Over the Bank Holiday Weekend August 1997, Time Team went live for the first time, broadcasting an archaeological dig against the clock and 'as it happened'.

The chosen site – somewhere in the heart of England – had lain untouched since the landowner accidentally discovered it over 20 years ago. Subsequently aerial photos of one of the fields, taken in the summer of 1995, clearly showed strange lines in the ground that looked like the outlines of buildings. Time Team investigated.

Experts suspected that the site was Roman and, given its size, believed they may have a significant find on their hands. Time Team had just three days to discover what lay under the ground, using all the high-tech geophysical methods at its disposal as well as simple hard labour.

Presenter Tony Robinson and the rest of the team – joined by a number of celebrity guests – broadcast live from the site three times a day. As well as the television broadcasts there were regular updates here on the Channel 4 website, on 4-Tel and via a dial-and-listen telephone number.