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Time Team presenter Tony Robinson explains what it was like to work on the Big Royal Dig project
1. Were you involved in the concept plans for the Big Royal Dig from the start? If not, what did you first think when you heard about the idea?
The idea was run past me at a very early stage. To be honest my first reaction was concern about whether we'd find any decent archaeology given how totally disrupted the grounds of stately homes tend to be.
2. Did you have any major concerns about the project before filming started?
On a personal level I was slightly apprehensive, as I'm not known for being the biggest fan of the institution of monarchy in the entire world. But it turned out to be just like any other dig in someone's back garden. The Queen had played in it as a child, and was interested to know what was under the ground. Our job was to tell her!
3. How did the Big Royal Dig compare to past live shoots that you've done?
There were a lot of security hassles and plenty of places we weren't allowed to dig, but then that's the case on military bases and other sensitive sites. Our job was to treat it like any other Time Team, and not to get distracted by the iconic nature of the place. By and large I think we were successful in this.
4. Did you encounter any serious problems during filming and looking back was there anything you wish had happened differently?
I didn't detect any serious problems, but I had the luxury of being protected by a highly professional team of television makers. Of course I would have liked to have been at Windsor castle because the archaeology they dug up there was of national importance. But Buckingham Palace has a particular place in most people's minds, so reluctantly that's where I had to stay.
5. Which find was your personal favourite from any of the sites?
It's difficult to over-stress how significant it was for us to find the building known as 'The Round Table'. As a performer I was particularly intrigued about the shows the knights put on. I suppose our nearest equivalent is the Royal Tournament. Let's be honest, I'm green with envy that Alice was there and not me!
1. Were you involved in the concept plans for the Big Royal Dig from the start? If not, what did you first think when you heard about the idea?
The idea was run past me at a very early stage. To be honest my first reaction was concern about whether we'd find any decent archaeology given how totally disrupted the grounds of stately homes tend to be.
2. Did you have any major concerns about the project before filming started?
On a personal level I was slightly apprehensive, as I'm not known for being the biggest fan of the institution of monarchy in the entire world. But it turned out to be just like any other dig in someone's back garden. The Queen had played in it as a child, and was interested to know what was under the ground. Our job was to tell her!
3. How did the Big Royal Dig compare to past live shoots that you've done?
There were a lot of security hassles and plenty of places we weren't allowed to dig, but then that's the case on military bases and other sensitive sites. Our job was to treat it like any other Time Team, and not to get distracted by the iconic nature of the place. By and large I think we were successful in this.
4. Did you encounter any serious problems during filming and looking back was there anything you wish had happened differently?
I didn't detect any serious problems, but I had the luxury of being protected by a highly professional team of television makers. Of course I would have liked to have been at Windsor castle because the archaeology they dug up there was of national importance. But Buckingham Palace has a particular place in most people's minds, so reluctantly that's where I had to stay.
5. Which find was your personal favourite from any of the sites?
It's difficult to over-stress how significant it was for us to find the building known as 'The Round Table'. As a performer I was particularly intrigued about the shows the knights put on. I suppose our nearest equivalent is the Royal Tournament. Let's be honest, I'm green with envy that Alice was there and not me!
