1066

Comments

1. My partner was a norman in this he said its the most exercise he has ever had in his life! I found it really interesting to watch.

   Posted by DebFantastic on 12/09/2009 01:45:56

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2. Hi, i thought this program was the best medieval film i have ever seen, it amazes me that with such resources at the film industries disposal they haven't made more like this giving us an insight into British History rather than WW2 or Napoleonic, what we need is a good series on the English Civil war, similar to by the sword divided in the 80's, or an event in History that is so outrageously neglected: The Wars of the Roses!

   Posted by James Sarkar on 30/07/2009 16:41:51

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3. both episodes were realy great and enjoyable, there should be a series 2 where it shows you the same people but after the war.

   Posted by josh quinn on 04/07/2009 10:36:38

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4. Fab programme. distraught that I missed episode 2. Please re-run or sell DVD. I am professional historian trying to engage people with their history and this really does it -we need more about english history than WW2.

   Posted by Lynne Fox on 02/07/2009 11:32:55

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5. thoroughly annoyed, what a brilliant insight on anglo-saxon lifestyle but left the 2nd episode halfway through last night on catch up and it has been taken off today! Any chance of a feed?

   Posted by Elliot on 19/06/2009 04:14:58

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6. I would imagine the information the programme used to arrive at 190 Normans quoted was based on those landowners recorded in the Domesday Book (most of whom had been granted land by the Conqueror) totally nearly 200. The Domesday Book website (www.domesdaybook.co.uk)has a list of landowners from that time on their website.

   Posted by DARREN on 12/06/2009 00:54:10

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7. THE PROGRAM IS AWSOME

   Posted by koooooooooooooool123456 on 25/05/2009 18:56:06

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8. Excellent program, very realistic can you tell me who the 190 Normans were who received land. In the program it stated that William had half the land, the Church a quarter and a quarter shared between 190 Nomans. May I also ask who are the Descendants who still own a fifth of the UK. Many thank’s

   Posted by Howard on 24/05/2009 17:29:41

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9. lets hope this a a new dawn for English kids to learn about their birthright, and to celebrate our Saxon history.

   Posted by phil on 24/05/2009 08:20:10

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10. fasinating programme!sorry if its a bit off-topic but i think its a shame that england is loosing its identity as a result of mass immigration..just because these brave people thought so long ago people forget and dont appreciate what they did.....great film ,great actors and very intresting facts such as saxon words like orc and elf ..... 5/5

    Posted by Lewis Roberts` on 23/05/2009 03:04:57

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11. Great programme! Being of West Indian decent I took little interest in British history when I was in school as I couldn't relate. The focus was always on some dude called Harold getting an arrow in his eye in 1066 at the battle of hastings. Telling this story from the point of view of ordinary people made this story captivating. This should be shown in schools.

    Posted by Jason on 22/05/2009 14:35:41

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12. I enjoyed the programme very much. It seemed to be very realistic and not too "Hollywood". Well done Chanel 4 Interesting that the Saxons, who had been largely overun by the Danes on the Eastern side of Britain for quite some time, regarded the Vikings and Normans as invaders, when the real Britons (or Weallach (WELSH) saw the Saxons and Angles in exactly the same way. At least the Vikings and Normans were from the same root Teutonic stock as themselves, unlike the Celts who were here for a very long time before. How about a programme on the coming of the heathen uncultured AEnglish? and how the Celtic Britons felt?

    Posted by TRUE BRITON on 21/05/2009 23:56:46

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13. fab programme. I actually grew up in Crowhurst, just over the hill from the battle field. And went to school passing the Abbey everyday. Pity you didnt mention the local legend that Harold is supposed to have eaten underneath the great yew in the church yard the night before, or mention the stone table on Hastings seafront upon which William is suposed to have dined. Alas the yew came down in the storm of 1987. And you also failed to mention that the abbey around which the town grew around was built on the orders of William as a conscience payment. and no one has explained why it's called the battle of hastings? which is way over the horizon. Great programming, C4 seems to have taken on the mantle from the beeb

    Posted by michaelsp on 21/05/2009 21:01:34

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14. I have thought about this programme a lot since seeing it and concluded that it is precisely how I would have liked to depict the ordinary Saxon people of that calamitous year if I had the skill to do so. I am full of admiration for the Director and everyone involved in making this wonderful innovative depiction.

    Posted by Peter Coltart on 21/05/2009 16:07:42

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15. how do i get to watch the second program on 4od catch up as i can not get it to play??? thoroughly enjoyed the first episode but it looks like i wont get to see the second program!!!

    Posted by daryl haskins on 21/05/2009 15:30:51

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16. There are some minor anachronisms in the armour and costume but these are deliberate choices not mistakes to add a seperate layer of meaning to the film for the expert viewer. Ordgar wears the Coppergate helmet which is stylistically dated at around 770 but which archaeological analysis suggests was still a treasured heirloom much later than this. Ordgar wears it because he represents the heritage of the Saxon past and warband system. It's an artistic choice but one which is based on careful research and accurate archaeology. There are little clues in all of the main character's costumes hinting at the past and future of England. Go back and watch it again - it's great when you work one out. By the way I am an archaeologist but I also know the costume designer and she let me in on the code. I loved the show - it left me hungry for more on the individual characters. What did happen to Snorri? A great way to condense some pretty major history into a clear and entertaining package. Well done Channel 4 for commissioning this.

    Posted by Monty on 21/05/2009 10:18:46

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17. First and foremost this is TV entertainment and people shouldn't get to hung up on historical accuracy or whether they are wearing the right armour for the period. Yes you could tell it wasn't a big budget production, but they got the most important part right, by telling a good story. It was very watchable and I hope they get the viewing figures and funds to produce more programmes of this quality. Well Done.

    Posted by Mark O'Connor on 21/05/2009 00:40:33

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18. how do i view this program it just doesnt let me watch it thats all i want to do is see the second episode because the first was so good

    Posted by Jack on 20/05/2009 19:50:41

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19. Very good 2nd programme missed the 1st but will watch it on re-run. Gave us lots of other things to think about such as the scene near the end when they said they 'took to wandering' after their village was settled by Normans. Whatever became of all those misplaced villagers? The real tragedies of conquest!!

    Posted by Joey Mc on 20/05/2009 15:17:14

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20. This is what British drama is all about and why we are so revered. A classic tale of drama and history which should be shown in schools. We should all know about our history and this is a perfect vehicle with which to convey it. It's a pity the BBC take all the license fee, just think of what people like Hardy [the director] and others could do with such backing! British drama at it's best.

    Posted by Carl on 20/05/2009 14:52:52

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21. Fab show, thoroughly enjoyed by many I'm sure. Please make more like this... One small point though. At one point, Ordgar shouted "retreat" which wouldn't have been in common use at that time being a French word and in 1066, French words hadn't yet been fully assimilated. Online Etymology dictionary says the following: retreat (n.) c.1300, from O.Fr. retret, noun use of pp. of retrere "draw back," from L. retrahere "draw back," from re- "back" trahere "to draw" (see tract (1)). Meaning "place of seclusion" is from 1423; sense of "establishment for mentally ill persons" is from 1797. The verb is first attested 1422.

    Posted by Orla on 20/05/2009 10:52:13

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22. Set my Freesat PVR to record this on Channel 4 1 and it failed did anyone else have this problem

    Posted by Very Upset on 20/05/2009 09:30:50

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23. Very good! The programme illustrated the effectiveness of the combined crossbow / bow attacks against the shield wall very well indeed! As a Cymro (Welshman) I can say I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Saxons and the Normans slaughtering each other. Could do with a bigger budget next time....

    Posted by Huw on 20/05/2009 00:08:24

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24. great show really enjoyed this, but i didnt see what happened to Snorri at the end???

    Posted by Roman Rob on 19/05/2009 22:46:05

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25. i was just overly stunned threwout the enitre performance! The acting was amazing, i stayed up all night watching the show and i am extreemly exited about tonights performance! a great reteling of a beloved story welldone

    Posted by Matt on 19/05/2009 18:26:23

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26. I was impressed by the emphasis on the "shire" mindset and how the nameless of history were given an importance that our childhood classroom lessons never conveyed.The programme makers are to be congratulated for the representation of our 943 year old past and bringing it all into focus for the history students of today.The concluding episode promises to recreate the horror of hand to hand combat and the random inevitability of battlefield slaughter.A most enjoyable telling of an old story!

    Posted by John on 19/05/2009 10:36:23

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27. Great show. I really enjoyed this. Well presented and exciting. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow nights episode. Two minor points: Its a few years since I studied Old Norse but I don't think Old English and Norse (its sister language) would have been so divergent at the time that the English and the vikings wouldn't have been able to have made themselves understood to each other. Also, does the English warband leader have a hint of an Irish accent? :-)

    Posted by Tim on 18/05/2009 22:41:04

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