Coast complete DVD Boxset – Click here to buy today from Play.com
The Coast boxset contains all three series of the BAFTA award-winning BBC2 documentary programmes, taking a journey around the British coastline. Presented by experts in geography, history, archaeology and natural sciences, Coast combines excellent aerial photography, fascinating tales and professional commentary.
Learn more about the breathtaking British coastline and local stories as the presenters reveal the historical connection between the British population and the sea. Tales of the construction of the ill-fated ship, the Titanic, legendary pirate smugglers of the 18th century, and how the channel tunnel was actually begun over 100 years ago, will fascinate and enthral.
Directed by Oliver Clark and produced by Steve Evanson, this stunning collection of episodes covers dramatically different coastlines from Orkney to St. Helier, from Belfast to Great Yarmouth. It will captivate the imagination and appeal to both young and old alike with an interest in the rich British maritime heritage. Coast encapsulates the unusual character of the British Isles and its historic and contemporary relationship with the sea, exploring the beautiful scenery that has inspired creativity throughout the ages.
Experts travel the British coastline, showing us landmarks and their current and historical relevance, investigating how the UK’s 9,000 miles of coast has been shaped and the way in which it has influenced Britain as a sea-faring nation. It demonstrates how the coastline is under constant threat from modern activity by exploring marine life and geological make up with anatomy expert Alice Roberts and zoologist Miranda Krestofnikov sharing their knowledge. Mark Horton is the expert in marine archaeology, while the exuberant geographer Nick Crane and archaeologist Neil Oliver keep the viewer engrossed with grisly tales of adventure and history, offering both entertaining and educational facts. Hermione Cockburn is the earth science expert.
The team’s complimentary skills produce the ability to investigate and explore aspects of our Coastline; from village life to the largest sharks to swim in British seas, where to find rare fossils along the 95 mile stretch of Jurassic Coast, throughout the Triassic through to Cretaceous periods, as well as providing incite into the 1800 year old skeleton which reveals how ancient communities lived. The experts examine how a tsunami once devastated the coastline as well as looking at an engineering project where 20% of all the UK’s gas will be brought in from the Gulf in the near future.
Series 1 begins its journey in Dover, Britain’s front line where many battles have been fought. The team visit the Mary Rose and Nelson’s Victory, and travel to Plymouth where the history of British slave trade began. In Cornwall they look at tin mining history and attempt to catch a porbeagle shark. In South Wales they find out about the Severn Bore, a natural tidal phenomenon, with waves reaching three metres and investigate the Mesolithic footprints of children from 6,200 BC. In Llandudno they visit copper mines and are shown how ancient smelting was done, while in Lytham St. Annes they hear the tale of the worst lifeboat disaster ever, and pay a visit to Sellafield. In Northern Ireland they explore a Spanish Armada treasure ship wreck and visit the Giants Causeway.
Up in the Hebrides they see the third largest whirlpool in the world, as well as minke whales arriving to feed. Nick gets involved in a NATO exercise and Alice visits the Dounray reactor. In Moray Firth bottle nosed dolphins are seen, while Nick investigates the North Sea oil industry. The team visit Lindisfarne, rebuild Howick’s first house and examine the North Shield 1930′s race riots, as well as getting close to some grey seals. From Robins Hood’s Bay they retrace smugglers’ steps, sail in a recreated bronze age boat and investigate the land bridge which used to join the UK to the rest of Europe.
Series 2 sees the team in Dungeness nature reserve, investigate Southampton’s history and visit the Isle of Wight’s Shanklin Chine, the site of Operation Pluto where pipes connected Liverpool to France for fuel transportation. On the west coast they explain how we can understand the history of our beaches better, while up in western Scotland they look at Alfred Nobel’s explosives factory, the largest in the world. In Ireland the team search for the wreck of the SS Great Britain, while in the north east coast they reveal a connection with slave trade abolition.
In Series 3 the journey starts in the Shetlands where the team look at how a hydrogen car operates and how a tsunami devastated the area 7000 years ago. In Orkney, Miranda dives in search of the elusive octopus. Alice visits a woman who was interned in the Isle of Man as a child, while Mark looks at how Swansea’s copper trade helped Nelson win the battle of Trafalgar. In Scotland Neil investigates the training of seagulls in wartime to find German U-boats, while in Ireland the useful properties of seaweed are demonstrated. Finally the team looks at how floods can be caused by tides and weather.
