Blogging about

Timewatch

The BBC's flagship history series, from Gladiators to Genghis Khan, Bog bodies to Bloody Omaha, find out more in Timewatch.

In early February 2007 I was invited by Timewatch to present a programme on the history of the Medieval Tournament. Here are my thoughts on how the whole thing went.

Wednesday 7 February

I'm in London to meet the director of the programme, Dom Sutherland. It turns out we both studied history at Edinburgh – a good start. The fact that I know very little about the Tournament is, says Dom, a good thing as it will allow me to go on a journey of discovery. His plan to frame the story around the life of William Marshal, the most famous tourneyer of his day, makes complete sense; otherwise the narrative becomes too diffuse. The possible film locations include New York, Paris and Scotland – I can't wait. Dom then asks the inevitable question: can I ride? I say yes, but not well. I haven't ridden for at least ten years, and was never that good. I'm terrified at the prospect of being filmed on a horse, learning to joust, but put on a good face. I'm up for anything, I say, quaking in my boots.

About the author

Timewatch is the world's longest-running history series, having started in 1981, and is the BBC's flagship history series. Here, members of the production team share the highs, and lows, during the production process as they make some of the next series of programmes.