Channel 4 Commemorates Battle of Britain with aerial spectacular

5 August 2015

Channel 4 announces a unique celebration of the heroes who saved Britain from Nazi invasion.

· 1 x 90’ documentary on Sunday 13th September – Battle of Britain: The Last of the Few (w/t)

· 1 x 60’ event on Tuesday 15th September – Battle of Britain: Heroes Fly Again (w/t)

Channel 4 is marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain with a feature-length documentary and event capturing one of the most ambitious aviation celebrations ever seen in Britain – a flypast involving an estimated 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes, the most to come together in one place since World War Two.

The Battle of Britain was one of the pivotal moments in our nation’s history.  Thousands of brave British and Allied airmen inflicted a decisive defeat on the Luftwaffe - thwarting Hitler’s plan to invade Britain and changing the course of World War Two.  Presented by Dermot O’Leary, these programmes will celebrate this extraordinary achievement, as the last surviving veterans tell their remarkable stories and a very special tribute is paid to their legacy.

Channel 4 Commissioning Editors Rob Coldstream and Sara Ramsden have ordered the programmes from Arrow Media in association with Ora et Labora. 

Rob Coldstream says: “This is probably the last significant commemoration that the surviving 'Few' will be able to join. I hope we can bring a whole new young generation of viewers to understand the significance of the sacrifices that were made by these heroes 75 years ago.”

Dermot O’Leary says: “I'm always fascinated by the human interest side of the Battle of Britain, ordinary people in extraordinary situations. I have met and interviewed some incredible people.  It has never been more important to tell their story.” 

 

Battle of Britain: The Last of The Few (w/t)

Churchill famously called them ‘The Few'.  75 years on from the Battle of Britain, only a handful of these heroes are still with us.  This documentary explores the extraordinary human stories behind the Battle of Britain as fighter pilots, ground crew and even the plotters who worked in the ‘Ops Room’ give revealing accounts of their roles in the campaign.

Passionate Spitfire enthusiast Dermot O'Leary will present the programme and meet a number of the veterans such as 95-year-old Wing Commander Tom ‘Ginger’ Neil.  Tom explains the minimal training he and his squadron received, which included one simple instruction - to shoot down as many enemy aircraft as possible and avoid getting shot themselves.  He and his fellow pilots were permanently ready to be scrambled up to four or five times a day.  Thrust into battle often with only a few snatched hours of sleep, they were pushed to the limit by the constant strain of aerial battles and the loss of their friends.  Despite flying 141 sorties during the Battle of Britain and being awarded 13 victories, Tom still feels that he didn’t do enough.

Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum is another of the fighter pilots to tell their story.  At the time of the Battle of Britain he was aged just 19, making him the youngest Spitfire pilot to be involved in the fighting.  Geoffrey recalls how early in the morning he’d occasionally send up a prayer asking God not to forget him – and, after battle, trying to suppress thoughts of his friends who had not returned.

The documentary will also feature the remarkable stories of members of the Air Transport Auxiliary, known as the ‘Attagirls’.  Dermot will meet 98-year-old Mary Ellis - one of the female pilots who flew Spitfires, Hurricanes and even Lancaster and Wellington bombers from the factories to RAF bases around the country, often with minimal training.  During the War, Mary delivered more than 1,000 planes, including 400 Spitfires.

Dermot will also meet surviving members of the ground crew who served during the Battle of Britain.  They will reveal how they often had just 20 minutes to carry out essential maintenance on damaged planes, the tight bond that existed between them and the pilots and the danger they faced on the ground from German bombs.

Throughout the documentary, Dermot will chart the events of the decisive day of September 15th, 1940.  Known as ‘Battle of Britain Day’, this was the climax of the campaign and saw the Luftwaffe launch two huge daylight bombing raids on London.  At the ‘Ops Room’ at RAF Uxbridge, where victory was masterminded, historian James Holland will detail the events of the day and the key strategies and turning points.

In addition, pilot and former Royal Marine Arthur Williams (D-Day: As It Happens, The Plane That Saved Britain) will meet two wounded ex-Servicemen who are undertaking an extraordinary flying scholarship with Boultbee Flight Academy to be able to fly in a Spitfire as part of the flypast on 15th September.  The scholarship is supported by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, through its Endeavour Fund, which helps wounded, injured and sick Service Personnel and Veterans using sport and adventurous challenge as a catalyst for recovery and rehabilitation.

The two wounded servicemen selected to take part, Nathan Forster and Alan Robinson, are following a flight training programme similar to those undertaken in the 1940s which will culminate in them playing an active role in this historic flypast.  Nathan was injured in a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment.  RAF engineer Alan had his right leg amputated above the knee after a motorbike accident.  Their scholarship was inspired by the memory of ace pilot Douglas Bader who had 20 confirmed victories during World War Two, despite losing both of his legs in 1931.

Arthur will also explore how the Spitfire measured up against the enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109.  In a live firing test, he’ll compare the damage caused by the Spitfire’s .303 machine gun against the Messerschmitt’s much larger 20mm cannon.

 

Battle of Britain: Heroes Fly Again (w/t)

On 15th September 2015, the 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, an estimated 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes from across the UK, USA and Europe will come together at the Boultbee Flight Academy, the world’s only Spitfire Flying School to take part in an historic flypast over the South of England.

With behind the scenes access to the build-up and exclusive aerial coverage of the flypast, this show will bring breathtaking coverage of this unique spectacle.

The event brings together more Spitfires and Hurricanes in one place than at any time since World War Two - all converging on Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex.  The roar of 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes starting their engines will transport the airfield back in time to the Battle of Britain, when it was known as RAF Westhampnett and home to two fighter squadrons that fought in the campaign.

Nothing like this will have been seen since the War – and presenter Dermot O’Leary will hear the emotional memories of the veterans who have come to witness it.  For these last surviving members of ‘The Few’, the flypast will be a unique way to celebrate a major anniversary of the Battle of Britain.  One of them, 95-year-old Tom Neil, will even be taking part with a nostalgic flight in a Spitfire.  Dermot will also meet the two wounded servicemen who have trained under the Spitfire Scholarship to fly the iconic aircraft.

Using helicopters and a chase plane, the show will capture all the action as the Spitfires and Hurricanes form ‘Wings’ of up to eight aircraft and embark on routes covering the South of England.  It will be a truly dramatic and emotional spectacle as they pass over iconic locations connected with the Battle of Britain, such as the White Cliffs of Dover, Biggin Hill and RAF Uxbridge.

The show will feature full and exclusive access behind the scenes and the key factors in pulling off the event, including the flight briefing, air traffic control and the choreography of the aircraft on the ground.

Dermot will also explore the extraordinary passion these planes inspire.  98-year-old ATA girl Mary Ellis will be reunited with Spitfire MV154, which she delivered during the War, whilst American aviation enthusiast John Sessions will explain how he had his Spitfire dismantled and shipped over from Seattle so it can take its place in the flypast.

As soon as the planes from the flypast land back at Goodwood, Dermot will capture the emotional reactions of the pilots and passengers as they reflect on an historic flight and how this day 75 years ago changed the course of the War.

These films tell an extraordinary story of triumph over adversity – with the epic, once in a lifetime flypast forming a fitting tribute to some of the World’s bravest aviators.  Executive producers are Tom Brisley and Ash Potterton, series producer is Chris Parkin and Dermot O’Leary is Associate Producer.

Tom Brisley, Joint Creative Director Arrow Media, says: “We’re delighted to be working with Dermot again on Battle of Britain, another landmark production for Channel 4. Following the success of Live from Space, the Battle of Britain production will feature a must-see event, as we bring to life one of the most significant days of World War Two.”

ENDS