How does Time Team decide which sites to investigate?

Time Team is first and foremost an archaeology programme, so first and foremost it needs good archaeology. Then we need a mystery to solve and an achievable aim for a three-day investigation.

Variety is also important. In the 2000 and 2001 series, for example, the sites spanned hundreds of centuries – from the Palaeolithic to the Second World War. So, while there may be many good Roman sites throughout Britain, we try not to do too many of them. (Not always easy, of course, when they are as good as that at Turkdean for example.) A good site that is of a type we have never done before or one that involves new investigative techniques would probably be a stronger contender than a superb Roman site. We also love sites that involve a local community or involve digging up someone's back garden.

Finally, the cost and logistics must be within our capabilities. But, that said, if there is a really cracking site, we would carry on regardless. This makes our production manager very angry ...