Bournemouth University’s (BU) television studio was the setting for the latest ‘Time Team’ episode which was recorded at BU’s Poole Gateway Building on Monday 20 January 2025 with the help of students studying BA (Hons) Television Production at the Faculty of Media & Communication.
‘Time Team’ is a British television programme that originally aired on Channel 4 and ran a successful series until 2014. Each episode featured a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of a few days. In 2022 its creators decided to bring the popular show back to life by broadcasting it on YouTube.
In its current format the ‘Time Team’ crew and presenters continue to travel the UK investigating recent archaeological excavations. In 2023 it filmed academics from the BU Maritime Archaeological Department to film them bringing up grave slabs from the bottom of the sea, from a medieval shipwreck discovered off the Isle of Purbeck.
For the latest episode, broadcast for the first time tonight, Producers decided to join forces with BU again and make use of the television studio facilities on Talbot Campus as a base for discussion. Second Year BA (Hons) Television Production students operated the cameras, directed the action on set and behind the scenes in the studio’s gallery.
BA (Hons) Television Production student at BU, Sam Schreiber, who directed the episode said: “Bringing ‘Time Team’ to BU has been a complete joy. With such a formidable team, I’m so grateful to have worked on this special project, as Director. At its core, ‘Time Team’ is about community. With a live studio audience, familiar faces, (in-person and on Zoom) and a collective excitement for archaeology, this episode is testament to that. I can’t wait to see how BU and ‘Time Team’ work together in the future.”
The studio episode looks at the upcoming year and talks to guests about ‘Time Team’s’ future activities. It features various video packages and a news and book segment. The show’s ‘spoiler’ also reveals that ‘Time Team’ will be returning to the Sutton Hoo dig site in 2025.
Dr Derek Pitman, one of the current ‘Time Team’ Presenters, who is also Head of Department of Archaeology & Anthropology at BU said: “Situating ‘Time Team’ from the field in to the television studio was an amazing challenge that was made possible by the brilliant staff and students at BU, across two faculties of Media & Communication and Science & Technology. The collaboration between the two faculties and the crew at ‘Time Team’ offers a huge opportunity of archaeological storytelling, and I can’t wait to see what we do next! A particular highlight for me was working with the Television Production students who each took a role in the production and were all genuine professionals.”
Alan Fox, Lecturer in Media Production, said “This was a fantastic experience for our students. While they are obviously still learning, the way that they behaved and reacted to a new type of programme was extremely professional. It felt like a real exchange of knowledge and skillsets to see our students learning from industry experts with years of experience while simultaneously teaching and helping them in unfamiliar television studio environments. Both the students and staff are incredibly proud of how the event went.”
Karl Rawstrone, Head of Department for Media Production, said, “This is an exciting partnership for us that showcases our industry-level students and facilities. BU is proud to provide both the UK and international TV and Film industries with creative and professional talent of the highest standard. I am delighted that the industry is choosing to work with us in our studios and that our students have once again been able to prove themselves on such a fun and exciting project.”
To watch the studio ‘Time Team’ episode tonight please visit the official ‘Time Team’ YouTube channel.
For further information about our BA (Hons) Television Production courses, please visit the BU website.
For further information about our Archaeology & Anthropology Department, please visit the BU website.
