Hats off to this royal treasure
PICK DAY
Beefeaters at the Tower of London INSIDE THE TOWER OF LONDON Channel 5, 9.15pm WITH its circling ravens, formidable Beefeaters and tales of grisly beheadings, The Tower of London has history seeping out of its 90ft high walls.
For nearly a thousand years it has been a fortress, a royal palace and an infamous prison, not to mention one of Britain’s top tourist attractions.
This fascinating series, with incredible access, goes behind the imposing walls to meet the people who keep this ancient building running in the modern age.
The Tower even has residents, including 37 Yeoman Warders, who walk their dogs in the grounds, often letting them jump into the huge moat to cool off.
There are Beefeaters who deal with the daily invasion of tourists, curators who are restoring the buildings, a gaoler performing time-honoured ceremonies and the Raven Master, looking after the Tower’s famous birds.
In this episode, we see a crack team of conservators who are working to repair and preserve an ancient stone staircase that dates right back to William The Conqueror times.
Meanwhile, the infamous Bloody Tower is being prepared for a new exhibition about the story of the Princes in the Tower. Chief Curator Tracy Borman digs into this murky tale, trying to sift myth from reality.
And elsewhere, Chief Beefeater Chris Morton announces his imminent retirement, meaning the gaoler’s axe will be handed on to the next generation.
From stories of bloodthirsty rebels and heads on spikes, to official ceremonies to mark royal celebrations, and a few bones unearthed along the way, this is a compelling romp through history.