Dorset has featured on the small screen across two nights this week – and its stunning coastline and pretty towns have been the main attractions.

The second series of Great Coastal Railway Journeys presented by politician turned TV presenter Michael Portillo aired on BBC2 this week with the episodes still available to view on BBC iPlayer.

Viewers saw Michael on a rail journey across the southern coast of England, beginning in Dorset, where he headed from west to east.

He called into Portland Harbour, where the former Secretary of State took to the water with four-time Paralympian Hannah Stodel.

After a quick stop on the distinctive 18-mile-long Chesil Beach, Michael made his way to Abbotsbury Swannery to take in the amazing sight of the 800-strong colony of mute swans.

Dorset Echo: Michael Portillo helps ring a swan at Abbotsbury Swannery Michael Portillo helps ring a swan at Abbotsbury Swannery (Image: BBC)

He makes a very brief visit to Weymouth, from where he boards the train to Dorchester South station.

In the county town he admires its buildings at the old Eldridge Pope brewery at Brewery Square and strolls along the historic High Street.

At Shire Hall Museum Michael hears the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who paved the way for today’s trade unions.

Dorset Echo: Michael Portillo behind bars at Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester Picture: BBCMichael Portillo behind bars at Shire Hall Museum in Dorchester Picture: BBC (Image: BBC)

Finally, he visis the ghostly village of Tyneham, whose residents were ordered by the British Army to evacuate temporarily just days before Christmas in 1943 but never returned.

The former MP for Enfield Southgate was seen back in mid-April at Swanage Heritage Railway filming the second episode in this series.

In the second of the two Dorset episodes he alights at Wareham to visit Dorset’s internationally renowned Jurassic Coast. Exploring the geology, he discovers black gold locked into its rocks and visits one of the county’s oldest oil fields.

Calling into Swanage, Michael visits the pretty Victorian harbour before riding the Swanage heritage railway to Corfe Castle. 

He also stopped in at Poole, where he visited one of the county's biggest employers, Lush. Heading back to the sea, Michael takes a stroll along the beach at Sandbanks. 

The journey ends on Brownsea Island where Michael learns of Mary Bonham-Christie, a controversial conservationist who rid the island of almost all its human residents to create a protected habitat for wildlife - which today includes the red squirrel.

This wasn't the first time Michael Portillo has explored Dorset's rails. The county was featured in series three of Great British Railway Journeys in 2012. At the time, in addition to visiting the Swanage Railway, he also explored the history of Weymouth and Portland.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys is available to view on BBC iPlayer for 11 months.