Series synopsis
Pirates: Behind the Legends is an American drama documentary television series that premiered on National Geographic on June 9, 2024. It ended on June 30, 2024. It stars Billy Boyd, Anne Chambers, Harcourt T. Fuller and Iszi Lawrence.
From legendary John Ward, immortalized in fiction as Jack Sparrow, and English explorer Francis Drake; branded Pirates by their enemies but heroes by their comrades, to the notorious Pirates of the Caribbean shrouded in myth.
Premise
From legendary John Ward, immortalized in fiction as Jack Sparrow, and English explorer Francis Drake; branded Pirates by their enemies but heroes by their comrades, to the notorious Pirates of the Caribbean shrouded in myth.
Premise: A swashbuckling adventure; the true and untold story of the history of pirates.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Billy Boyd as Narrator (voice)
- Anne Chambers as Self - Author
- Harcourt T. Fuller as Self - Historian
- Iszi Lawrence as Self - Author & History Presenter
- Martin Mares as Self - Historian
- Richard Blakemore as Self - Historian
- Hannah Cusworth as Self - Historian
- Connie Kelleher as Self - Author
Supporting cast
- Mark Hanna as Self - Historian
Guest cast
- Sinead Ferguson as Anne Bonny
- Rory Wilton as Edward Teach a.k.a. Blackbeard
- Waide as Mary Read
- Henry Austwick as William Kidd
- Tim Cartwright as John Ward
- David Kittow as Bartholomew Roberts a.k.a. Black Bart
- Alex Borton as Self - Pirate
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 8 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 8 | June 9, 2024 | June 30, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Francis Drake - For Queen and Country Circumnavigation is the pinnacle of Drake's career, cementing him in history as the world's most controversial pirate. |
June 9, 2024 |
| 2 |
Grace O’Malley - The Pirate Queen of Ireland Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Her rise from wanted pirate to Chieftain is won through a warrior’s sword and a woman’s grit. |
June 9, 2024 |
| 3 |
John Ward - The English Pirate of North Africa The Englishman turned Algerian pirate starts his remarkable ascent from petty pirate to a notorious menace, becoming ruler of the Tunisian empire. |
June 16, 2024 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | National Geographic |
|---|---|
| First aired | June 9, 2024 |
| Last aired | June 30, 2024 |
| Runtime | 44 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Saturday |