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There was a time, before football and rock'n'roll, when explorers were the A-listers of their day. Death-defying antics and tales of daring made them the stuff of legend: names like Columbus, Raleigh, and Cook, who sailed off over the horizon to discover new lands and bring home treasures unimaginable to those sitting at home in dark, damp Europe. Intrepid explorers they may have been, but ‘great' might be pushing it. Across the seven seas, they spilled blood and spread disease. They enabled the destruction of civilisations and the growth of slavery. And many of their ‘discoveries' weren't quite what you'd think...
Seasons
Episode 1
Christopher Columbus
1h 30m
James rewrites stories of the greatest explorers in his inimitable, entertaining way, beginning with Columbus, and discovering how he merely 'stumbled across' two continents and took the spoils.
Episode 2
Sir Walter Raleigh
1h 30m
James May uncovers the truth behind Sir Walter Raleigh's legendary rise - from his persuasive skills to his New World ventures - and reveals the dark legacy of his explorations.
Episode 3Latest episode
Captain Cook
1h 30m
In his unique style, James explores Captain Cook's rise to naval captain and his legacy - even experiencing first-hand his own apprenticeship aboard a tall ship.
