Gary Russell

The Arthurian Legends: Camelot

Romanticised by Hollywood and embellished by centuries of creative writing, Camelot is the epitome of a fantasy castle. Brave knights such as Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad walk its stony corridors preparing for their next quest, while its loyal citizens go about their daily lives protected by its vast walls and sat in resplendent glory at the head of the Round Table is Arthur, King of Britain. But is there any factual basis for this most famous of fortresses or is it pure legend, a castle built on the idea of chivalry and nothing more? With the help of experts, archive material and new footage, we examine the very latest theories, findings and evidence surrounding Camelot including its possible location, occupants and links to King Arthur. Was Camelot the grand castle of legend, a nomadic court travelling the land to dispense local justice or simply an idealistic code of morals from a forgotten age?

The Arthurian Legends: Merlin

A tall pointy hat, long grey bread and flowing robes are the trademarks of what most envisage the benevolent and worldly wizard Merlin to have been like. With an eager young Arthur by his side, Merlin has taken on the guise of teacher, advisor and father figure to the young King but history paints the mysterious sorcerer in much murkier colours. Ironically, there is more evidence to support the existence of Merlin than there is for Arthur, but the evidence points to a holy man from demonic parentage or a wild man of the woods rather than a kindly old magician. Using new evidence, historical text and expert analysis this video attempts to separate myth from reality and identify the true origins and life of the most famous of wizards.

Napoleon: Imperial Zenith

By the year 1800, Napoleon's political career was in full swing but as First Consul he was hardly a man of the people - by a stroke of outrageous good fortune he even survived an assassination attempt on Christmas Eve 1800. This gave him the perfect excuse to eliminate several political enemies and tighten his grip on a tumultuous nation. This episode covers Napoleon's golden era - his rise to Emperor in 1804 and his remarkable military victories at Austerlitz, Eylau and Ulm. By 1808 the Emperor of France was just a short step away from becoming the Emperor of Europe.

The Arthurian Legends: King Arthur

His name, image and adventures stir something in all of us - a time of chivalrous deeds, damsels in distress and gallant quests. King Arthur is the archetypal hero, a shining light from an age whose romance and myth still casts a spell over all who show a flicker of interest in his enduring legend. However, when we look for historical facts Arthur and his legend are shrouded in mystery and darkness, with little to no hard proof ever such a man existed. In the absence of concrete evidence, history and fantasy have fused together and in this video we attempted to separate fact from fiction with the expert opinion of historians and renowned Arthurian authorities. - The Power Of The Legend - Hidden Treasure In The Writings - Horsemen Of The Red Dragon - Power Of The Sword

Napoleon: Winter in Russia

With the Peninsular War still raging, Napoleon made a fateful decision in 1812 when he turned his attentions east and the Grand Army began an invasion of Russia. Nothing could have prepared them for what lay ahead as they marched slowly towards Moscow. Little did they know that of the half a million men who crossed the Russian border, fewer than fifty thousand would ever see their homeland again. This episode tells the story of Napoleon's greatest mistake his ill fated Russian adventure that spelt the beginning of the end for the Emperor. The episode includes the story of the bloody Battle of Borodino and the appalling horrors of the French retreat from Moscow.

Napoleon: Waterloo: The Final Curtain

This is the final chapter of Napoleon Bonaparte's extraordinary life - chapter that begins with his enforced exile on the island of Elba. He busied himself building forts and bridges, winning the support of the local population and making plans for a return to France. When he did return, it was to an ecstatic welcome from his former troops and it was not long before he was reinstated as Emperor and at war once again. But there was to be no glorious ending to the tale. Instead it ended in spectacular and bloody failure in June 1815 on the famous battlefield of Waterloo. Napoleon's old enemy the Duke of Wellington once again beat his forces and this time there was no way back. Napoleon died in exile on St. Helena just six years later, but the legend of his military genius had only just begun.

Celtic Legends: Irish Legends

This revealing program shows that the search for the Celtic Gods of Britain is an extremely difficult task. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but they are kept alive in a series of enduring stories. This program presents many of these stories, which have been passed down from generation to generation.

The Battle of Edgehill

After months of rising tension, the English Civil War finally exploded into life on the slopes of Edgehill on October 23rd 1642. It was to be a confused and bitter business, marked by the foolishness of Prince Rupert and the Royalist cavalry, who left the field at a crucial stage of the battle. As darkness fell nearly 3000 men lay dead and the die was cast: the English Civil War would be no short and decisive affair. Featuring exciting and authentic battle reconstructions, plus footage of the battlefield as it is today, "The Battle of Edgehill" is a fascinating and powerful account of the encounter which set the brutal tone of the entire English Civil War. This authoritative programme also features period imagery and expert battle analysis.