Behind the scenes with 2D graphics guru Neil Emmanuel

For this programme Time Team headed off across the water to the Netherlands. Here Time Team's 2D graphics guru, Neil Emmanuel, offers his thoughts on taking Time Team to Holland.

What's it like being on the road in another country with Time Team?
It's quite a lot of fun actually. Somehow it is extra exciting because there are more unknowns with going abroad. When you visit a foreign country in any capacity, whether it be for work or just play, there are always new attitudes, knowledge to be gained and situations to experience. I find that most excellent.

What was the most interesting part of making the programme for you?
Seeing how archaeologists from a different country can work differently, and how they integrated with Time Team. The Dutch archaeologists were very good. There was also the occasion when Matt Williams [a Time Team digger] took me on a hunt for Frikadela. It is some weird junk food. We found some and it tasted like poo, or like I imagine cholesterol to taste like.

What did you think of Utrecht?
I am a fan. Unfortunately the area we were digging in was a building site, so no comment there, but we were staying in the heart of the city in the evening. It is a lovely town to hang around in. It's really pretty and had lots of restaurants by the canal, kind of like a less hectic Amsterdam. The people I met there were very cool.

As an artist, do you have a favourite Dutch painter?
I'm not really into Dutch artists, but I do like some others who are influenced by Dutch painters. I'm a fan of comic artist Andi Watson and he's into Vermeer.

If you could take Time Team to any site in the world where would it be?
I always thought it would be good to go to somewhere like north, middle or south America. I like that stuff. It would be great to do some Native American archaeology. Failing that, me mum's back garden would be cool.

See also Neil's biog in Meet the Team.

Text only