The Kennedy family celebrates in oval office

“The Kennedys” is a stunning new 8 hour epic TV movie made by the History Channel that will be shown in four two hour chunks throughout April, reflecting on the drama behind one of America’s most beloved dynasties.

The series begins on the night of the election of arguably the most charismatic US President in recent history, John F Kennedy, focusing on the powerful legacy that was created during his one thousand days in office.

Featuring incredible performances from celebrated stars and with writing from Stephen Kronish, producer of the heart-stopping 24, this April will see the premiere of an unforgettable tale of power, pride and scandal.

“The Kennedys” all-star cast is led by Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear, who steps into the shoes of JFK alongside Katie Holmes’ stunning Jackie Kennedy in their story of epic achievements and private failures.

This unique dramatisation looks beneath the veneer of the ‘perfect family’ that was portrayed to their adoring public and uncovers the flawed President struggling to control his drug use and infidelity in a side of the Kennedy family that the public never saw.

Through incredible attention to detail and striking performances, The Kennedys lets us step back into the glamour of the 1960s. Set against a backdrop that reminds us of the style and beauty of that era, we see the pressure that came from the Kennedy patriarch, Joseph, following the death of his favourite son during World War II.

“The Kennedys” reveals the struggle of one man to manage his family life while in charge of an entire nation. Premiering on the History Channel Thursday April 7th at 9pm

Ancients Behaving Badly

No, it’s not Neil Morrisey and Martin Clunes making a 2011 remake of Men Behaving Badly, but it is a new series on History that sets out to unravel the truth about the great leaders in history where fact and fiction seem hard to distinguish.

Attempting to offer answers to those eternal questions that have been nagging at the back of our minds since childhood, such as was Cleopatra as beautiful as they say? What kind of leader was Alexander the Great? How did Attila the Hun strike such fear into his enemies?

Although they conquered continents and oversaw vast empires, many of the stories associated with great figures such as Caesar and Genghis Kahn have been lost to the ages. Only rumours and vicious tales spread by their enemies remain. Were the dark reputations and brutal stories unfair smear campaigns or did they mask even more shameful secrets?

It is fair to say that much of ancient history is shrouded in mystery and the little that is taught in schools can seldom be substantiated, we are however taught to believe what are told and with the help of experts Ancients Behaving Badly sets out to find out the truth.

This intriguing new series starts tonight, Tuesday 18th January at 9 pm exclusively to the History channel.

heir hunters

Everyday in the UK people die without having made a will and their estate goes into the treasury until such time it is claimed.

In 2007 alone £18 million was put into the treasury in this way. There are around thirty companies in the UK that specialise in attempting to locate the families of the deceased but they must be able to make a claim before time runs out.

The Heir Hunter companies work on a commission only basis and work tirelessly to ensure that relatives of the deceased get the money they deserve as well ensuring a payday for themselves. Without them the money would invariably be lost to the Treasury and families would miss out on their rightful inheritance.

Throughout January and February History channel will be following a crack team of probate detectives dedicated to tracking down the long lost relatives of the recently deceased. It’s the Heir Hunters who work tirelessly to ensure people get the money they deserve – often in life-changing amounts.

Experience the triumphs and challenges as they race against the clock, Heir Hunters follows the detectives responsible for making sure the rightful heir is found and ensure a  thorough search is carried out whenever someone dies without leaving a will. If no known relatives step forward, the Heir Hunters must hurry to trace anyone with a claim to the cash before time runs out.

With UK properties and estates remaining unclaimed for years, every episode of Heir Hunters will also spotlight cases that have nearly run out of time. Tune in to HISTORY™ in the New Year and you may be able to help or even claim an inheritance you never knew was yours.

Heir Hunters

Mondays at 7pm starting January 3^rd 2011

Only on HISTORY™

Ice Road Truckers

Facing perhaps the toughest season yet, the Ice Road Truckers are back on History this month to face what could be the ultimate challenge of their driving skills.

Veterans of the frozen North, drivers Rick Yemm, Alex Debogorski, Lisa Kelly and newcomer, Dave Redmon have traveled a long way from home and way out of their comfort zones to face the ultimate test.

In a change of scenery from the oil rich plains of North America and Canada, the truckers take to the treacherous mountain passes of India’s most dangerous roads in a bid to deliver their cargo.

Climbing the jagged peaks and speeding down the sheer slopes of the Himalayas, they’ll have more to worry about than on what side of the road they should be driving. Racing ahead in temperatures that can threaten to melt tires one moment and freeze the road beneath them the next, they’ll have to fight hard to stay calm and in control.

Starting on the narrow, rocky roads that wind away from Delhi before climbing to a construction site precariously perched between the mountains, Alex’s iron will is tested as he battles to hold his rig together in the harshest conditions he’s ever experienced. Meanwhile Rick, Lisa and Dave fight hard to speed on through the unfamiliar twists and turns, knowing any mistake could be fatal.

Its edge of the seat stuff again for the viewers and brown trouser stuff for the drivers, who attempt to make it through another season without really knowing what to expect in a new country where people’s lives are depending on their  vital cargo.

As well as facing some of the worst conditions known to man the truckers will also be up against a language barrier as they make their way across some of the deadliest roads in the country. Find out if their strength and determination pulls them through on HISTORY™ this December.

Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads
Starts on December 16th at 10pm
Only on HISTORY™

where were you when?

I was recently reminded of how shocked and stunned I was learning of the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963, although only seven years old I was as moved as everybody who witnessed the event unfolding live on television.

It is one of those events that will stay with me and millions of others around the world, one that I can still see clearly and one that still sends a chill up my spine. It is also an event that I can recall exactly what I was doing when the news broke.

There have been other shocking events that have left me with a similar stunned and empty feeling, driving to work and hearing the dreadful news that John Lennon had been shot left me cold, shocked and disbelieving.

Another occasion was having stayed up into the early hours one night for no particularly reason, watching TV as the news of Princess Diana’s car accident in France broke . I remember believing that she was dead long before it was confirmed, simply by the tone of the journalists reporting the incident and felt a knowing shiver.

The tragedy of September 11th will live with everyone forever I am sure. The news broke while I was in the office and I thought I had heard a news flash on the radio about a plane crashing into the Twin Towers. Unsure if I had actually heard it right I phoned home where my wife was watching the whole thing unfold live on TV.

By the time I arrived home the scene on TV was one of total panic and devastation, along with my wife I felt drained, helpless, stunned and cold, that feeling barely left me for the next week or so.

Tonight marks the start of a superb new series on the History Channel that simply asks the question, Where Were You When?

Moments that shocked entire generations are documented with exclusive insights into the deaths and catastrophic events that have affected us all.

Throughout this week History will be taking a look at some of the most significant events of our lifetime, dealing with the stories behind some of the greatest tragedies but also looking at one of the biggest triumphs in the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Don’t miss it! Here is the schedule:

102 Minutes That Changed America on Monday 6 December at 10pm
Diana: The Night She Died on Tuesday 7 December at 10pm
Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall on Tuesday 7 December at 11pm
Elvis: The Last 24 Hours on Wednesday 8 December at 10pm
Kennedy Assassination: 24 Hours After on Thursday 9 December at 10pm
The Day John Lennon Died on Friday 10 December at 10 pm
Hillsborough Remembered on Friday 10 December at 11pm

Where Were You When? All this week on the History Channel

JFK Lost Tapes

Seeing the footage of John F Kennedy being assassinated still brings a chill to the spine 47 years after the event and remains a vivid and shocking memory from my early childhood watching the events unfold live on TV.

The conspiracy theories will continue forever and while the latest documentary made by the History Channel will do nothing to change that, it does aim to uncover what happened during the assassination and the minutes and hours that followed, relaying the violent power struggle that took place after the President’s death.

Curse of the Kennedy’s Night on History presents two original shows that aim to expose the gripping and dramatic events that cursed the Kennedy family and a nation.

Kennedy Assassination: 24 Hours After

In 2009, sealed documents on JFK’s assassination were opened to the public for the first time and they exposed many shocking and unknown facts on the events which followed the shooting.  Secret Service agents who were by the President’s side relive the horrific hours surrounding the President’s death. Was this an effort to take down the entire US government?  In an unprecedented documentary, find out what really happened and finally see the untold truth, the secrets and harrowing scenes after the fateful murder of JFK.

The Lost JFK Tapes: The Assassination

For over forty five years, news footage and radio reports of President Kennedy’s assassination and the days surrounding his death had been kept under wraps by the news stations who owned them.  For the very first time, details of the events are exposed after remaining unseen for over four decades. This footage, in its original form, will lay bare the truth surrounding one of the most infamous assassinations in history.

Watch this astonishing double header on History Channel’s Curse of the Kennedy’s Night on Monday, November 22nd starting at 9pm.

The People Speak

Based on the book ‘A People’s History of the United States’ by Howard Zinn which was produced as a documentary film in association with HISTORY in the US, the HISTORY channel have this year teamed up with The People Speak to create a unique British version directed by BAFTA award winning Colin Firth.

The British version features a remarkable cast of the UK’s leading actors and musicians, bringing to life the poems, letters, songs and speeches highlighting significant moments in our history from the perspective of ordinary, everyday people.

The event, directed by Colin Firth, took place at The Prince of Wales Theatre on September 19th and will be broadcast on October 31st 9pm, as an exclusive documentary to HISTORY™.

Speaking about the project Colin Firth said:

“To me THE PEOPLE SPEAK is the perfect response to the abject misery of my history class as a school boy. Considering the immense riches that history offers us in terms of the best and worst of human behaviour – corruption, sexual deviation, rebellion, struggles for power – none of that made it into my history lessons. There is absolutely no reason why history should be dry and I’m delighted to be working with HISTORY on an initiative that takes history beyond the classroom; democratising our own legacy and providing a unique voice that resonates as much today as it did when it was first spoken.”

Some of the celebrated artists joining Colin Firth include Sir Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, Rupert Everett, Benjamin Zephaniah, Noel Clarke, Omid Djalili, Colin Salmon, Laura Marling, Stephen Rea, Juliet Stevenson, Saffron Burrows and Mark Steel.

The People Speak will be broadcast on Sunday October 31st on the HISTORY channel at 9pm

Pawn Stars series 2 on History

The History channel serves up another helping of Pawn Stars with the second series airing in the UK for the first time tonight, Monday September 20th at 9pm.

For those unfamiliar with the show, it revolves around three generations of the family The Harrison’s who operate from premises in the dusty outskirts of Las Vegas in Nevada.

As masters of their trade, this family of pawnbrokers must establish the authenticity and value of each and every unique item.  Each day the Pawn Stars meet their customers and are presented with an array of ‘treasure’ -  from pirate chests, Charles Lindbergh’s propellers to rusty knives and ancient rifles – they see it all… but they never quite know what will be coming next…

Series 2 rejoins the family business and it is booming. The Pawn Stars teach viewers valuable lessons about haggling and the history behind one-of-a-kind, vintage items. Not everything always goes to plan, of course and tensions run high in the family. Grandfather Richard, son Rick and grandson Corey all fight for first right to an item but conflicts arise between Rick and ‘Old Man’ as they question Corey’s judgement on vital items. Who will strike it lucky in Pawn?

Watch as the Harrison family learns to separate fact from fiction in order to get the best deal possible. When one of the most expensive American race cars, a 1965 classic Shelby Cobra arrives at the shop, will the team figure out if it’s in fact a fake or will the experts come to their rescue?

Negotiation plays a huge part for the team. It’s their bread and butter and their reputation on the line so, can they make a truly explosive deal or will the customer strike it lucky leaving them out of pocket?

Watch Pawn Stars on History every Monday at 9pm, the second series starts tonight Monday, September 20th.

ice road truckers-series four

Ice Road Truckers returns for its fourth series on the History channel this week, promising even more tension amongst the drivers as they seek to deliver their massive payloads through the icy terrain of Alaska.

The race is on and the drivers are very aware that the bigger their load, the bigger their pay on delivery, ensuring a tense and exciting adventure across some of the most dangerous terrain imaginable.

Each trucker must make important decisions to ensure their loads get to their destinations on time and in one piece. One rookie mistake could mean an end to their trucking career and possibly their lives. They have everything to gain and everything to lose as they each tally up deliveries of much needed supplies. As they drive across some of the most remote, treacherous places known to man, the Ice Road Truckers undertake one of the deadliest jobs on earth.

As they battle through Phase 3 snow storms and total white out blizzards, each trucker must use their skills, knowledge and courage to deliver the goods on time. A lot rests on this season of trucking, as each driver must prove their worth as they navigate some of the most dangerous roads on earth. Trucks must be skilfully driven across treacherous frozen lakes; no roads and impossible conditions means that this incredible journey has sadly become responsible for the deaths of dozens of men.

Trucker favourites Hugh ‘Polar Bear’ Rowland and Alex Debogorski continue their rivalry, as Alex is on his final warning before losing his trucker license, tensions are running high. Jack Jessee and Lisa Kelly make a welcome return and are joined by new drivers Greg Boadwine and Ray Vellieux.

In this male dominated profession, Lisa Kelly must fight to prove she’s just as good and as the only female trucker, she must work twice as hard. However, will she earn the long time respect and the loads that come with it? The race is on, but this year things are heating up as they race North in the dash for the cash.

History have teamed up with the brand new social media TV app Miso for this latest series of Ice Road Truckers, the app will enable viewers to ‘check in’ during transmission of the show, share information with their friends and have the chance of winning some great prizes including signed truckers hats and DVDs.

Simply visit the Miso website to sign up and unlock exclusive badges and Ice Road Trucker prizes.

Series four of Ice Road Truckers is exclusive to History, episode one is broadcast on September 9th at 9pm.

The series starts with the arrival of the first English settlers who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to make their home in the land of opportunity. The documentary shows how Tobacco farming saved the first settlers and how peace was reached with the Native Indians.

Charting the incredible development of the US from those first steps 400 years ago, each of the twelve parts in the series covers an essential era in the rich history of the country.

The series combines brilliant reconstructions and CGI animation, to dramatise moments from the country’s past. These significant events detail how advances in technology have enabled America to become one of the most prosperous and diverse nations in the world.

The series includes the views and perspectives of some of Americas best known intellectuals, businessmen and celebrities, who share their thoughts on American culture and greatest historical events.

The History of the US includes events right up to the modern day, covering consumerism, entertainment, the Millennium and how the country was rocked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

America: The History of the US will Premiere in the UK on the History Channel on Monday August 30th at 8pm