Raising The Mary Rose: The Lost Tapes

Channel 4, 7pm

The magnificent flagship of Henry VIII’s navy, the Mary Rose, sank in 1545, lost in the Solent near the Isle of Wight during a battle against the French.

More than four centuries later, the ship was located in its undersea grave and, as the world now knows, it was raised in 1982 and eventually restored to its former glory as a priceless relic of the past.

But it’s only now, 40 years on, that the full story of that extraordinary project can be told, as key players speak out for the first time about what went on behind the scenes in a fascinating documentary.

It’s a revealing account of the sometimes tense relationship between the archaeologists involved and members of the Royal Engineers, and we also discover the important influence exerted by the then Prince of Wales (right). ★★★★★