Treasures of the World: Gibraltar
Sunday 23 January at 7:30pm
There are few places on Earth with as much of an outsize influence on world history as the small British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The peninsular may just be 6.5 square kilometres, but this iconic rock has loomed large on the human imagination since pre-history. Inside the rock itself, Bettany explores the incredible, subterranean, secret Stay Behind Cave, where Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, masterminded a remarkable plot: to leave six men, walled in, as human transmitters of intelligence should the Nazis invade Gibraltar.
On the end of a rope, squeezing through narrow caves, Bettany discovers messages left by Victorian officers in Leonora’s Cave and witnesses the colourful natural formations of the underground pleasure gardens. In the Garrison Library, Bettany handles the first report of Admiral Nelson’s death in the Gibraltar Chronicle. She also gets stuck inside a ‘Moorish’ tunnel and comes face-to-face with a cheeky Barbary macaque monkey.
Druids: The Mystery Of Celtic Priests
Thursday 27 January at 07:30 PM
Druids are a mystery that has not been revealed yet. New archaeological findings indicate what is lying behind it. Druids, the mysterious wizards of the Celts, have always fascinated the world. They are an integral part of ancient literature, as heroes of Irish legends and stars of modern fantasy worlds. But who were they really? Their heritage has long been elusive, as they have only passed on their secret knowledge orally. Finally, new archaeological findings paint a detailed picture of their lives and curious work.