A NEW TV show profiling the Jurassic Coast starts tonight.
Beach Live: Jurassic Coast Revealed, will be broadcast live from Charmouth beach.
It is presented by historian Dan Snow and natural history experts Lucy Cooke and Niall Strawson.
It aims to open people’s eyes to the Jurassic Coast including its amazing prehistoric landscapes, unique animals and intriguing historical insights hidden beneath the sand and sea.
Mr Snow said: “It’s a celebration of the great British seaside and one of the most important stretches of it, the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.”
See our interview with Dan Snow about the programme here
Each episode will combine live searches and pre-filmed segments to reveal the hidden secrets of the coastline, and with the help of experts in palaeontology, history, geology and wildlife the team will build up a comprehensive picture of the beach, past and present.
In the first hour long episode, Dan Snow examines the royal origin of beach huts and sees how varied their use is in modern-day Britain. Lucy Cooke demonstrates how a humble mollusc helps to train racehorses in Devon. And Niall Strawson is in charge of the Discovery Centre, where a panel of experts examine and assess the significance of beach finds from all over the country.
Cllr Richard Kosior, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Briefholder for Tourism, Culture and Harbour, said: “Weymouth beach and the Esplanade is rich in Georgian history. It held the title of King George III’s seaside resort of choice and it remains as popular today as it was with royalty in Georgian times. We are very pleased that the town is being recognised for the important part it played in historical resort bathing and we look forward to seeing it televised."
The show can be seen for three consecutive nights from tonight to Thursday from 8pm to 9pm on BBC Four.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here