"In Search of...Erik Bloodaxe"- Michael Wood

[steleona1]

For an epic viking story, try Sigurd's Saga on YouTube.

[mw2xxEtKoN]

I was named after him :) lol

[JonasSillius]

Beethoven, Schmeethoven!

[4chaosfun]

Nay, friends, the music is the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony. Of this I am sure.

[JonasSillius]

It's Beethoven, from his 5th Symphony

[02089810183]

What is the music at the end??

D

[JonasSillius]

Hi Matt

Someone has kindly uploaded the entire series of 8 episodes here on Youtube!! Check out the user called 'Stephminxer' or search for 'In Search of'.

[JonasSillius]

The Rey Cross (featured at the end) is still by the A66 today, despite rumours to the contrary;-

"Moved in August 1990 to make way for the widening of the A66, it was temporarily housed at the Bowes Museum in August 1990, then later repositioned in a lay-by to the east of it's original site."

[partyhat3]

This really need re-releasing

[JonasSillius]

It does indeed, but sadly, never will...

[partyhat3]

I hope it is Jonas. I remember watching "In search of Athelstan" and it really got me into history, and I want to see the rest of this! Thanks for posting. Have you met him?

[JonasSillius]

No I haven't had that honour!

Through his email to me (ages ago) and his appearances on TV etc, he comes across as a really decent guy!

[Caracalla23]

Does anybody remember a seies called "Footsteps" presented by David Drew shown in 1987? It traced the footsteps of famous archaeological explorers like Belzoni, Maudsley, Burchardt, Wetheral and Sealy. I thought it was superb but that also was shown only once and was never seen again.

[partyhat3]

I know what you mean. You can usually tell quite quickly. I recommend his book, In Search of England, I think, if it can still be found. We went to the same school, in fact, but I think he took his study more seriously than me. I would like to debate "the matter of Britain" with him now. Thanks again for this tantilising post.

[Caracalla23]

Maybe like Michael Palin he's getting to old to go gallivanting round the world as he use to. LOL

[bollockchops55]

michael wood is an excellent presenter , sadly we dont see him much , his series was great viewing

[JonasSillius]

He is indeed- and a thoroughly decent bloke, too!

His TV stuff is getting rarer, though he does produce the odd gem every so often.

[sirpercyvere]

Very sad to hear this great series will never be seen again, perhaps we should club together the £350 and release it ourselves! And if any body was wondering the music in the clip is the Allegretto (2nd movement) from Beethoven's 7th which took me ages to track down until i watched Andre Preview do a master class with the Birmingham City Orchestra.

Thanks for posting !

[JonasSillius]

Hi S, what gives you the tempting idea that it would only cost us £350? Lol

Love the music- he also used other great classical music for the other episodes!

[Caracalla23]

And yet the beeb will keep such rubbish as Eastenders for eternity.

[JonasSillius]

Lol, yes- because cr4p makes a fortune out of silly and lazy-minded girlies, keen to gossip about those dumb, virtual-chavs!

[Proekuls]

I would buy the DVD of this series in ANY condition. I'd buy it in black and white! I earnestly hope that it might be released, at least in some kind of limited edition.

[JonasSillius]

Yes, so would we all, Proe! They're hard to find, usually only willing folkson forums who have them converted from old videos.

As you may have read in these video responses, Mr Wood himself replied to my email saying that he would not be releasing this great first series.

[azowipe1]

Great to see this again - thanks for posting it!

It's such a shame that his 2 Dark Ages series aren't available on DVD. I was at a Michael Wood lecture a few years ago when the question came up, and he said that some of the films had been lost or cannibalised by the BBC, but also that they were made on such a low budget - "just me, a man and a dog" as he put it - that he didn't think they'd work for today's audience. But I'd love to see them again.

[JonasSillius]

I agree- it's like he is the only person who isn't bothered about seeing this landmark series on dvd! His OWN work!!

[thisisverytrue]

In the last few minutes of his 1986 'Domesday' series final episode Michael ventures deep into his memory box and pulls out a 1961 copy of the 'Eagle' which no doubt helped inspire his love of history. Great bloke. Met him briefly once in 1998 - signed my copy of 'In Search of the Dark Ages' : "To Gregory, son of Colin and Julia. Hoping you will be enthused with the study of history!" When we will see '...Dark Ages" and "Domesday" out on DVD.!? Can anyone list all the great music he used?

[JonasSillius]

Hi

In the series "Dark Ages" he used alot of Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxygene" album.

[SparrowisSexy]

My mum got his autograph back in the day and Michael remarked on what a 'suitably homeric name' she had (Helen).

She hasn't recovered since and I can see why. Very handsome man ;)

[jade3210]

Michael Wood's passion for history is truly contagious.

[JonasSillius]

I agree Jade- it is Michael's enthusiasm and knowledge that inspired me to learn about our history.

He seems like a great bloke, too!

[jade3210]

Absolutely, he is very charming and eloquent, and always shows great respect for local customs and traditions.

[maninthewilderness4]

Wow! Thanks for posting this. Still brilliant after all these years. It would be great to see the whole series again.

[PippinPogle]

Thank you so much for posting this. I can't believe my love of Michael Wood and his excellent documentaries has been going on for 23 years. He remains great.

[fokjock]

Ah I remember this well from 1981, seems like yesterday.Searched for it after watching the wonderfully expressive Michael on Saturday about the medieval girl.

He looks well, although has dyed his hair and almost gets away with it.

Fine historian.

[Mattreynard]

Just to say that I have been in touch with Michael Woods production company who say that the series is available, though only to educational establishments.I do have some of the series on vhs though the quality is not brilliant, having originally been recorded back in 1983 when the series was repeated and then transferred from a tape belonging to a chap I met in a pub in Liverpool. A friend has some other episodes and indeed held a showing of "In Search Of Athelstan" on his stag do!

[JonasSillius]

Hi Matt, thanks for that info- so no hope of anyone in the public domain getting hold of the series?

Do you yourself have the first episodes- Arthur, Alfred and Athelstan?

And do you know if anyone has ever seen the fabled episodes of 'Offa' and 'Boudicca'?

[Mattreynard]

Hi Jonas. Yes, I do have Athelstan and not terribly good copies of Arthur and Alfred. I also have Boudicca on vhs. Offa remains the Holy Grail! I've not given up getting a good copy from the production company. I'm trying to convince a teacher friend to make an "official" request though I understand that there is a fee of £350.

[JonasSillius]

£350???? Whaaa? lol

Hmmm, It's a tough quest indeed to gather them all on vhs/dvd!?

I'd still be interested in seeing the Offa and Boudicca episodes, though!

Good luck with the teacher friend!

[Wingdoss]

The "In Search of the Dark Ages" series was atmospheric and superb. Though I've got the book to accompany the series I'd love to get my hands on dvds of it.

[Stereolabdream]

Michael Wood is a national treasure, of course; but do you notice how his intonation has changed over the years? in line with many other TV types, his voice has grown far more regional and less "clipped" than it was here...Soon we could use this clip as a historical document for a new series..."In Search of BBC English"!

[JonasSillius]

Hi Stereo,

Yes his rather BBC accent must have been to 'disguise' his native Manchester tongue in those early days? lol

What amazed me after so many years was, how empty the roads were! Vivia's and Cortina's!

And Wood's flared trousers! lol.

[ethelbert123]

Hi, I saw Michael Wood in the street a few months ago & asked him if this brilliant first series was available anywhere, because I remember loving it as a kid. He said that tragically the series no longer existed coz the 16mm film was not kept but destroyed & cut up to use parts for other productions. Only later i realised some people somewhere must have it on video. Please, please can you send him a copy if you have one! OR share more here or on the net, u will be doing humanity a great service

[JonasSillius]

Hi ethelbert- incredible, it's sacrilege to have destroyed them?

Seems Wood may have told different stories to different people, surely the BBC made a copy whilst screening them in the 80's?

Anyway, check your email.

[JonasSillius]

I was in contact with someone on an Anglo-Saxon history forum, who said he'd had an email from Wood himself after enquiring about this first series.

Wood was stating that this one series would never be released on dvd, as it was shot on 16mm and unlikely to survive the transition to dvd with any quality. Sad but true...

[tomsdaddy]

My two sons are currently addicted to DVD's of 'The Goodies', - also originally filmed on 16mm . . .

Do you have any more of these programmes that you could upload ? I loved these original 'In Search of's' when they were first broadcast, and now have sons as mad keen on history as I was, so if anyone could upload some more, or convince Michael to get them released on DVD, then we would all be hugely grateful !

[JonasSillius]

Hi Tomasdaddy

Afraid I only have three episodes (Bloodaxe; Ethelred and William)of Wood's 'best' series!

Wood inspired me into being a history buff as your sons are...

The Goodies- now there's a blast from the past!

[tomsdaddy]

Hi Jonas Sillius,

You're right, "The Goodies" - Great fun !

Please could you upload your episodes. I think you would be doing the whole world a favour, not to mention my little bit of it !

I know it takes a long time to upload to this site, so transfer them to VHS or DVD, and Ebay awaits !

I doubt if copyright restrictions will apply, if the originals are destroyed you are simply doing what the copright owner was unable, or unwilling to do . .

Can't wait !

Cheers,

Nick

[Toyotomi]

Great video. I've never seen this series, although I'm a fan of Michael Wood's documentaries and books. Thank you for posting!

[JonasSillius]

Hi

This great 1981 series (Wood's first, featuring Boudica, Offa, Arthur, Alfred, Athelstan, Erik, Ethelred & William) was never released officially on dvd/video...

[Toyotomi]

Thank you for your reply! I hope they release it in the future. They should have made it a part of the Michael Wood Collection DVD set.