Great British Ships Season 1 Episodes

Episode 1

HMS Victory: Nelson's Great Warship

43 mins

HMS Victory was already 40 years old when it fought in the battle of Trafalgar. Rob Bell discovers the feats of engineering behind its construction and the celebrity of its captain, Nelson.

Episode 2

The Mary Rose: Secrets from the Deep

43 mins

Henry VIII's warship sank nearly 5 centuries ago killing more than 400 men. A host of theories to explain the disaster have emerged including enemy fire, the ship's builders and even the King himself.

Episode 3

HMS Belfast: WW2's Great Survivor

44 mins

Rob Bell delves into the history of HMS Belfast, the cruiser that played a critical role in some of the most dramatic battles of World War II helping to defeat the Nazis.

Episode 4

SS Great Britain

43 mins

Designed by Victorian engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel when completed it was the longest passenger ship in the world. Its early years were plagued with problems before it found success.

Episode 5

Cutty Sark: 150 Years of War and Speed

44 mins

Rob Bell explores the tea clipper, a ship that endured drunken captains, murderous crews, inspired a whisky and survived the coming of the steam age only to face its greatest challenge in 2007 when a fire ripped through the hull.

Episode 6

Golden Hinde: Drake's Royal Voyager

Follow the Golden Hinde and Sir Francis Drake on their secret mission for Queen Elizabeth plundering Spanish ships and opening trade routes. Circumnavigating the globe, Drake returns not knowing even if his new Queen would remain in power.