13 years old, reports the Express.
Atonement achieves ‘perfection’ in its first 45 minutes(Image: No credit)
Launching both the 2007 Venice and Vancouver Film Festivals, the film also marked Wright as the youngest director ever to open the former at only 35.
Critic Andrew Collins gave the film a glowing five-star review in Radio Times, declaring: “Atonement transcends the expectations of its country-house setting, via the privations of war, to deliver a knockout twist that works better on the screen than it did on the page.”
Bruce Newman, another film critic, praised the first part of the movie, stating: “In its first 45 minutes, Atonement achieves a kind of perfection rare even for big Oscar-bait movies,” but he added a note of caution: “Every facet of the filmmaking is the equal of any picture released this year. The rest of the movie isn’t so bad.”
Keira Knightley in Atonement(Image: undefined)
The film has stirred up quite the conversation among fans, with one standout review on Letterboxd proclaiming: “13 years old saoirse ronan was robbed of that oscar for her performance as THE DEVIL.”
On Google, a fervent admirer of the film compared it to Dunkirk (2017), expressing: “I deeply appreciate Atonement for other reasons and while the films are about 10 years apart I am utterly perplexed by how Nolan’s Dunkirk became the critical darling it is, especially since this film exists.
13-year-old Saoirse Ronan was nominated for an Oscar for Atonement(Image: undefined)
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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Last of Us and Black Mirror.
“This film isn’t about the evacuation of Dunkirk or WWII (those elements form the background for a fully realized troubled romance and family drama) and YET this film spends about 20 minutes on Dunkirk and it conveys the horror, defeat and dread of it it far sharper and more resonant than Nolan’s film does for its entire run time.”
Another popular opinion on Letterboxd, which attracted over 6,000 likes, succinctly put it: “the five-minute long take on the beach >>>>>>> dunkirk (2017)”.
Atonement is available to stream on Netflix until Monday, 16th June.
CHINA has given rare insight into its souped-up DF-5B nuclear missile – a 7,500-mile-range weapon with staggering explosive power.
The missile is said to pack hundreds of times the destructive force of the bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing tens of thousands in World War II.
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China’s DF-5B nuclear weapons are said to have a 7,500-mile range and an explosive yield of four megatonnes of TNTCredit: AFP
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has claimed in the past that China’s arsenal is for self-defenceCredit: Getty
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Although China has long kept its nuke programme secret, state broadcaster CCTV revealed details about the upgraded DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday.
This missile boasts a maximum range of 7,500 miles and an accuracy of 0.3 miles, as per reports by journalist Li Zexin on X.
This range is enough to reach most of Europe and nearly all of the US from launch sites inside China.
For example, the distance from Beijing to London is around 5,000 miles and from China to New York is roughly 7,000 miles.
The DF-5B is said to deliver a yield of three to four megatonnes.
This is about 200 times more powerful than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, which had an estimated explosive yield of about 15 kilotonnes of TNT.
It also far surpasses the destructive power of the bomb unleashed on Nagasaki, which had a yield of around 21 kilotonnes of TNT.
The hi-tech missile has integrated Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle technology – allowing it to carry and release multiple nuclear warheads at once.
A single DF-5B missile can release up to 10 warheads, striking different targets across wide areas.
Since each warhead is independent, missile defence systems find it much harder to intercept, making this weapon far more lethal than other known weapons.
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Military vehicles carrying DF-5B missiles participate in a military parade in Beijing in 2019Credit: AFP
Inside world’s craziest city where you never know which floor you’re on, trains run through houses & maps are useless
CCTV described the missile as China’s “first-generation strategic ICBM”.
The DF-5B, first created in 2015, is an upgraded variant of China’s original DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which entered service in 1981.
It’s unclear why this information was released, but it is believed that Beijing wants to showcase its military modernisation and deter potential threats.
The Chinese defence ministry said in a statement the rocket “fell into expected sea areas”, and that it was a “routine arrangement in our annual training plan”.
China said the test was not directed at any country or target, and that it “informed the countries concerned in advance”, reports claimed.
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A KJ-500 early warning plane and Y-20 transport aircraft parked on the tarmac on Woody IslandCredit: Reuters
TikTok sensation Katie Kennedy – aka The History Gossip – is bringing history to life in her new Sky TV show History Crush after going viral with her bawdy social media videos
Queen Elizabeth I was “fuggers”, Henry VIII “clapped” and it’s debatable whether Anne Of Cleeves was a “minger”.
Katie Kennedy, better known as The History Gossip, uses this colourful language to bring alive famous historical characters in her bawdy social media posts, which have earned millions of likes on TikTok. Most people take years to get noticed, but Katie became famous practically overnight.
One minute she was writing her 12,000-word dissertation on Women in Pompeii in her final year at Durham University, the next she’d posted a few quirky history videos on TikTok and gone viral.
Like most students, she’d happily wile away hours of study time on social media, but for Katie, it led to greater things. “I was on TikTok all the time anyway, so I posted some stuff about the Tudors and I got a couple of thousand followers Then I did a video with the caption – why were the Tudes clapped?” she says.
Seeing my blank expression, she translates: “Why were they really ugly? That did really well. It got onto this really big meme page called Great British Memes and they’ve got loads of followers. People were screenshotting it and asking, ‘Is that you?”
Earthy and funny, Katie’s history videos are the right side of sweary, with a sprinkling of Gen Z language. “Some of the slang that I’ve picked up through the years was originally just to get around TikTok guidelines,” she explains.
The young Henry might have been worth a flng, but Katie says the older king was definitely ‘clapped’(Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Half a million followers later, Katie got a book deal and published The History Gossip – Was Anne Of Cleeves A Minger? And she will now be appearing on our screens on Sky TV’s History Crush, where she’ll be rummaging through the underwear drawers of historical figures like Lord Byron, Charles Dickens or Marie-Antoinette – and asking the big questions like was Henry VIII clapped? “Yes he was,” she giggles. And was Lord Byron a crush or a burn? “Definitely a crush.”
The speed at which Katie got a book deal will have many seasoned writers gnashing at the bit. “I had a message from my now agent in February last year when things were going off,” she says. “And she was like, ‘Have you ever thought about writing a book?’ And I thought, ‘Yeah maybe in the future.’ But as soon as I handed in my dissertation, I started writing it and finished it during Freshers Week at Oxford – when I was hungover!
“We got it out for November for Christmas, because it was more of a gifty book. It’s still really weird seeing it in the book shops.”
When we meet outside on a sunny afternoon in pretty Vaults and Gardens Cafe by Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, where 25-year-old Katie’s now studying for her masters, I have to ask, “Was Anne of Cleeves a minger?”
A diet of sugar left the Virgin Queen with ‘fuggers’ teeth and awful breath, says Katie Kennedy(Image: UIG via Getty Images)
“Well I don’t think so,” she replies. “Henry VIII gave her a castle and they had a brother and sister type of relationship. Of all his wives, she came out of it quite well. She wasn’t really minging, like her portraits said, but she was ‘mid’.”
What about Elizabeth 1? “Her teeth were fuggers because she ate so much sugar,” says Katie. “And it’s so funny that even when she looks a bit minging in her portrait, that’s probably her best photoshopped version.”
Katie has just returned from a holiday abroad, but her skin remains the colour of porcelain. “I don’t like to sit in the sun because I get scared of getting sunburned,” she says in her sing-song Geordie accent.
“I’ve lived in Durham my whole life. I grew up there, went to a local comprehensive school, did sixth form. And then a journalism apprenticeship with BBC,” she says.
This explains why Katie’s so good at finding a hook in a story – and she has a journalism certificate to prove it. “In my posts, I have to get a three second intro to get people interested – that takes a lot of research,” she explains. “I don’t really script them though, I just press record!”
The History Gossip says Anne of Cleeves was nowhere near as ‘minging’ in real life as her portrait(Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The secret of Katie’s success is clearly an authentic voice on the platform, which is backed up by years of hard academic study.
“I did journalism for two years, but I felt like I’d missed out on university, so I applied to Durham to do Ancient History and Archeology – and got in!” she says.
While she seems surprised by her ‘luck,’ it strikes me that both Durham and Oxford are lucky to have someone with such a knack for bringing history to life.
Although she has a bit of imposter syndrome, the university social life has made up for it. “I loved being at Durham – all the traditions and stuff and that’s partly why I wanted to come to Oxford,” she admits. “It’s fun and you don’t get that in every university.”
A quick peek at her socials and you can see Katie has settled in well since arriving last September. She laughs: “Yeah the balls are so nice. I love wearing the gowns. I went to a Balioll College ball last week. I can’t lie – the balls here are better than Durham!”
Katie’s first taste of history came when her parents dragged her around National Trust properties every Sunday. “I remember when I was seven being like, I don’t want to go to Wellington and Cragside, I just want to sit on my little Nintendo,’” she admits.
In her new show, Katie reckons poet Byron was definitely a ‘crush’ rather than a ‘burn’(Image: Getty Images)
But the experience left an impression, because she fell in love with immersive history – even becoming part of a Beamish Living Museum of the North exhibit.
“It’s just down the road from where I liv,e so I did work experience there twice,” she recalls. “Once dressed up as a Victorian school child and then as a Second World War evacuée and I had my little cardboard gas mask box.
“Did you know during rationing, instead of ice lollies little kids would have frozen carrots?”
Inspired by TV historians such as Lucy Worsley and Ruth Goodman, Katie admits that Horrible Histories – which has probably done more to make history popular than all the dusty old academic institutions put together – inspired her.
“Horrible Histories doesn’t make you feel like you’re learning. The author of the books, Terry Deary, is from Sunderland, which is not far from where I’m from,” she adds proudly.
“I used to love Ruth when she would do Victorian Farm on TV and she would be like, ‘I’m going to make bread from scratch.’ She doesn’t make you feel you’re being lectured to – she’s living history and talking about normal people, who I think get overlooked sometimes.
“It definitely sparked the way I like to present history in a fun, doesn’t-feel-like-you’re-learning type of way.”
‘Misunderstood’ Marie Antoinette loved her gowns and employed a full-time hot chocolate maker(Image: ullstein bild via Getty Images)
I do wonder what Katie’s more traditional tutors think of her style of bringing history to the masses. “When I first started on TikTok, I blocked everyone at Durham and friends and family, because I was embarrassed about posting a video that might get three views,” she reveals. “It was only later when I did a series on the Victorians, that I stopped caring what people thought.
“My supervisor at Oxford’s really supportive. I told him it’s like Horrible History but for adults, and he thinks it’s great that I’m making history more accessible.”
Social media burn out is real for influencers. I ask how she’s managing her time with so much on her plate. “My masters is on British and European 18th-century history, and I’m doing my dissertation on the fan-making industry and how women used fans. But I’ve gone part-time now, so I’ve got another year to get my arse in gear and sort it”: she says.
“I used to post every single day on TikTok, but I’ve learned to take a step back from it and know that if I don’t post today, it’s not like the end of everything.”
And history clearly attracts a decent social media crowd. “I just get Americans not being able to understand my accent, or they’re like ‘what’s a minger?’” she laughs.
In Durham she lives with her mum, dad and brother, who’s just started studying politics at university. “He was debating history or politics, but he likes arguments, so it’s politics,” she says.
Katie and her new book The History Gossip – Was Anne of Cleeves A Minger?(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
While she’s keen to ask if historical figures are worth dating, she sidesteps when asked if she’s single. “Depends on who’s asking?” she smiles.
But she gushes when talking about one of her great loves back in Durham. “We’ve just got a King Charles Spaniel puppy called Millie – I love to sit and cuddle her in the garden,” she says. “I miss her so much when I’m not there.”
Devoting a lot of time to studying women in history Katie continues: “I especially like the Brontes and also Mary Antoinette, because I feel like she was very misunderstood.”
The arts have been losing out in the push for more maths and engineering, but Katie is making history cool again and reminds us the importance of knowing about our past.
“History keeps repeating itself,” she says. “People aren’t so different to us today. The Tudors put belladonna in their eyes to make them sparkle. Victorian women would eat arsenic wafers to give their skin a pale complexion and wore dresses dyed with a green pigment made from arsenic. Women died wearing them.”
So, forget Brazilian butt lifts, or excessive tanning – when it comes to dying for beauty, the Tudors and Victorians got there first.
• HISTORY CRUSH, presented by Katie Kennedy (aka History Gossip), will be available on Sky HISTORY on demand via Sky and Virgin Media from May 29. More at www.history.co.uk/shows/history-crush #HISTORYCRUSH @HISTORYUK
Eight years after its release, the film is gaining a second life on Netflix.
Defiance is on Netflix(Image: (Image: Paramount Pictures))
Netflix UK has added a real gem to its collection with the wartime drama Defiance, featuring the star power of James Bond’s Daniel Craig and Ray Donovan’s Liev Schreiber in an incredible true story from WWII.
Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber team up in the enthralling historical drama Defiance, the 2008 offering that’s been garnering a cult following and is now thrilling Netflix UK audiences who hail it as “one of the best films ever.”
Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Belarus, Defiance follows the extraordinary tale of the Bielski brothers – Tuvia, Zus, Asael, and Aron – four Jewish rebels who defiantly took on the Nazis by forming a vigilante group in the wilderness.
Based on Nechama Tec’s factual book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans, the film recounts their heroic saga of providing sanctuary to over 1,200 Jews in forest hideouts, building a veritable secret village threatened with constant jeopardy.
Defiance is on Netflix(Image: (Image: Karen Ballard))
The cast features Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, the group’s appointed head, whilst Liev Schreiber portrays his combative sibling Zus. Jamie Bell appears as their younger brother Asael, and a pre-1917 George MacKay plays the junior member of the clan, Aron, reports the Express.
Helmed by Edward Zwick of The Last Samurai fame, Defiance had its US debut just shy of the 2009 awards season and was tipped for an Oscar for Best Original Score by composer extraordinaire James Newton Howard, with a Golden Globe nod to match.
Filmed right in the heart of Lithuania, merely 200 kilometres from the original saga’s setting, ‘Defiance’ took storytelling to the next level, utilising authentic forest backdrops and even enlisting extras with personal ties to Jewish kin saved by the Bielskis.
The movie started off with a low key in selected theatres, but once it spread its wings for a wider showing, it managed to rake in an impressive $52 million across the globe. Reviewers sent out mixed signals, however, as time passed, it has only received more adulation from movie-goers.
Defiance tells the true story of four Jewish brothers who fought against the Nazi regime(Image: (Image: Paramount Pictures ))
A gleaming review on Letterboxd enthused: “Must watch 10/10. Whenever you have Daniel Craig (Bond) and Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) play two Nazi-hunting Jews navigating a group of a thousand displaced Belorussian Jews through the Yarden forest, facing the ultimate adversity – you have me sold”. Another chimed in with high praise: “Action-packed, great quotes, accurate, and a thrill ride from start to finish. You’ll be rethinking how powerful a sense of community is. (People forget! )”
Scores of cinema enthusiasts have lauded the film’s potent narrative, a blend of vast survival themes and deeply personal character journeys. Defiance further delves into the intense pressure of steering a multitude amidst dire straits, especially as the numbers swell from a mere band to a throng surpassing one thousand souls.
One viewer mused: “For me, one of the best films ever. So inspiring and tragic at the same time. Worth watching.”
Another queried its lack of wider acclaim, stating: “I still find it crazy that this film is not considered a modern classic, with its stunning cinematography, fantastic performances, and gripping story.”
