| Tony on TV | |
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Man On Earth: Monday 07 December, 2009: 9pm on Channel 4 New documentary series in which Tony Robinson examines how our ancestors have handled violent climate change over the past 200,000 years and asks what we can learn from them. In this first programme, Tony explains how a small group of our earliest African ancestors were rescued from extinction by global warming 130,000 years ago, as their barren habitat was transformed into a lush forest. Meanwhile, in the Russian steppes, Dr Joy Singarayer discusses how European Homo sapiens adapted to the Ice Age. Find more info from Channel 4 here Further info also on uk tv guide and last broadcast Cick on an image to see a bigger version of the transmission card. |
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Big Top:Wednesdays: 7.30pm on BBC 1 Now Showing: Big Top is a colourful upbeat comedy series for BBC One from Big Bear Films set in and around a travelling circus. Amanda Holden plays Lizzie the Ring Mistress, Tony Robinson is Erasmus, the cynical soundman, Ruth Madoc plays Georgie, Bruce Mackinnon plays Boyco, John Thomson and Sophie Thompson are the clown husband and wife team. Each week a story is unfolded, erected, performed and taken down just like the Big Top itself. Our circus is fraught with problems which the Ring Mistress Lizzie must overcome. Our characters clash with a cacophony of egos and Lizzie must keep the whole thing going…somehow… More info from the BBC here And from the BBC Press Office here Click on an image to see a bigger version. |
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Ned Kelly Uncovered: Thursday July 9, 2009 at 8.30pm: ABC 1, Australia Mike Fuery in Australia writes: On Friday 21 November last year on site filming took place for a documentary on the history of the Kelly Gang at the site of the 1880 seige in Glenrowan, Victoria, Australia. The documentary, produced by Renegade Films, had been two years in the planning, and an initial excavation commenced in April. This final excavation was conducted by archaeologist Adam Ford of DIG International. Funding for the excavation was provided by the City of Wangaratta. I considered it a privilege to be permitted to attend the site, both at the initial excavation in April and the final one, at which Tony Robinson had been arranged to attend. Tony's role in the documentary was as presenter, similar in style to his role in 'Time Team'. I watched him during filming where he displayed his talent as a consummate professional who could deliver a message succinctly and with passion. Unfortunately, his work was made all the more difficult as he battled with hay fever, a problem well-known to afflict many here, during the dispersal of our Spring pollens. Tony took a few minutes out of the tight schedule to speak with me and I found him to be as charming and engaging as his on-screen persona. He said he was amazed with how many people, just passing the site of the excavation (which is normally a tourist attraction, without the archaeology) recognised him and came over to tell him how much they loved Time Team. It is remarkable how its popularity has grown so quickly in this country. I remember reading that Aussie tourists had sometimes approached Tony and the guys while they were filming in the UK. It's interesting that it would also happen here, with our own visitors to the site, randomly passing by. I asked him whether he had made the connection between his last documentary filmed here, 'Britain's Real Monarch', and the Ned Kelly history. He said with a grin that he had. It was, of course, Jerilderie - a town not that far away where the genuine heir to the British throne, as contended by the program (who, ironically admits to being a republican!) and the location where Ned Kelly had written his famous 1878 letter, in which he criticised the Crown and was seen as a precursor to his plan for secession. I enjoyed immensely meeting the person whose catalogue of work I admire so much; he was in good form and was a delightful person with whom to talk. I mentioned that he must have been pleased that this visit was a little more relaxed than his last one - to Jerilderie to interview Michael Hastings - which was an overnighter. He said he was and intended a couple of days after shooting to do some sight-seeing. The region, while historically one of the hot-spots of our 1850s gold rush, is now one of Australia's top wine-growing regions. Hopefully along the way he got to enjoy some of our liquid gold. I also recommended to him our Great Ocean Road and he also indicated interest in seeing Tasmania. The filming schedule was tight and he had to head off after about 10 minutes; he did invite me to stay on for more of a chat but the day and timeline decided otherwise. After all, it was his workplace and that of the film company. His contribution to this production will no doubt be a "Midas Touch" to the examination of the Kelly history, opening up interest in it both here and abroad. More info on ABC's website here And lots of good info on Screen Australia's website here Click on an image to see a bigger version. |
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| Memories Matter: | |
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Fern Britton, Sir Michael Parkinson, Tony Robinson and Sir Terry Pratchett are among the stars taking part by sharing unforgettable moments from their past to highlight the memory loss experienced by the 700,000 people in the UK who live with Alzheimer's and other dementias, and how this could be prevented through research into new treatments, preventions and cures. Find out more at: memories matter |
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| New Book - Bad Kids | |
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Tony's new book is out now, Bad Kids: The worst behaved children in history. So you're standing outside the Head's office, waiting to be told off for breaking a classroom window. You've got sweaty palms and a serious sinking feeling in your stomach. Do you think no one's ever had a life as bad as you? Well, you're wrong. Kids in the past have had to suffer much worse punishments than a lecture about how they've let the whole school down. For instance however angry your Head gets, it's fairly certain that she's not going to put you in a pillory and nail your ears to it. All through history, children have been getting into some serious scrapes. And they didn't often get off lightly. Tony Robinson takes you on a guided tour through the lives of outlaw children from history, their dastardly crimes and awful punishments. Click on the image to see a bigger version of the cover. Available from Amazon |
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| New Audio Book - Unseen Academicals | |
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The new Terry Pratchett Audio Book will be out on the 8th October, it will of course be read by Tony. Click on the image to see a bigger version of the book cover. Available from Amazon |
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| Time Team America | |
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After much negotiation, Time Team finally got the go ahead for a series in America. Five episodes in all which have been shown on PBS in the states and should appear on Channel 4 sometime in the future. More info here Find Time Team America website here where you can watch all five episodes and a web preview. Click on the image to see a bigger picture. |
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| Ancestry.co.uk | |
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Family History and Tony Tony’s interest in history has, in the last few years, extended to family history research and he has made some fascinating discoveries in his own family tree such as pickle-making, piano-making and fancy box-making ancestors. Tony is the spokesperson for Ancestry.co.uk and regularly speaks at the launch events including the English and Welsh Census Collection (1851), the British Phone Books and the British Army World War One Pension and Service Records in February this year. He also features in the Ancestry.co.uk tutorials online - Click here for the Tutorial. And in Ancestry’s “Mr Tony Robinson’s Life in Victorian Britain” guide - Click here for the Victorian guide. Ancestry.co.uk, is the largest and most popular online resource for family and social history in the UK. It has more then 645 million searchable names in major collections including the seven England, Scotland and Wales Census Collections (1841-1901), the English and Welsh Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes (1837-2004), UK and Ireland Parish and Probate Records, the British Phone Books (1880-1984) and the British Army WW1 Pension Records. An annual membership to Ancestry.co.uk allows unlimited searches and viewing of all 645 million records for £79.95 a year. You can register with Ancestry.co.uk and create your own family tree on our site for free plus add events, photos and stories and attach records you’ve purchased to individuals. You can even invite friends and relatives to view your tree, who you can allow to add their own photos and stories or just add comments to your tree. |
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| Maid Marian DVD's - Series 1, 2, 3 & 4 | |
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The first Maid Marian DVD (Series 1) is now available and there are, of course, some rather spiffing extras on it and a brand new 8 page Paul Cemmick cartoon book. Click on the lower image to see a sample. There's a full review here. More info from here Available from: Play.com Click on an image to see a bigger version. |
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The second DVD (Series 2) was due for release on 24th July 2006 There's a full review here. More info from here Available from: Play.com |
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The third DVD (Series 3) is now available. |
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The fourth DVD (Series 4) is now available. More info available from Eureka Video. |