A spectacular find of a major Roman villa was the centrepiece of this year's first-ever special Time Team Live programme. Over the Bank Holiday Weekend in August of 1997, Time Team went live broadcasting an archaeological dig against the clock and as it happened. Turkdean had lain untouched since the landowner accidentally discovered it over 20 years ago. Subsequently aerial photos of one of the fields, taken in the summer of 1995, clearly showed strange lines in the ground that looked like the outlines of buildings. Experts suspected that the site was Roman and, given its size, believed they may have a significant find on their hands. Presenter Tony Robinson and the rest of the team – joined by a number of celebrity guests – broadcast live from the site three times a day.
Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings
Compilation episode of the previous three day's shows.
End of day live summary from day 1 of the dig, interspersed with recorded highlights of the progress throughout the day.
Compilation program covering the previous three days of Time Team Live 2001.
Local residents dig their own gardens and the village green, to uncover the history of their village.
3 locations are visited for a preliminary examination, with all 3 vying to be chosen for a full dig later in the series. Tony also visits Bill Wyman's garden in Suffolk, and talks to the Rolling Stones' bassist, himself a keen amateur archaeologist, about the history of the property. Together, they do a test dig, which unearths tool flakes from the Stone Age. They also uncover bricks and tiles from the Tudor period, confirming Bill's expectation that a building had once stood on that part of the property, based on an 1840 tithe map of the area.
The team visit 3 more locations hoping to be chosen for a full dig later in the series. Tony visits Kim Wilde at her Hertfordshire home.
Digs in Hexham, Taunton and Thetford are the next locations vying to win a full dig. Phil visits Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall at his River Cottage to examine the history of the property.
The final batch of locations - Immingham, Blandford and Moniaive - make the final bids to win a full dig. The Pub Landlord, Al Murray, is the celebrity host for a test dig, at his old school, Bedford School.
The team make their final choice for the location to win a full dig, from the shortlist of Moniaive (Dumfries & Galloway), Oakamoor, (Staffordshire), Stogumber (Taunton), and Thetford (Norfolk). The winning location is informed live on air, before a national TV audience. The team also pay their first visit to a Roman dig in Swindon, which will be featured over the next few days' programs for more community archaeology..
A check back to the dig in Swindon, which includes a horde of community archaeologists - finds include not only lots of Roman artefacts, but also Medieval, and even Iron-Age artefacts. Kate Humble presents from the headquarters in London, reporting on the progress of the various community digs across the entire country. Sandi Toksvig, our "great Dane", is in Taunton to report on the winner of the competition, and give us updates on their site.
Final program of the week, bringing things to a conclusion. We revisit the various community digs going on up and down the country.