# Documentary presenters in the UK **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** documentary-bio\ **Created:** [June 29, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274 "2021-06-29T19:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/1 "2021-06-29T19:42:56Z")
- or - Mods, if I should wax excessively misogynistic, please feel free to close this thread. Last night, while trying to sleep, I turned on an episode of Time Team. Perfect! I cried because Baldrick and his gang of aged boffins rarely have time to find anything but mud, so I laid back, anticipating an hour dreaming about anything but Iron Age hill forts. Then they introduced a woman with them, my TV archaeology girlfriend, Bettany Hughes, OBE. Drat! Now I will need to pay attention. Her bosom won’t watch itself and she seems real fond of putting it on display. Not in an obvious or prurient way, just a matter of fact manner. “Hi, we’re here, too.” [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Ralph_Jackson_and_Bettany_Hughes.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Ralph_Jackson_and_Bettany_Hughes.jpg) It got me thinking about my other favorite hosts. There’s Dr Lucy Worsley, OBE, the pixie queen of the Tudors. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/90/01/96/90019600a1461b8a8bc5cd01f910924e.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/90/01/96/90019600a1461b8a8bc5cd01f910924e.jpg) And then there’s Dr Suzzanah Lipscomb. The cascade of honey blonde ringlets who told us the ways you could die at home through the ages. [![](http://suzannahlipscomb.com/wp-content/uploads/retouch_26cropped-819x1024.jpg) ](http://suzannahlipscomb.com/wp-content/uploads/retouch_26cropped-819x1024.jpg) To make her even more impressive, she was even on a comedy panel show. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/861ixQXrwMo/maxresdefault.jpg "James Acaster on Insert Name Here") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=861ixQXrwMo) For male presenters there’s Dan Snow, MBE. He often presents shows about another of my interests, things blowing up. [![](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/E6N43G/dan-snow-portrait-at-the-soho-literary-festival-2013-E6N43G.jpg) ](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/E6N43G/dan-snow-portrait-at-the-soho-literary-festival-2013-E6N43G.jpg) I’m open to other suggestions, especially from the US, including titles and education so I know why I should listen to them ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/2 "2021-06-29T19:47:30Z")
The one that gets all the attention is Professor Brian Cox. You either love him or hate him, but his explanations of astronomy and physics are rather good I think. He did a wonderful explanation of the complexity of Saturn’s rings in Wonders of the Solar System. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/3 "2021-06-29T20:33:49Z")
Ooh! Ooh! Caitlin Doughty – Ask A Mortician [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AuaGWDSeqvE/maxresdefault.jpg "Watch Me Get Embalmed (weirdly not clickbait)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuaGWDSeqvE) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/4 "2021-06-29T21:15:43Z")
Letting certain areas of the OP slide for the moment… Lucy Worsley is the subject of a certain amount of profanity in our household (from one particular member), in that these days she often presents waaaaay outside her area of expertise. The particular member also has a doctorate in a specialist historical field and argues with the television about questionable or over-broad statements being made by Dr W. I tend to point out “They’re using her because she’s on contract and it makes more sense than hiring yet another presenter”. This does not help things. But if it’s erudite female television presenters you want, why not consider Dame Mary Beard? Her expertise on ancient Roman culture is unrivalled. [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/e87d6/34476993.ece/AUTOCROP/w1240/PANews%20BT\_P-5698c0cf-d6f8-40a3-ab26-3071b0cca593\_I1.jpg](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/e87d6/34476993.ece/AUTOCROP/w1240/PANews%20BT_P-5698c0cf-d6f8-40a3-ab26-3071b0cca593_I1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/5 "2021-06-29T21:28:30Z")
Thanks! I will give her a try. I found the three I chose for the OP on American public TV. My gooey crushiness was largely a joke born of too much time on my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Acierocolotl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acierocolotl/32/6241_2.png) [@Acierocolotl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acierocolotl)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/6 "2021-06-29T21:30:43Z")
Rich Hall, an American from Montana, is occasionally tapped to comment on US culture for the BBC. I’m rather fond of his works in general. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/7 "2021-06-29T21:35:27Z")
I could never stand Rich Hall and was happy when he left the US. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/8 "2021-06-29T21:41:44Z")
There’s one fetching female presenter—I don’t remember her name right offhand—who is always chipper and bubbly no matter where she goes. She did a documentary series on the spice trade and charmed her way through South Asia collecting cinnamon bark and other such goodies. Watching her, all I could say was “She’s so _happy_! She must really love her work!” I also like the bald guy who talks about physics, and Ruth What’s-Her-Name and the guys with whom she works her way through different periods of history. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/9 "2021-06-29T22:20:52Z")
I have a very big crush on Alice Roberts. She’s bright, knowing and all around gorgeous. > **[Alice Roberts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Roberts)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Alice May Roberts FRSB (born 19 May 1973) is an English biological anthropologist, biologist, television presenter and author. Since 2012 she has been professor of the Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. She was president of the charity Humanists UK between January 2019 and May 2022. She is now a vice president of the organisation. > Roberts was born in Bristol in 1973, the daughter of an aeronautical engineer and an En... And for the opposite camp, there’s Neil Oliver. He’s also great, and he has such a cute accent. > **[Neil Oliver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Oliver)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Neil Oliver (born 21 February 1967)\[citation needed\] is a British television presenter, archaeologist, historian and author. He has presented several documentary series on archaeology and history, including A History of Scotland, Vikings, and Coast. He is also an author of popular history books and historical fiction. > He was the president of the National Trust for Scotland from 2017 to 2020. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/10 "2021-06-29T23:55:10Z")
My friend, I’m not doing your homework for you. I found the women you mentioned in seconds using the clues you gave, but I’m not telling you. The bald guy talking about physics could be anyone, but I’m going with Ali G. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/11 "2021-06-30T00:07:29Z")
You needn’t do anything for me, nor would I ask you to. I couldn’t do an Internet search at the time because I was in the middle of something else, and I couldn’t remember the relevant names off the top of my head. Now that I have a few free minutes, the physicist is Jim Al-Khali. > **[Jim Al-Khalili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Al-Khalili)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Jameel Sadik "Jim" Al-Khalili CBE FRS FInstP (Arabic: جميل صادق الخليلي; born 20 September 1962) is an Iraqi-British theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster. He is professor of theoretical physics and chair in the public engagement in science at the University of Surrey. He is a regular broadcaster and presenter of science programmes on BBC radio and television, and a frequent commentator about science in other British media. > In 2014, Al... Ruth is Ruth Goodman. > **[Ruth Goodman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Goodman_(historian))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Ruth Ellen Goodman (born 5 October 1963) is a British freelance historian of the early modern period, specialising in offering advice to museums and heritage attractions. She is a specialist in British social history and after presenting the 2005 television series Tales from the Green Valley, went on to participate in several BBC historic farm series. She occasionally presents features for The One Show, and she co-presented Secrets of the Castl... Kate Humble did _ **The Spice Trail** _. > **[The Spice Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spice_Trail)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Spice Trail is a British television documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two in 2011 looking at the discovery and history of spices. Presented by Kate Humble, she travels around the world to see how spices are made and investigates their history. She also tells stories and interviews the people from the areas of their origin. The series looks at how local economies are built upon the income from the spices and the threats to these econo... ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/12 "2021-06-30T00:10:51Z")
Are you sure it’s not Ali G? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/13 "2021-06-30T00:17:20Z")
What is depressing me is that all of these people are younger than I. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/14 "2021-06-30T01:49:04Z")
Mods: How badly did I stomp all over the rules with this thread? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/15 "2021-06-30T02:59:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Now that I have a few free minutes, the physicist is Jim Al-Khali. Yes, I like him very much too. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/16 "2021-06-30T03:23:29Z")
I think Richard Ayoade did a good job as Travel Man, even though he confessed that he actually hates travel. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/17 "2021-06-30T03:25:29Z")
Though he was originally a comedian, not a presenter, I loved Michael Palin in his travel documentaries (Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/18 "2021-06-30T03:45:34Z")
Palin is and Jones was marvelous presenters. I’m trying out Absolute History. I’ve seen individual episodes; I had no idea there are so many. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/19 "2021-06-30T03:53:03Z")
Also, I really like the hosts of _Mystic Britain_, though I’m not sure if it’s actually an English production (it runs on the Smithsonian Channel here in the U.S.). The hosts are Clive Anderson (who was the original host of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” in the U.K. in the '80s), and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota – they have an excellent chemistry, and have a lot of fun with the show. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274/20 "2021-06-30T04:52:42Z")
Mystic Britain looks like fun. I’ve always liked Clive. This thread is a bigger mistake rhan I thought. I have enough TV to last me until Doomsday. Not to be confused with any books or documentaries by Michael Wood or ordered by William the Conqueror. Or John de Conqueroo, for that matter. The Master (if it’s still okay to call him that) speaks: [https://www.straightdope.com/21341448/what-is-the-john-the-conq](https://www.straightdope.com/21341448/what-is-the-john-the-conq) 1973!? Isn’t that before Little Ed took over from Little Dave? I’m back to feeling real old. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documentary-presenters-in-the-uk/945274.md?page=2)