Town blacksmith in series of films
BBC radio DJ, Nihal Arthanayake, is to pair up with Loughboroughbased blacksmith Josh Burrell for a series of short films on the History TV channel.
The films will follow Nihal as he learns the art of forging iron and steel to create historic tools and weapons under Josh’s expert tutelage.
Filmed in Josh Burrell’s forge in Loughborough, Nihal will attempt to master the ancient craft of forging and create a timber axe using only raw materials.
Inspired by History’s weapon- forging competition show Forged In Fire - which has a new series launching on Thursday, March 29 at 9pm - the short films came about as a result of DJ Nihal’s enthusiasm for the hugely successful show, as demonstrated by his unsolicited tweets on Twitter.
The short films will premiere on the channel on Thursday, April 5, to accompany the new series of Forged in Fire on History at 9pm.
Nihal said: “Forged in Fire is an amazing show I found on History. When I was asked if I wanted to go to Loughborough and have a go at forging with Josh I knew I had to take History up on the offer. Who doesn’t want to fulfil that ancient need to use flame and muscle power to forge a piece of steel into something quite beautiful.”
History previously filmed with Loughborough resident Josh and his father Graham Burrell, in June 2016 for Forged in Britain; a series of short films which focused on UK toolmakers and forgers.
The father and son duo share a forge and specialise in woodworking axes and other traditional British edged tools.