Great British Ships

Great British Ships

Ended First aired 20/Sep/2018 United Kingdom English 2 season(s) 12 episode(s)
Documentary
Visiting the ships as they stand today, Rob Bell will reveal how and why these monumental vessels were originally built. He’ll uncover a murder on board on the Cutty Sark, reveal the mystery of why the Mary Rose sank and discover how HMS Belfast helped turn the tide on D-Day. From Nelson on board HMS Victory to Sir Francis Drake on the Golden Hind, Rob will reveal how daring, genius and dazzling invention led to Britain becoming the world’s greatest sea power.
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TimeScore 33% Skip It
Binge Meter 48% Slow Burn
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Seasons & Episodes

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Season 2 · Season 2
6 episode(s) · Air date: 19/Oct/2019
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S2E5
Titanic
Air date: 10/Dec/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Rob Bell reveals the secrets of ill-fated liner the Titanic, whose maiden voyage became the most famous maritime disaster in history. In the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built, Rob explores how the city took on the daunting challenge of creating such a gigantic ship, and as the tragic story unfolds, he demonstrates why its groundbreaking safety systems ultimately failed, costing the lives of more than 1,500 people.

Summary

Rob Bell reveals the secrets of ill-fated liner the Titanic, whose maiden voyage became the most famous maritime disaster in history. In the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built, Rob explores how the city took on the daunting challenge of creating such a gigantic ship, and as the tragic story unfolds, he demonstrates why its groundbreaking safety systems ultimately failed, costing the lives of more than 1,500 people.

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S2E4
The Mayflower
Air date: 15/Nov/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

The Mayflower transported the first English Puritans from Plymouth to the New World in 1620. The Pilgrims and the ship's crew crew overcame almost impossible odds to establish a colony, which ultimately gave birth to the United States of America. Taking to the waters off the New England coast, Rob Bell recounts the dramatic story of the Mayflower's 66-day crossing, as she endured high seas and monstrous storms. In Mystic,Connecticut, Rob explores a full-sized replica of the Mayflower and in Plymouth, Massachusetts, unfolds the story of the ship's arrival in the New World.

Summary

The Mayflower transported the first English Puritans from Plymouth to the New World in 1620. The Pilgrims and the ship's crew crew overcame almost impossible odds to establish a colony, which ultimately gave birth to the United States of America. Taking to the waters off the New England coast, Rob Bell recounts the dramatic story of the Mayflower's 66-day crossing, as she endured high seas and monstrous storms. In Mystic,Connecticut, Rob explores a full-sized replica of the Mayflower and in Plymouth, Massachusetts, unfolds the story of the ship's arrival in the New World.

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S2E3
Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure: The Discovery
Air date: 02/Nov/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Rob Bell boards the ship that kick started the age of polar exploration as he looks at the history of RRS Discovery, the world's first purpose-built scientific vessel. Heading to the Victorian shipbuilding capital of Dundee, Rob finds out why this was the only place in Britain that could make a ship capable of taking on the formidable ice floes of Antarctica, and tells the story of how a chance meeting in London would define the course of polar exploration.

Summary

Rob Bell boards the ship that kick started the age of polar exploration as he looks at the history of RRS Discovery, the world's first purpose-built scientific vessel. Heading to the Victorian shipbuilding capital of Dundee, Rob finds out why this was the only place in Britain that could make a ship capable of taking on the formidable ice floes of Antarctica, and tells the story of how a chance meeting in London would define the course of polar exploration.

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S2E2
The Queen Mary: Britain's First Super Liner
Air date: 26/Oct/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Rob Bell investigates the history of ocean liner the SS Queen Mary, finding out how the largest ship of its day could also become the fastest - achieving speeds that few large ships can match even 80 years later. On the passenger decks, he savours the art deco craftsmanship that made the vessel the much-loved `floating gentleman's club", where royalty rubbed shoulders with movie stars.

Summary

Rob Bell investigates the history of ocean liner the SS Queen Mary, finding out how the largest ship of its day could also become the fastest - achieving speeds that few large ships can match even 80 years later. On the passenger decks, he savours the art deco craftsmanship that made the vessel the much-loved `floating gentleman's club", where royalty rubbed shoulders with movie stars.

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S2E1
The Endeavour
Air date: 19/Oct/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Engineer Rob Bell returns with more investigations into British ships that changed the world, beginning with the tale of how a humble coal hauler became one of the nation's most famous vessels. He examines the history of HMS Endeavour and looks at James Cook's two missions in charge of the Royal Navy research vessel, taking in the observation of the 1769 transit of Venus and his voyage to Australia the following year.

Summary

Engineer Rob Bell returns with more investigations into British ships that changed the world, beginning with the tale of how a humble coal hauler became one of the nation's most famous vessels. He examines the history of HMS Endeavour and looks at James Cook's two missions in charge of the Royal Navy research vessel, taking in the observation of the 1769 transit of Venus and his voyage to Australia the following year.

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Season 1 · Season 1
6 episode(s) · Air date: 20/Sep/2018
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S1E6
Golden Hinde: Drake's Royal Voyager
Air date: 19/Jan/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Rob Bell explores the extraordinary story of the Golden Hinde, the flagship of Elizabethan mariner, privateer and explorer Sir Francis Drake. Sent on a secret mission to plunder Spanish ships in the Pacific, the Golden Hinde's voyage was packed with adventure, from witchcraft and attempted mutiny to the supreme triumph of her most famous achievement, becoming the first English ship to sail around the world.

Summary

Rob Bell explores the extraordinary story of the Golden Hinde, the flagship of Elizabethan mariner, privateer and explorer Sir Francis Drake. Sent on a secret mission to plunder Spanish ships in the Pacific, the Golden Hinde's voyage was packed with adventure, from witchcraft and attempted mutiny to the supreme triumph of her most famous achievement, becoming the first English ship to sail around the world.

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S1E5
Cutty Sark: 150 Years of War & Speed
Air date: 05/Jan/2019 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Rob Bell explores the extraordinary tea clipper Cutty Sark, a ship that endured drunken captains and murderous crews, inspired a whiskey and survived the coming of the steam age. Rob clambers aboard to experience first-hand the beauty and superior design of the ship. He delves into her tragic past - the vagabond years of `tramping', mistreatment by her captains and desertion by her crews

Summary

Rob Bell explores the extraordinary tea clipper Cutty Sark, a ship that endured drunken captains and murderous crews, inspired a whiskey and survived the coming of the steam age. Rob clambers aboard to experience first-hand the beauty and superior design of the ship. He delves into her tragic past - the vagabond years of `tramping', mistreatment by her captains and desertion by her crews

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S1E4
Secrets of SS Great Britain
Air date: 12/Dec/2018 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

In the final part of his documentary series, Rob Bell uncovers the extraordinary story behind what was once the longest passenger ship in the world. Designed by Victorian engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the SS Great Britain rewrote the shipbuilding rulebook, pioneering innovations still found on almost all modern ships. Rob learns how the origins of the vast vessel lay in an off-the-cuff boast of Brunel's. Though the ship's early years were plagued by disaster, it finally met with success thanks to the Australian gold rush - and today 250,000 Australians can trace their direct ancestors to its passengers.

Summary

In the final part of his documentary series, Rob Bell uncovers the extraordinary story behind what was once the longest passenger ship in the world. Designed by Victorian engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the SS Great Britain rewrote the shipbuilding rulebook, pioneering innovations still found on almost all modern ships. Rob learns how the origins of the vast vessel lay in an off-the-cuff boast of Brunel's. Though the ship's early years were plagued by disaster, it finally met with success thanks to the Australian gold rush - and today 250,000 Australians can trace their direct ancestors to its passengers.

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S1E3
HMS Belfast: WW2's Great Survivor
Air date: 05/Dec/2018 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

Rob Bell delves into the fascinating history of HMS Belfast, the cruiser that played a critical role in some of the most dramatic battles of World War 2, and whose daring deeds helped defeat the Nazis.

Summary

Rob Bell delves into the fascinating history of HMS Belfast, the cruiser that played a critical role in some of the most dramatic battles of World War 2, and whose daring deeds helped defeat the Nazis.

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S1E1
HMS Victory: Nelson's Great Warship
Air date: 20/Sep/2018 · Runtime: 45 min
Summary

HMS Victory was already 40 years old before it secured its place in history at Trafalgar. Rob discovers the extraordinary feats of engineering behind its construction, and the celebrity of its famous captain, Nelson.

Summary

HMS Victory was already 40 years old before it secured its place in history at Trafalgar. Rob discovers the extraordinary feats of engineering behind its construction, and the celebrity of its famous captain, Nelson.

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Cast

Main cast members.

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Rob Bell
Rob Bell
Narrator
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Eric Grove
Self-Professor
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Paul Pattison
Self-Historian
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John Harrison
Self-Veteran
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Andrew Baines
Self
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Helen Doe
Self-Maritime Historian
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Dave Cheer
Self-Ropemaker
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Andy Curran
Self-Conservation Manager
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Joanna Thomas
Self-Curator
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Simon Potter
Self-Historian
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Jane Templeton
Self-Maritime enginneer
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Robert Rumble
Self-Assistant Curator
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Nigel Corlett
Self
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Phil Magrath
Self-Curator
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Brian Lavery
Self-Naval Historian
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Steve Bacon
Self-Royal Marines
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Nicola Grahamslaw
Self-Ship's Conservation Engineer
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Ron Yardley
Self-Vetaran

Crew

Creators, directors, writers, and production crew.

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Edward McGown
Director
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Dermot O'Brien
Editor
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Fred Hepburn
Executive Producer
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Ian Duncan
Executive Producer
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Jane Hardstaff
Producer
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Luke McLaughlin
Producer
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Ella St John McGrand
Researcher

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