Ben Robinson Explained

Ben Robinson is a British archaeologist and television presenter who currently works for Historic England. He has appeared as a contributor and presenter for Channel 4, ITV and the BBC.

History

Robinson obtained a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from Teesside University (Polytechnic at the time) in 1989. He achieved his PhD at the University of York[1] in 2008 while working for Peterborough City Council as the Historic Environment Manager.[2] In 2009 Ben joined English Heritage[3] as a Team Leader and Inspector of Ancient Monuments. Ben has worked for Historic England since the 2015 split of English Heritage as the Principal Adviser, Heritage at Risk for the East Midlands.[4]

Television work

Robinson first appeared on the Channel 4 programme Time Team in 2005, on a dig at Northborough, and went on to make a further eleven appearances, with his last in 2011 at Litlington, Cambridgeshire.

Robinson appeared on the episode "East" of the 2009 BBC One programme Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones.[5] In 2010 he presented the four-part BBC Four series The Flying Archaeologist.[6]

During 2014 he presented the episode "The Zeppelin Terror" for the BBC Four documentary World War One At Home. In the episode he followed the paths of the Zeppelin attacks over the East of England.[7] Also in 2014, Robinson co-presented the ITV series Secrets from the Sky with historian Bettany Hughes.[8]

In 2015 Robinson co-presented the BBC One documentary The Last Journey of the Magna Carta King with Professor Stephen Church.[9] In 2018 he joined presenter Alice Roberts in the six-part Channel 4 programme Britain's Most Historic Towns.

In 2019 Robinson fronted the BBC Four series Pubs, Ponds and Power: The Story of the Village, a six-part programme documenting the history of the English village in various regions.[10] This was followed by the similar format, Villages by the Sea later in 2019, which has gone onto a further three series.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: University of York - The Press p.19 March 2008. 19 March 2008 . 22 October 2018.
  2. Web site: Archaeology: Looking beneath the surface - Peterborough Telegraph p.2 April 2008. 22 October 2018.
  3. Web site: The Flying Archaeologist - Heritage Calling p.29 April 2013. 29 April 2013 . 22 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Heritage at Risk East Midlands Register 2015 - Historic England. 22 October 2018.
  5. Book: Rhys-Jones.G - Rivers: One man and his dog paddle into the heart of Britain . 9780340918647. 22 October 2018. Jones . Griff Rhys . 27 October 2011 .
  6. Web site: Last night's viewing - The Fall, BBC2; The Flying Archaeologist, BBC4 - The Independent - Tom Sutcliffe p.14 May 2013. Independent.co.uk. 13 May 2013 . 22 October 2018.
  7. Web site: BBC One documentary will trace terror of First World War air attacks on east of England by the Zeppelin - Cambs Times p.29 May 2014. 22 October 2018.
  8. News: Secrets from the Sky review – touring King Arthur's castle … by drone - The Guardian - Sam Wollaston p.18 October 2014. TheGuardian.com. 18 October 2014 . 22 October 2018. Wollaston . Sam .
  9. Web site: Last Journey of the Magna Carta King - Radio Times. 22 October 2018.
  10. Web site: TV review: Pubs, Ponds and Power: The Story of the Village; Koalas: Cute & Cuddly. The Times.co.uk. James Jackson. 23 January 2019. 22 September 2019.
  11. Web site: Villages by the Sea. Radio Times. 21 March 2023.
  12. News: Northumberland village set to feature in fourth series of BBC documentary. The Chronicle. 15 October 2023.