On the BBC

There are two programmes from the BBC that may interest readers of this blog. Coming soon to BBC Two is Mastercrafts, a new six-part series presented by Monty Don, exploring the way of life that comes with being a top craftsman.

"The original idea behind the series," he says, "was that I would try my hand at all the different skills, but that proved impractical because it would take far too long, so instead we introduced people who really wanted to try. It's my one regret that I had to film it rather than do it."

'Studying under some of the country's leading master craftsmen and women, three hopefuls in each programme spend six weeks learning the basics of their chosen skill, ready to compete for the chance to continue on a more formal basis their training in metal work, woodcraft, stone masonry, glass-making, thatching and weaving. Monty, meanwhile, examines the work that goes into each craft and its often forgotten history.'



Meanwhile, over on BBC Radio 4, Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum presents A History of the World in 100 Objects. The programmes will travel through two million years from the earliest object in the collection to retell the history of humanity through the objects we have made. Each week will be tied to a particular theme, such as 'after the ice age' or 'the beginning of science and literature', and the programmes will broadcast in three blocks, in January, May and August.