GUY DE LA BÉDOYÈRE
For historian Guy de la Bédoyère 'The Romans in Britain' is his first big television series as a presenter, and an opportunity to share his passion for the Romans with a large audience. For viewers on BBC TWO the series will be the chance to get to know a distinctive new personality, as he guides them across Britain on his motorcycle, and tells the story of the Roman occupation and its lasting impact.
Guy's background is unusual: he's made his name as a respected historian and writer without following the conventional path of an academic career within a University. He's written more than a dozen books in the last twelve years, covering not just Roman Britain but the correspondence of England's most celebrated diarist, Samuel Pepys. Last year he solved a Roman conundrum which made the national press, and he writes regular travel pieces for the Independent newspaper.
Besides being a prolific writer, Guy's also a family man with four sons who plays the piano and is a collector of antiques and anything unusual. He rebuilt from scratch the 21-year-old classic motorcycle he rides in the series, and is passionately interested in Second World War aircraft and American history and culture. He has also taken part in four editions of Channel 4's popular archaeology show 'Time Team'. 'The Romans in Britain' is carried by Guy's conviction that history shouldn't ever be stuffy or inaccessible: a natural story-teller, he shares with the audience his own genuine curiosity about the past. He brings to bear his own specialist knowledge of the period to provide a compelling and sometimes controversial personal history.
His publications include:
The Finds of Roman Britain, Batsford, London 1988
The Buildings of Roman Britain, Batsford London 1991
The Towns of Roman Britain, Batsford/English Heritage 1992
Roman Villas and the Countryside, Batsford/English Heritage 1993
Particular Friends: The Correspondence of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, Boydel and Brewer, Woodbridge 1997
Hadrian's Wall: a History and Guide, Tempus 1998
The Golden Age: the Fourth Century in Roman Britain, Tempus 1999
EUGENE FRASER is a Polynesian, born in Fiji and educated in Auckland University in New Zealand. An interest in the theatre brought him to Britain in 1967, where he joined the BBC as an announcer/newsreader. His voice became familiar to Radio 4 listeners where he worked for many years. He is now the Education Director at Butser Ancient Farm, where he has developed his specialist interest in the history and culture of the Celts. His other interests are literature, music and history. He lives in Petersfield with his wife and three children, all of whom are at University.
MARTIN MILLETT was a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Durham at the time of filming. He has now moved to Southampton University. He has been involved in fieldwork in Britain, Spain, Portugal and Italy, and is currently working on a project in East Yorkshire which is featured in the programme 'Fact and Fable'. The project here is looking at the impact of the Roman road and fort on the existing Iron Age settlement, and at how people in these periods made a living. Modern archaeology involves far more than just digging holes, and excavation is just one of an array of techniques being used here: aerial photography, geophysical surveying, and field walking are also being employed.
Martin has written a book about Western Europe in the Roman Period, published in 2000. Two of his recent books have been very influential in debates about the impact of the Romans on Britain. They are:
The Romanisation of Britain, Cambridge University Press 1990
The English Heritage Book of Roman Britain, Batsford 1995
SIMON JAMES is an archaeologist with interests in the later Iron Age of western Europe, and the Roman Empire. He has specialised in Roman military studies, particularly in arms and armour, and recently has been studying the history of thinking about the Roman army.
His recent books include:
Exploring the World of the Celts, Thames and Hudson, London 1993
Britain and the Celtic Iron Age (co-authors S J and Valery Rigby), British Museum Press, London 1997
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Content last updated: 22/06/2006
