Loved the history of U.K. It is the programme really. Series Producer and creator of Time Team, Tim Taylor says, They did it! There were times when I would have liked to see some longer digs being featured and I would still like to see that, but it seems likely that it will not be Channel 4 doing it. The lesson is that if you have a slightly faded masterpiece, dont try and touch it up with the aid of novices. And anyway, why would we want Channel 4 to keep TT? hide. Is there any posibility of obtaining a copy of this and the program on the barge in the river Rhine. What do we all enjoy about it? However, as a viewer I hugely enjoyed the opportunity to share in the Teams excitement. THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. I liked the pictures Victor did on several shows which showed the principals in historical costumes. It has taught and shown me so much, I have a wonderful interest in archaeology thanks to this show, and loved hearing and seeing our past. Some single episodes already . In a nutshell, that is the most relevant comment I have read on here. He has worked on a number of archaeological sites in Britain and abroad. Perhaps in gthe future we may have a project for a future Time Team, Channel 4 where did it all go wrong? Hear, hear! i like everything about it. We will suffer forever without the seasonal hours of archaeology, in all its forms. Some of them are dead, and the rest have moved on. What about the good time team has done? I have watched most episodes many times and it is a joy to come across one I have never seen before. i believe everything has a lifespan, and that must include television shows. Thank goodness for DVDs of past episodes. He joined the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (now part of English Heritage) in 1985, and is now head of its Landscape Investigation Team based in York, England. One of the best programmes on television. This is just swell. Dont judge based on the rubbish you get over there. It was season 19 that changed everything. Were back thanks to the overwhelming support of our fans!. It was over when Mick went AWOL. Channel 4 has lost one viewer it wont get back. Despite his sore loss, he did the right thing to walk out. In addition, people are re-discovering the magic and history of their local areas and the wellbeing that can be derived from activities like archaeology. I was surfing the internet to obtain correct titles for some episodes that I recorded earlier. This is a project in its preliminary stages, run by Tim Taylor. He joined the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (now part of English Heritage) in 1985, and is now head of its Landscape Investigation Team based in York, England. Good quality programmes do cost a little extra.Have watched the programme from the start and my 6 year old daughter did also and was entertained by TRs presentation, she can still imitate that enthusiastic burst of speed across a field whilst talking to camera. He has since appeared in over two hundred episodes. No other archaeology programmes on any channels tackle the wide range of sites and periods that TT did or inspired many to become keen amateurs or to start a career in archaeology. Good bye Mick. Love the show and all the characters especially Phil! If you ever wanted to check anything academically, you ran a brick wall which amply demonstrated it was seen by C4 as a Reallity show, complete with Dymock shots. It was a formula that worked for the target audience and trying to attract a different audience by dumbing down the content was like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I have always loved history but the subjects in school were dull. Now the format was safely established the programme was increasingly able to capitalise on its fame and access big name sites ultimately even Buckingham Palace. Maybe after all these replies BBC4 may approach the original team !!! (Then, of course, it goes straight to Hell). Totally gutted Time Team is going. The focus groups of today, the council chambers of yesteryear; all determined to make their mark, put their talent on show. I got fed up with running and prancing, daring to contradict real aercheologists. But for me the real genius is Stewart who can look at a landscape and tell you what it was like hundreds of years ago. And of course who can ever forget Helen Geakes dress sense and haircuts ! His technique fostered a sense of immediacy for viewers, placing them on the trench edge when discoveries happened and making them privy to key discussions. My children are 13 and 12, and we all like to sit down as a family and watch this programme together and learn something. Stewart Ainsworth FSA (born 26 June 1951) is a British archaeological investigator who is regularly seen on Time Team the Channel 4 archaeological television series he joined in 1995. While the allure of such sites created a powerful television spectacle, it also marked a move away from the programmes humble local archaeology origins. Watched it since the beginning, some great episodes and fantastic digs. (now part of English Heritage) in 1985, and is now head of its Landscape Investigation Team based in York, England. My absolute favorite TV program! Its sad to see another worthwhile educational program going by the wayside. and the entire bunch breathed fresh life into the sometimes boring subject of Archaeology. Although Channel 4 is due the recognition it deserves for its faith and investment in archaeology over the years its decisions over the last couple of years will be a media studies case study How to destroy a successful programme and alienate millions of viewers. PLEASE bring it back. My own thoughts are this, why should we allow channel 4 to take this away from us, are the Team ready to call it a day or do they feel like me that there are another thousand potential sites out there to dig. Never screened and reputedly lost in the Channel 4 vaults, this pilot captured a show that was as radically different to Timesigns as it was to later Time Team episodes. Nevis, West Indies: Part 1: Directed by Graham Dixon. Reason: we hardly spoke to each other and what we were watching on tv was hardly worthwhile. And the journey is not quite over yet. Perhaps if TT had included a Big Brother style segment of drunken, debauched university students or only dug up the gardens of minor celebrity reality tv show contestants theyd still be on the air. Without any doubt whatsoever Time Team was the best show on TV and a giant amongst the crappy stuff we have to put up with these days such as reality TV shows. We totally agree with Nick Robinson, we too will be enjoying repeats and cursing Channel 4!. In terms of Cotswolds villas Time Team has probably covered more of them than anyone else. The banter between him and the otherwise notoriously stuffy academics was legendary. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. And so agree with all here who say that C4 is very sadly dumbed down from its early days and mission. I owe a debt of gratitude to the wonderful Time Team ensemble. time team r.i.p. I cant help being captivated by the digs. I am totally gutted to learn of the demise of TT. Mick, Tony Phil, Carenza Lewis, etc bring it back as there are no current programs that come close. Sir Tony Robinson, who is an honorary patron, says: I was delighted to hear about the plans for the next chapter in Time Teams story. Time Team: Created by Tim Taylor. Close. I do not think that the British tourism board and channel 4 realize how much interest world wide their is in British history. Time team is currently repeated on more-4 each midweek day and sometimes Saturdays, but I still miss fresh episodes and the original presenters and everyone should put pressure on c4 for more episodes even if it were one a month ! Never having been colonized by them I guess we in Ireland may have a slightly less reverential view of their civilizing effect on the native culture. , Cant we have Phil once a week digging a hole in a pub garden, please?xxxx. It follows so much what has been prevallent in recent years on Brittish TV and thats dumbing down. I have watched the episode from Barra several times. If Id been younger when the programme first started I would have loved to have studied archaeology to work in such a fascinating area, I had little knowledge of or interest in archaeology before. My second eldest is 18, and we only watch one program together as our interests are so different (that would be Time Team). Start a letter writing campaign to bring it back. I have offten mention to my husband, I wonder what the site look like after the the TT have left. The students became instant converts to the program. I wonder if channel 4 realise how far T.Ts popularity stretches and how informative it is for all ages. Whilst on holiday, I was very keen to spend a day or so, if possible, with the Time Team crew wherever they might be shooting. Also, a Presenter is not supposed to insult the experts he is reporting on. Hmm, lets take a show that works, tinker with it, decide the audience is wrong, treat the intelligent people in the cast and crew with disdain and see what happens. Great work mate, youre a champion. now I rely on repeats. These are absolutely awesome! Nothing lasts forever, including Time Team. There is nothing else like it on TV. Tim Taylor recalls that some archaeologists were initially, quite fairly, a bit sceptical. One aspect that some treated with suspicion was the three-day deadline. I had drawn him into the subject a few years after we married but I had the privilege of degree training. The marvelous experts have described items, historical facts and what could have been, may have been and what was likely to have been and possibly how the ancestors [residents and visitors alike] changed the landscape. But TIME TEAM managed the impossible. Cliche good looking, middle-class presenters who appear somewhat dull in enthusiasm. We shall mourn the loss of TT in Australia, although the episodes arrive on our screens years after they are made, which means well be watching them long after the series ends were still with the old format so I cant comment on the new look TT. Piss-up and brewery certainly spring to mind. I really loved the show and learned so much. A group of archaeologists have 3 days to discover historical artifacts in different sites around Britain. Inever felt patronised and loved the interation beteen Tony, Phil and Mick. Ive watched TT for years now and thoroughly enjoyed it. The beginnings of Time Team: season 1 stalwarts (from left to right) Mick Aston, Victor Ambrus, Phil Harding, Geraldine Barber, Carenza Lewis, Tony Robinson, and Robin Bush. Just started to watch the latest series on C4, very very sad to be losing it soon. Instead Time Teams format was radically overhauled. I am gutted Time Team is for the chop, I love it!!! Hopefully, I will be able to visit some. I would love to see as many of the team as posible brought together for specials or even to tell us what they are involved in now. The show ran on the chemistry among the original team, and failed to work as they left or lost interest. Now, many dislike Tony as he is renowned to be a woke leftist with an attitude, but as a presenter, I thought he did magnificently well. Margie, NZ For how many years were John Gater and Stuart Ainsworths technical expertise presented as a pat cliche when the work of either could have been expanded? This is true Reallity Television. Stewart Ainswort. The time team has brought history, archaeology, geophys and a devoted team of professionals into my life. To all the people who wrote nasty comments on this forum about it, I leave you with this question why are you on this site at all if you didnt love it like the rest of us? Sadly, my wife passed away in January 2012 but I carried on watching it until it ended. Time Team RIP All the others as far back as 1828 from Ireland and Scotland. Taylor says, It would have been great to show Basil Brown the new technology, which enables us to see 3D images of the archaeology underground, allowing us to precisely target our excavation., Taylor continues: This dig signals the start of a fascinating new chapter for Time Team. I agree with you . I regularly tape the programmes as it is shown on a variety of stations, history,yesterday, and channel 4 being some. Best of all, the cameras were rolling to capture the archaeologists euphoria as the geophysical plot emerged from a bulky printer in the back of the survey vehicle. Thank God for my Saturday morning lie-in watching four episodes in a row on More 4. Now, instead of honest archeology, we are going to be swamped with American hystorical programming, in which they assume we all have a 1 second attention span, need constant recaps (at least 4 per 10 minute part) and need it all (badly) acted out by ridiculous, cheap, and hugely inaccurate costumes, backgrounds and language. .As always it will, I supposed be replaced by some run of the mill program, American sit com or soap. Team Team gang were so funny with their understanding of each other and professional approach to their subject, their knowledge of it all and portrayal to the audience was so entertaining, and Tony added an open view to a usually flat subject, with his level headed approach to academics and gave it life. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Suddenly Channel 4 was receptive to the idea of a major archaeology programme. Its put me very on edge not to know where Im up to and I think Channel 4 should be funding my medication for hypertension, blurred vision (tears I think) and severe withdrawal already before its ended. Axing time team is a huge mistake. As well as an arresting demonstration of the power of teamwork, Athelney showed how geophysics could be the heart of the programme. He worked his sox off. I love archeology, and it was so educational seeing how it is done. There is definitly an opportunity for BBC2 together with The Open University to take over when Time Team ceases. I and my husband have learned so much over the years (and are still learning): not only about archeaology itself, but about interpreting architecture, landscapes and social history, to name but three. I studied art and have worked for the V&A, meeting many interesting historians. Although I partly agree with Geoff Stelling regarding both the departure of Mick and sidelining Phil somewhat, I do think that the young archaeologists in this the last series show a great deal of promise (Jimmy, Tracey, Susannah, for example) and we are being unfair to their input to be so critical. Thank you, thank you, Ive loved the passion, warmth, fun, humour and absolute professionalism that you all have brought to history. I continue to be in awe of the fantastic skill and enthusiasm of the presenters.May TT be always available to us. It was just a ridiculous Channel 4 attempt to appeal to younger viewers, and failed dismally. It should have stayed like that and people would have carried on watching. will take time, i was successfull on a Campaign on another show before so i know what i have to do, The Campaign is to have a new lease of life on another tv channel. His presentation throughout all of the series, which I have almost finished running though for the second time, is stellar. There can be little doubt that part of the shows early success stems from the audience warming to the groups genuine passion for teasing out the past. I enjoy watching this program on my computer(I never knew about it 10 years ago because we have so many garbage programs here on US television, they did not show it here.). I have just realised that time team is to be axed by c4. Robinson has been a superb presenter and long may he continue on historical based series . while the Facebook page is slowly building! The attempted dumbing down of Time Team smacks of dim executives meeting to dish corporate cliches out to one another. I have been planning to return for several years now for a holiday and to catch up with friends and relatives. Alarm bells began to ring for us when Mary-Anne appeared it seemed to coincide with a dumbing-down of the show. NEVER. He asks the questions that some people must be sat in front of their TV asking. RESURRECT THE PAST! Stewart surveys, records and investigates archaeological sites. Also, the most recent posters may not have heard of Mick Astons premature death. How many programmes can a entertain a whole family at the same time, not many. Schooled in observational documentaries, Graham followed the digs as they evolved. I will miss Mick and Phil and Tony. So we manage to get something enjoyable, which at the same time is also useful. Official website also launched: http://www.TimeTeamFans.com Thanks everyone. In fact, since Tony had no input at all into what digs were scheduled, I dont see how that could even begin to be true. It was one of the most brilliant Programmes ever on TV. Stewart Ainsworth (born 26 June 1951) is a British archaeological investigator who was regularly seen on Time Team, the Channel 4 archaeological television series. Time Teams status as a staple of the television schedule also wrought changes behind the scenes. I found TR irritating at times but accepted him as part of the show. Maybe it was better to end the show before they replaced the entire cast with celebrities from TOWIE. Lets hope that somebody in control is also a fan and a compromise can be reached. Your Upper Classes have been re-inventing themselves as New Romans and Empire builders for some time now, particularly in the last few centuries.They lost touch with who they ACTUALLY were and their own people. And really, TT changed my life! CHANNEL 4, YOU ARE A COMPLETE BUNCH OF IDIOTS!!!. What screwed up Time Time was poor scheduling two years ago and an attempt to sex up the show and this failed miserably. Perhaps if Chanel 4 had stuck to the old adage of if it aint broke, dont fix it we would still have had this gem of a program to look forward to enjoying for many years to come.. with shows like Strictly Come Dancing, X Factor, Dancing on Ice, Big Brother etc etc etc all being aired every week, Time Team was an oasis of entertainment and education in a vast desert of mundane TV programming. As an amateur digger, I envied TTs resources a JCB on call, geophysics, dendrochronology, C14 dating, DNA analysis. The writing was on the wall though poor scheduling . Log in or sign up to leave a comment. What better way of introducing archaeology to young people than for them to see it on a Sunday afternoon? Thank you, Time Team!!! Cutting some excellent TV and radio presenters in favor of younger ones. Youre right about More4 but try Discovery History which is showing what I think must be very early ones judging by the colour (and amount!) The 2013 series is so much better, very like the old times. After playing a critical role in many of Time Team's digs, from the caves of Cheddar to the jungles of Nevis, Mick . x. Condolences to Micks family, his friends and his colleagues. This was the best educational programme that looked forward to every week and also all the repeats that were broadcast on more 4. A known anthropologist and archeologist ( Emmanuel College, Cambridge ), to describe and dismiss her as a former model is a bit unfair. A few years earlier Tony Robinson had joined a trip Mick was leading to Santorini as part of his adult education work for Bristol University. I too have enjoyed Time Team and am amazed that it has been scrapped. An episode where a workplace expert was on stand by for structural shoring when common sense would have not wasted this kind of expense. I would be very interested in acquiring DVDs of the whole series to watch at my leaisure. I will miss my bit of kulcha. A family programe deleted. (But not, ever, I would agree, grinning totty!) archaeology..is what my 11 year old gran daughter is looking into training for..shows like these are needed more. Unlike many here, I think Mary Anne Ochota was a qualified addition to evolve and maintain the momentum of the series. The villa is a tantalising prospect - a grand building almost as big as Buckingham Palace. It will be sad for it to end, but theres still a few epsiodes I havent seen. That has gone now, so im going to just have to watch all the reruns on Discovery history ( and there are quite a few of them) and be happy. That they were able to achieve what very few others were able to achieve and give a thirst to the man-in-the-street in what could be classed as a dry subject only adds weight to what they were able to achieve in such a fantastic way. Whilst on youtube, also check out dig ventures; another fantastic project with another familiar face. 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