Britain from Above

Synopsis

The lives, landscape & history of our nation as never seen before. This landmark series takes the most brilliant aerial and satellite images and uses the most revealing data and technologies to present a dramatic and fascinating vision of how Britain works today and how it has changed over ten thousand years of history.

Over six compelling documentaries Andrew Marr tells the story of Britain as we very rarely see it - from above. He takes viewers on a journey up and down the British Isles and back in time to reveal the habits, rhythms and little secrets that are only uncovered by looking down from above. Britain From Above uses groundbreaking CGI and innovative approaches to aerial photography to present images and perspectives never seen before on television.

Originally shown on BBC One, three episodes focus on how the nation works with satellite tracking revealing the great migrations across the landscape, the never-ending ballet of ships, planes, lorries and trains that keep everyone fed and watered and working. By flying, hovering, floating and sometimes plummeting through the nation’s skies, viewers will discover how some of the greenest and most natural-looking parts of Britain have been shaped and moulded by human hands over the centuries. Also discover how crowded, complicated and busy the nation is and track the wild migrations of animals, birds and even humans!

Across the series there are contributions from a wide range of historians, archaeologists, scientists, geologists, amateur sleuths, sportsmen, city planners, transport experts and others who reveal the facts, figures and fascinators that most would miss just looking out of the window as their holiday flight traverses the country.

Originally shown on BBC Two a further three episodes turn back time, drawing on previously unseen archive footage and photography to focus on the dramatic transformation of Britain’s cities, landscape and industry as seen from above. These three accompanying films reveal how a nation of B-roads, branch lines, the green belt, bomb-damaged cities, rusting factories and former pit heads has become a country of motorways, high-speed rail links, high-rise cityscapes sprawling suburbs and galloping urbanization.
DVD extras include: Behind The Scenes Shorts; ‘Making Of’ Documentary with Andrew Marr.
1. Man Made Britain
2. Britain’s Landscape
3. Blue Britain
4. The Skyline Of London
5. Britain’s Bead Basket
6. Industrial Landscape

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2008

Year of production

2008

Subjects

Geography; History

Keywords

aerial photographs

Credits

Contributor

Andrew Marr

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£29.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

285 minutes

Year

2008

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributor

Name

2 Entertain Video

Email

DVDenquiryline@bbc.com

Web

http://www.2entertainvideo.co.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7612 3000

Fax

020 7612 3003

Address

BBC Worldwide
33 Foley Street
London
W1W 7TL

Notes

Specialises in distributing archival film and television titles, predominantly licensed from the BBC (the principal shareholder is BBC Worldwide). Sale on DVD through retail outlets. As of 2016 2Entertain is being gradually wound down and its output reduced. If something is not available via them it is advisable to try the BBC Store at https://store.bbc.com/

 

Available from retail outlets