How did Time Team begin?

Time Team started life as an idea that came out of a series of four programmes called Time Signs broadcast in 1991. Produced and directed by Time Team series producer Tim Taylor, they were presented by Mick Aston, who also suggested Phil Harding to do some reconstruction archaeology. Mick had previously discussed the idea of devising a popular archaeology programme with Tony Robinson. So when a pilot Time Team programme was made in October 1992, it was Mick's suggestion that Tony should present it. The pilot programme was never screened, but the idea was good enough to persuade Channel 4 to commission a four-programme series of Time Team, which was filmed in 1993 and broadcast the following year. The rest, as they say, is history ... or should that be archaeology?

You can read the full story in Tim Taylor's book Behind the Scenes at Time Team (Channel 4, £12.99) or from Mick Aston's perspective in Mick's Archaeology (Tempus, also £12.99). A full list of all Time Team-associated programmes, with dates when they were filmed and broadcast, is available here.