Time to turn over. (Time Team)

Member Name: blackviolets

Product:	Time Team
Date:	23/08/09 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: sometimes they find things of interest

Disadvantages: never changes.

Every Sunday night for years and years it's been the same when Time Team has arrived on the channel 4 line up. We have our tea and despite our protests Tony Robinson and co appear. Telling us about how many trenches they have dug up, showing us broken pieces of pottery that have been found and maps which mean absoloutly nothing to me. It first aired in 1994 and is still going strong. I'm starting to wonder about where they haven't dug a hole to search for historical bits and bobs.

Presented by Tony Robinson the team carry out archeological digs in different parts of the country. In the space of 3 days they spend a considerable amount of time scraping away at dirt and soil, trying to uncover anything which suggests that people from a certain period of time, be in Roman, bronze or iron age, lived in that area. They never give up which is something which amazes me.

One and a half days in a ditch without anything to show for it. "I know" somebody suggests, "lets go dig another hole only a few metres away from this one!"

The team are a mixture of archaeologists and scientists. Sometimes involving some of the local residents to give a hand. Especially if they've found some thing pretty big underneath all of the mud.

Long running members are Mick Aston, an archaeologist with a fantastic arangement of colourful jumpers, Francis Pryor, archaeologist and a very happy chap. Then of course the ever excited Phil Harding, archaeologist, incredibly thick west country accent and his hats. Quite a nice little mixture. Naturally you need Tony Robinson to provide a tiny bit of sanity!

I'll admit that over the years my interest has feigned slightly. At the end of each show they give you a look as to what the building they think stood there might of looked like. Along with any other objects they might find. In the past they've come across remaining bits of sandals from the roman era, pieces of tile clearly from floors or mosaic chunks. In some cases they can be quite interesting although there is only so much you can take before thinking that it's pretty much exactly the same as the last episode. Only in a different location.

The programme also explains as to how they came across the particular site and the history behind it. Significantly showing about what they expect or hope to come across. I find that is a bit of a downside. Personally I'd rather not know.

This isn't my favourite of shows. It has a very tired format but I will say that for younger people it might get them interested in history. I know when we first started to watch it I was dead set on becoming an archeaologist. Over time my outlook has changed. Whilst they are always discovering new finds you can't help but not always be that impressed. Once you've seen something once it loses a bit of interest in me.

It hasn't been without any problems though. In 2007 they were filming a jousting scene when somebody died from an injury. This was never seen in the actual aired programme but the episode was dedicated I believe to the person who died.

Airing on Channel 4 on Sunday nights Time Team is an average programme, even though it always draws in a big enough audience to keep it going. Personally I think it appeals more to older people than any of the other age groups. If you like history, mixed in with a bit of archeaology then this is the programme for you.

Summary: .