Tony Robinson's Superstitions

15 September 2011

TX: September

In this visceral five-part series, Tony Robinson investigates the extraordinary and shocking beliefs that built Britain - and changed history.

From the brutal human sacrifices of Iron Age Britain, through the stomach-churning supernatural medicine of the Middle Ages, to the horrifying witch-hunts and exorcisms of the 16th and 17th centuries (and beyond), Tony's remarkable journey takes him to some of the darkest moments in our past.

Using a mixture of experiments, demonstrations and dramatic reconstruction Tony reveals the terrifying world our forefathers really thought they lived in. A world almost everyone, from kings to commoners, believed was populated by demons, sprites, walking corpses, witches and evil spirits, all out to do them harm. A world, until now, largely forgotten by history.

Each programme will focus on a major belief of our ancestors - the undead, evil spirits, supernatural causes of disease, witches, and gods.

Why did people believe these in these things? What did they try and do to protect themselves from them? And what impact did these beliefs have, not just on their daily lives, but the course of history?

 

Production company
Wildfire Television