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DSP look back at Britain’s manufacturing history in Handmade (w/t) for BBC Two

30/07/2018

It was announced today that in a rich, pleasurable series, journalist Steph McGovern will lead four contemporary craftspeople on a journey into Britain’s manufacturing past to celebrate and reveal the incredible, surprising stories behind some of the iconic products that made the UK famous around the world for Handmade (w/t), 6 x 60’, on BBC Two.

Our team of craftspeople, led by Steph, will travel the country and go back in time, exploring a different city and the historic craft associated with it in each episode. Guided by celebrated experts, they’ll create several key items that represent each trade to understand how it has changed through time, from its origins right up to the modern day, using real instruction manuals, log books and diaries and the tools of the day.

Across six episodes we’ll see a vast array of incredible makes, from shoes in Northampton and cutlery in Sheffield to cheese in Wensleydale. We find out how whole cities were shaped by making these iconic products and the sense of regional pride this brought. Alongside this, our presenter will reveal how each of these items shaped the broader economic and social history of Britain.

Emily Dalton, Joint Managing Director, says “This series will uncover amazing stories and astonishing facts from Britain’s manufacturing past, from how to make a hat to where forks were invented. Over the centuries, cities up and down the country have become centres of excellence, synonymous with remarkable products. Be it Sheffield and cutlery, Stoke and pottery or York and chocolate. There are so many brilliant stories from across Britain; we’ve discovered some wonderful, hidden locations, like the workshop that has been in the same family for 200 years and which handmakes hats for the Royal family today. This series will be a real treat for BBC Two viewers.”

Handmade w/t (6 x 60’), is made by DSP’s Northern Ireland office. The Executive Producers are Jo Bishop and Anne Stirling. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Abigail Priddle. The Managing Director for DSP is Emily Dalton.

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