Britain’s Hidden Heritage

Paul visits Cragside House in Northumberland, home to one of Victorian Britain's least remembered inventors, Lord William Armstrong, who paved the way for domestic electricity. Charlie Luxton spends the night in Lincoln Castle, in a 19th century prison that was closed down 130 years ago; Clare Balding travels to North Yorkshire to visit one of the country's most beautiful and obscure ruined abbeys, and guest reporter Charley Boorman uncovers the sunken remains of Britain's very first submarine.

Presenter Paul Martin and his team visit one of the nation's most stunning stately homes, Boughton House in Northamptonshire. Built in the 17th century, this extraordinary time capsule was virtually sealed up for nearly 200 years, containing a wealth of antiques, art, music and literature - some of which is only just being uncovered. Also on the show, reporter Charlie Luxton visits an over-grown valley with claims to being the birthplace of the industrial revolution; Clare Balding visits a house in Yorkshire that might have been the inspiration for one of Britain's greatest romantic novels; and guest reporter Ann Widdecombe goes to Staffordshire in search of one of her own heritage passions: the escape route of Charles II.

The popular heritage series returns, with host Paul Martin visiting the fabulous seaside retreat of Queen Victoria - Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. With Osborne unchanged since the end of her reign, Paul discovers intimate family life details of Britain’s longest serving monarch. Regular reporters Clare Balding and Charlie Luxton also return with Clare in Gloucestershire delving into the weird and wonderful collection of Charles Paget Wade, possibly Britain’s fi rst extreme hoarder. Charlie travels to Scotland to visit a forgotten ruin that was once an architectural masterpiece. This week the team are joined by guest reporter Richard E Grant, who goes behind the scenes at Pinewood Studios, revealing secrets of the British cinema and the classic films that inspired him as a young actor.

Today presenter Paul Martin travels to Northern Ireland and to Mount Stewart – a country house recently bequeathed to the nation, that is still in the process of revealing its heritage treasures. Elsewhere, Clare Balding drops in on the restoration of one of the greatest ecclesiastical treasures in the world - the medieval Flemish stained glass of Lichfield Cathedral. Charlie Luxton is further north, on the shores of Lake Windermere, getting to grips with 19th century machinery and the lost industry that once littered the Lakes. And The Apprentice star Nick Hewer dons fl ying goggles and takes to the sky in celebration of Britain’s first aerial photographic collection, and the two pioneers who started it.