The British Isles are a collection of islands with thousands of miles of coast fronting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea and the English Channel.The people that have occupied these islands have been moulded by this interaction between land and water.A bright television executive realising that fact commissioned a show which told that story.So was born the series ‘Coast’ which is now into its sixth series.
Every episode takes us on a journey of exploration and discovery gently marinated with personal stories and breathtaking scenery.
This has been a winning formula.
Starting at ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ we have travelled clockwise around our coast with a detour to Northern Ireland.
In this journey we have been shown our flora and fauna, our history and how we have changed our coast through the ages and speculate how we may do so in the future.
Into this our sixth season we have now reached the South East Coast, Devon and Cornwall and London to Antwerp.
We meet Margate boarding house ladies who hosted the great British public before the advent of the foreign package tour.
To Plymouth and its Lawrence of Arabia connection.
On to The Netherlands where we see how horses are still used to harvest shrimps!
To Cornwall and an explanation of how waves are created and the connection between Haarlem and Harlem.
Throughout we are entertained by wonderful stories of man’s ingenuity and how we have adapted to their surroundings.
In total it makes the viewer look afresh at the beautiful world about us.
Presented by well informed and quirky presenters Nicholas Crane, Dick Strawbridge, Mark Horton, and Alice Roberts we are both entertained and educated.
Only dullness is a foreign country and we never go there!
As in all the shows so far we are given fantastic views and pictures of this part of the western Europe that we call home.
A land in which we live that is never more than 72 miles from the sea!
This release is a handsome and valuable addition to a wonderful series.
If you want to clamber over clifftops, ride the rough seas and explore the history and evolution of life as it is lived from the coast and beyond then this is a brilliant way to do it.
Roll on series seven.
Available on DVD (Cat No DVD AV9879) and Blu-ray (Cat No AB2004) Running time 354 minutes approx.
Coast and More (Series 6) BBC Acorn Media