Discovering Britain

Maureen Lipman and Larry Lamb head to St Ives in Cornwall to discover how the picturesque harbour town is booming with crowds of art lovers. They learn how the local fishing industry was at the height of its power at the turn of the 20th century, when nearly 270 fishing boats plied their trade in and out of the port. Michael Buerk heads to Wiltshire to explore the rich history of chalk carvings and their links with the First World War. Shobna Gulati visits Howden Dam in the Peak District National Park, where she reveals a phenomenal part of Britain's engineering and social history - and the destination for 'Team Gulati' during her family days out back in the 1970s. Emilia Fox's fascination with butterflies sees her return to Dorset to rekindle happy memories of idyllic summer holidays. Larry also hits the streets of Soho in central London where he meets The Imitation Game and Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who is passionately campaigning to keep the uniqueness of the famous district's streets alive.

Maureen Lipman, Larry Lamb and Michael Buerk are joined by comedian Arthur Smith and soul singer Mica Paris as they travel Britain lifting the lid on our peculiar obsession with heritage and tradition. Maureen and Larry are in the ancient New Forest, where Maureen turns tree-hugger with a magnificent 600-year-old oak. Larry learns about charcoal making and meets an iconic New Forest pony. Michael is in Hampshire, on the trail of the forgotten hero of Britain's natural history, Gilbert White. Arthur Smith clambers aboard a handsome 1920s locomotive at the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway. And Mica Paris indulges her passion for fashion in the beautiful Georgian city of Bath; at the 18th century Assembly Rooms, Mica goes behind the scenes and is allowed a close look at the incredible workmanship and beauty of dresses made over 250 years ago.

Maureen Lipman, Larry Lamb and Michael Buerk are joined by former Doctor Who, Peter Davison, and television presenter Janet Ellis, as they travel across Britain exploring our enduring fondness for heritage, history and tradition. Maureen and Larry are in Dover discovering its rich military past and key strategic position in defending the British mainland; they visit Western Heights, designed to protect Dover from French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars and see the gun battery on top of the walls in action. Larry also descends 75 feet underground inside the iconic White Cliffs to visit a recently-discovered network of tunnels dug during the Second World War to provide shelter from Hitler's guns. Michael visits the Hovercraft Museum in Hampshire to sample the revolutionary transport that could cross the English Channel in around half an hour. Peter Davison shares his passion for the River Thames, from its secret stretches to the incredible view of it from Richmond Hill. And Janet Ellis goes behind the scenes at Britain's most controversial airbase - Greenham Common, the site of the Women's Peace Camps in the 1980s protesting at the deployment of cruise missiles.

Maureen Lipman, Larry Lamb and Michael Buerk are joined by actors Wendy Craig and Bill Paterson, as they travel across Britain lifting the lid on our national obsession with heritage and tradition. Maureen and Larry head north to the majestic Glamis Castle in Scotland - both the childhood home of the Queen Mother and the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth. Maureen discovers the secrets of the Queen Mother's private apartments while Larry joins the annual Highland Games in the Castle's grounds. Michael is on the trail of a 5000-year-old burial mystery in Wiltshire. Wendy Craig shares her passion for horticulture in her home village of Cookham in Berkshire, revealing the floral and landscape work of the artist Stanley Spencer. And Bill Paterson returns to his childhood home in Glasgow to champion the city's extraordinary industrial legacy and boards the Waverley, the last sea-going steam paddler in the world.

Maureen Lipman, Larry Lamb and Michael Buerk are joined by Scottish actor Bill Paterson, as they criss-cross Britain in search of the country's most fascinating historical characters and heritage marvels. Maureen and Larry visit Scone Palace in rural Perthshire to meet the custodians of the 'Stone of Scone', where centuries of Scottish kings were crowned. Larry explores the magnificent medieval walled gardens while Maureen enjoys a fly-fishing adventure on the banks of the River Tay, known the world over for its Atlantic salmon fishing. Michael fulfils a boyhood dream riding on the footplate of a heritage steam train in the Severn Valley. And Bill Patterson gets an exclusive glimpse of restoration work at the Glasgow School of Art, which was designed by his hero Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Maureen Lipman, Larry Lamb and Michael Buerk are joined by actor Don Warrington in the journey across Britain exploring our enduring fascination with heritage, history and tradition. Maureen and Larry explore the rolling hills of Lancashire's Ribble Valley, the inspiration for JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings. They meet the people conserving the look - and taste - of our cherished countryshire. Larry discovers the secrets of drystone walling while Maureen learns about kitchen gardens and heritage vegetables and is taught to cook Lancashire's most famous dish - the Hotpot. Michael Buerk visits the chalk streams of Hampshire and, in Yorkshire, Don Warrington shares his passion for 18th-century art and design at Harewood House, which has an art collection to rival the finest in the land.