Since about 1994 Time Team has been one of Channel 4's most popular TV programmes. This is particularly surprising because it's about archaeology Yes, that's right, digging up old bits of pottery and metal out of the ground! Now we have always been interested in all things historical so the programme was a must see for us immediately but surely not the material for a major success at Sunday tea time?

Why does it work? Simple, they've made it exciting. The format is that the team have 3 days to excavate a site starting from scratch. (Well OK, they may be reinvestigating a site that has been dug a little some years ago.) They don't know what they are going to find, and the tension and excitement comes across in the programmes. For the past 3 years they have actually done "live" digs over the August Bank Holiday where the cameras cover the events as they actually appear from the ground.

It also helps that they have some of the most enthusiastic, down to earth (literally!) presenters you could wish for. Everything is clearly explained without trying to blind you with science. The whole thing is tied together by the energetic Tony Robinson who is himself a keen amateur archaeologist.

In July 2000, we had the chance to see the results of one of the most recent digs and listen to talks by the three main archaeologists, Mick Aston, Phil Harding and Carenza Lewis. Oh, they also let us buy some of their books! :))

The group met at an hotel near Cheltenham where we had the opportunity to talk informally with the team during a light lunch. You can't imagine a more relaxed, friendly set of people.

Unfortunately Tony couldn't be there. Probably off explaining his latest "cunning plan" to Tony Blair!