This programme is disappointing. How much did Renault pay for all those car shots? If I wanted that I'd watch Top Gear (which I do). The Nicholas Crane 'Map Man' episode on the Gough map was far more informative and in a much better style. I'm 26, not a history buff, but have a casual interest. However, these attempts to make history trendy just grate - I'd rather go down the pub.
SS Collins, St Ippolyts, Herts

Congratulations to BBC Four on a most enjoyable and well-written programme. Granted, it's not the most erudite study on Britain in the Middle Ages - but that's not what is needed here. It's a fascinating mixture of stories and places, well put together, admittedly in a very modern style. Dr Bovey is an engaging and enthusiastic host, I hope we see more of her in the future in similar programming.
David Sharp, South Yorkshire

The problem I have with In Search of Medieval Britain is that the fascinating Gough Map is just used as an excuse (and quickly forgotten) for a bit of vague medieval tourism. It wastes the talent of Alixe Bovey: a lot of the subjects (Welsh castles most notably) have been covered by others quite recently. (Or, more likely, the repeats have been on recently.) This is the trouble about being a viewer: we see all the output, whereas programme makers are oblivious that it's all getting a bit stale.
Andrew Goldie, London

This programme contained a good balance of information and ideas presented in an interesting way. It linked the various sites with the Gough map and related past to present visually which, to use a cliche, brought the history alive. Focussing on the intriguing Canterbury carvings rather than the well-known Becket story certainly made me want to visit the cathedral again. And there were other original touches, such as the story of King John and Rochester Castle tower and the smoking boar's head banquet. Altogether a well constructed and enjoyable programme from which I learnt a lot.
Ann Blackwall, Lincoln

In search of Medieval Britain is unwatchable. The style of presentation has been all celeb'd up and the camera direction is distracting in the extreme. In fact it's sexist too as there is some kind of obsession with stalking Dr Bovey like the content of the programme was less important that flirting with close ups of her and gloopy 360 degree shots pawing around her like they are trying to stalk her. Did she want this kind of adulation instead of us being allowed to see what architecture and other detail she was trying to explain? We seem to be getting a fly on the wall following her in the car breathing down her neck and none of this has any relevance to the material she has researched so thoroughly and well. It's a total sham. Stylistic arty nonsense does not belong in a programme like this. I won't be watching any more. There are much better documentaries around and directors who do it better than souped-up reality TV stylized junk.
Mr J Prior, Paignton Devon

It's great that the BBC is having a medieval season, but this was quite a confusing show to open things up with. Other than the fact that all the places visited by Dr Bovey were on the Gough map (or weren't on the map in at least one case) there seemed to be little to link the vignettes together. The medieval period is both a vast one and an unfamiliar one to much of the audience, so to have any hope of making any sense of it in 30 mins there needed to be a clear angle taken; cherry picking a handful of topics from different centuries without much thematic coherence was confusing. If Dr Bovey had more closely integrated the vignettes with the Gough map the show might have held together better, but as it was it felt like nothing more than a smattering of comments that didn't add up to anything significant.
Nick, London

I thoroughly enjoyed this programme and congratulate all those involved in making it. The choice of the Gough Map as a means of exploring Medieval Britain was innovative and raised some interesting questions. Having been keenly interested in this period for many years, I am pleased to see the increase in the number of programmes on this topic designed to reach viewers who have an interest in history, and place, but usually were taught very little about it in school. Dr Bovey's presentation was clear, unhurried and concise. The text was a carefully considered balance between fundamental facts and entertaining asides. The photography, particularly the atmospheric Dunstanburgh sequence was a pleasure. I notice that one of the contributors to this site mentions Terry Jones. This programme seems to me to follow Terry's style in the book of the BBC series "Medieval Lives", which presented the essential issues clearly, and added humour where it was appropriate. I strongly endorse appealing to a wider audience in this way. My particular interest is the development of the law during this period and Terry's explanation of this entangled subject is the best I have read.
R Miles, Birmingham

A great start to the series and I'll definitely be tuning in for more. This wasn't 'shallow' as a previous post claims - I learned lots and it's really refreshing to see Britain through new eyes. Dr Bovey is a welcome change from puffed up middle aged men telling us about history and she articulates the subject in a clear and authoritative way. This is what BBC Four should be doing.
J James, London

Oh dear! Having just listened to this week's In Our Time on the Norman Yoke the BBC can obviously do intelligent programming on this subject, but Dr Bovey's offering is extremely disappointing. Irritating camera work and a poor script that treats some rich opportunities in such a shallow manner, are a let down - even Schama is preferable to this. Hopefully the rest of the season will improve.
Tim Jones, Cornwall

I just loved the show and look forward to the next one. The presenter showed a great knowledge with an easy presentation style, the road trip using such an old map is a great hook to hang the programme around. The trivial facts like the weight on Mons Megs cannon ball or how butchers were the people leading the growth of towns were worth watching the program for. Just loved the beautiful shots of the castles.
Alistair Norwood, Whitehaven Cumbria

Am I the only one to have appreciated this programme? Dr Bovey gave a 'light' introduction to the forthcoming series at a time slot suitable for younger viewers. The so called 'ineffectual background music' I for one would like see a soundtrack listing. To have rolled out the likes of Medieval Babes would have only brought cries of 'what a cliché'.
Alan M, UK

I really enjoyed this programme, really had a nice feel to it and wasn't all hyped up with re-enactments and got down to the Information and what we see today. Reminded me the The History of Britain - great show, great presenter.
Adam Cleverley, Devizes

Excellent factual and communication skills on the part of Dr Alixe Bovey. Thank you. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Malcolm Brookes, Hereford, UK

What a bland production, straight from the manual of homogenous programme-making. We got the obligatory shots of the presenter in a car addressing the passenger-seat camera, lots of lovely scenery, terrible music, fake battle noises, jagged pop-video editing of the architecture, and the usual superfluous interviews revealing nothing which the presenter herself couldn't easily impart. It really doesn't add authenticity to have someone from English Heritage there when the presenter is supposedly an expert. Oh, and the underwear story. Very good. How many times can you say 'pants' in a half-hour programme? Must be a record. Maybe it was done for a bet. I'm just a bit fed up with this cosy "let's make it unchallenging" approach to factual programmes. Do you not think that knowledgeable, intelligent people are watching? ... Some people enjoy being challenged, taught things, even blinded by science or knowledge. Incidentally, the trails for Medieval Britain are superb: if only the content were as professional as the style.
Drew, UK

From the first episode tonight (10 April), this would seem to be another cheap, whimsical, 'so-called' history/documentary series. About 2/3 of the shots lovingly focussed on yet another unnecessary presenter, whilst the rest were split between endless background variations of the same locality, and a tyro cameraman amusing himself with irrelevant jump-cuts, zooms and tilts. BBC Four has done well in bringing music back to the BBC in the way that BBC Two used to do it, but let us have some serious history, please. This stuff belongs on the dumbed-down channels for TV zappers. Even Terry Jones had a better concept of the Middle Ages and how to present it.
M. Trevis

Interesting programme, but pointless, ineffectual background music when there is such a wealth of contemporary music you could have used. And it was crying out for some 'lewd songs' when they were specifically mentioned in Durham cathedral. A wasted opportunity.
Douglas Cook, Cockermouth

What a disaster of a programme. What might have been both enjoyable and informative is ruined by the camera work with its endless panning and, when Dr Bovey is driving, endless flashes of moving scenery that in no way informs but certainly distracts. Does the producer think my span of attention so short that without such a mindlessly changing background my attention cannot he held for half an hour? That sort of assumption might explain why, instead of being told that Mons Meg fired a 550lb ball I was informed that Mons Meg fired a whopping 550 lb ball; presumably the viewers' grasp of numbers is assumed to be so limited that he/she could not otherwise grasp that a 550lb projectile is rather heavy. Take it off! Make the programmes properly assuming an audience with an average IQ at least approaching three digits and you could have a worthwhile series.
Richard West, Bristol