I loved this documentary because it brought back so many memories. My wife comes from Salisbury and we travelled up and down this road so many times in our younger days. I knew some of the history of the road, particularly the Anglo Saxon and Roman heritage, but I did not know much about the prehistoric history. I was particularly interested in the European archer and his metal working skills. However, the star of the show for me was the Morris traveller, because I had one just the same and this was the car we used on those journeys. We still travel along this road from time to time, but it doesn't have the same romance that it used to.
3 Reviews
So-Called 'Quirky' Documentary That Rapidly Palls
l_rawjalaurence19 December 2014
This look at the historical sites along the A303, a road stretching from the south-east to the south-west of Britain, connecting right through to Exeter in Devon, had fascinating potential: ancient and modern sites compete for attention on both sides of the road, that befit close attention.
Unfortunately John Holdsworth's documentary was ruined by the decision to use Tom Fort, a self-styled 'eccentric' as presenter. Traveling down the road in an ancient Mini Traveller car from the Sixties, he came across as someone prone to mugging in front of the camera for no apparent reason: what mattered was not so much the sites, but his reaction to them. The experts assumed an inferior position; Fort either interrupted them or responded to their observations with gales of forced laughter.
Perhaps the BBC should consider that in historical documentaries, the material assumes more importance than the presenter.
Unfortunately John Holdsworth's documentary was ruined by the decision to use Tom Fort, a self-styled 'eccentric' as presenter. Traveling down the road in an ancient Mini Traveller car from the Sixties, he came across as someone prone to mugging in front of the camera for no apparent reason: what mattered was not so much the sites, but his reaction to them. The experts assumed an inferior position; Fort either interrupted them or responded to their observations with gales of forced laughter.
Perhaps the BBC should consider that in historical documentaries, the material assumes more importance than the presenter.
Road to nowhere
Prismark1015 September 2015
BBC4 have made some riveting programmes on roads in the last few years such as The Secret History of the Motorway.
This programmes looks at the history of the A303 parts of which has existed since the Roman Times.
The 93 miles stretch of road connects Basingstoke to Honiton and Devon. It goes past Stonehenge and has an interesting history from Roman Times to Medieval Times, the advent of toll roads and its extension as a Trunk road in the 1960s and the era of Harold Wilson's White Heat of technology.
Presenter Tom Fort travels the road in a clapped out Morris Minor and in essence bores the viewer to death. What should had been a mildly diverting documentary ends up being ineptly produced. Just look at the bit where the road went through a Hamlet and all you see is a bridge. There were times I almost nodded off.
The documentary felt it was thrown together without any purpose and Fort felt that his presentation style would mark him out as an eccentric. How wrong he was.
This programmes looks at the history of the A303 parts of which has existed since the Roman Times.
The 93 miles stretch of road connects Basingstoke to Honiton and Devon. It goes past Stonehenge and has an interesting history from Roman Times to Medieval Times, the advent of toll roads and its extension as a Trunk road in the 1960s and the era of Harold Wilson's White Heat of technology.
Presenter Tom Fort travels the road in a clapped out Morris Minor and in essence bores the viewer to death. What should had been a mildly diverting documentary ends up being ineptly produced. Just look at the bit where the road went through a Hamlet and all you see is a bridge. There were times I almost nodded off.
The documentary felt it was thrown together without any purpose and Fort felt that his presentation style would mark him out as an eccentric. How wrong he was.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
