Tom Richardson
Director
Great British Railway Journeys (2010)
Series 11
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.
Released Jan. 4, 2010
Episode 29 min
2+
Genres: Documentary
Keywords: tmdb.railroad, imdb.disgraced-politician, imdb.conservative-politician, imdb.trains, imdb.infrastructure, imdb.rail-network, imdb.british-railway + 3 more, imdb.train-ride, imdb.railtrack, imdb.four-word-title
Watch Providers: Tubi TV, BritBox, Britbox Apple TV Channel , BBC Select Apple Tv channel
Production Companies: Talkback Thames, Fremantle UK
Network: BBC Two
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S11E1 - Newcastle to County Durham
Beginning just outside Newcastle in Jarrow, Michael uncovers the desperation which led 200 men to march 300 miles to Westminster in order to petition the Government for work. In Newcastle, Michael admires the city's iconic railway bridge.
Jan. 6, 2020, midnight
S11E2 - Kielder Forest to Edinburgh
Steered by his 1936 Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo is in Northumbria en route to the Highlands.
Jan. 7, 2020, midnight
S11E3 - Falkirk to Dundee
Michael Portillo's railway journey through 1930s Britain from Newcastle to Loch Ness reaches Falkirk in Scotland.
Jan. 8, 2020, midnight
S11E4 - Dundee to Aberdeen
Stopping at Dundee, Michael Portillo heads for Glamis Castle, where Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother, grew up.
Jan. 9, 2020, midnight
S11E5 - Elgin to Loch Ness
Michael Portillo's journey ends at Loch Ness, where he joins the Deep Scan research team as they scour the deep for signs of the elusive monster.
Jan. 10, 2020, midnight
S11E6 - St Ives to St Day
Michael Portillo explores the West Country between the wars and discovers a Cornish fisherman, who, although he began painting only in his seventies, inspired established artists from the capital.
Jan. 13, 2020, midnight
S11E7 - Truro to St Mawgan
In the countryside surrounding Truro, Michael finds the historic estate of Trewithen, whose gardens were stocked from China by professional plant hunters commissioned by its owner.
Jan. 14, 2020, midnight
S11E8 - Bodmin to Totnes
Clutching his 1930s Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo reaches Bodmin en route to Totnes as he explores the West Country from St Ives to Salisbury Plain.
Jan. 15, 2020, midnight
S11E9 - Paignton to Tiverton
The Dartmouth Steam Railway takes Michael Portillo to the beautiful home of Agatha Christie, in the company of her great-grandson, James Prichard.
Jan. 16, 2020, midnight
S11E10 - Taunton to Salisbury Plain
Michael Portillo crosses the county line from Devon into Somerset. He sees first-hand how willow farmers sought to overcome the challenge from the production of synthetic plastics during the 1930s.
Jan. 17, 2020, midnight
S11E11 - Canterbury to Alexandra Palace
Beginning in Canterbury in Kent, Michael treads the boards as he uncovers the political message behind a play, published in 1936, inspired by the 12th-century murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket.
Jan. 20, 2020, midnight
S11E12 - Limehouse to Rochford
On this leg, Michael alights at Limehouse in east London for Cable Street, which became the focus of Britain's fight against fascism in the 1930s.
Jan. 21, 2020, midnight
S11E13 - Witham to Felixstowe
Michael Portillo's railway journey reaches Witham in Essex. Here he visits the factory of the world's oldest supplier of metal framed windows which became popular in the 30s.
Jan. 22, 2020, midnight
S11E14 - Saxmundham to Norwich
Michael Portillo heads for Snape Maltings, a concert and arts venue, and learns how the music and life of one of Britain’s greatest composers was shaped by the sea and his Suffolk surroundings.
Jan. 23, 2020, midnight
S11E15 - Attleborough to Skegness
Michael Portillo is in Attleborough, at the headquarters of an international horse welfare organization which was established in the late 1920s, where he learns about the charity's pioneering founder.
Jan. 24, 2020, midnight
Network: BBC Two
Episode Runtime: 29 min.
Season Runtime: 8624 min.
Released: Jan. 4, 2010
Last Air Date: May 2, 2025, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR / 2+
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