Reviews - ATHENS ‘Excellent.’ The Guardian ‘Hughes is a terrific communicator and this is everything that a piece of serious populist TV should be: accessible and enlightening’ Critics Choice, Financial Times ‘Bettany has a one woman campaign to bring ancient-history to Saturday nights. It is a noble calling and tonight it’s a brilliant story. TV’s top ruin clamberer she spins an excellent warts and all portrait of the Athenian world. Hughes challenges received wisdom’ The engaging presenter tells an extraordinary story.’ Radio Times, Pick of the Week ‘Hughes is just the person to rip the fantasy Athens away. The first of two films is crammed with good meaty stuff, with leather-coated Hughes striding around talking us through computer graphics and meeting fellow academics with forceful enthusiasm.’ Saturday Choice, Evening Standard ‘Bettany Hughes’ lucid and engrossing documentary challenges the idea that Athenian democracy was benign and high-minded.’ The Times, Critics Choice ‘A fascinating documentary…this week doubly fascinating. No reconstructions, no fancy camerawork, just art ruins, scenery and manuscripts. And Bettany Hughes telling an absorbing tale of how democracy did for Socrates. Hughes does a great job of selling us the story’ Radio Times, Pick of The Day ‘Enlightenment on the idiot box: Hughes in Athens. Sunday Times, Critics Choice, The Pick of the Day ‘Boris should take a look at Bettany Hughes new series on Channel 4. As Hughes reminded us on Start The Week….etc etc’ Andrew Marr, Comment column in Daily Telegraph ‘Bettany Hughes has brought sharper focus to what she calls the rose-tinted view. Tonight’s illuminating and vivifying programme contains many absorbing facets.’ Sunday Times, Critics Choice, Pick of The Day ‘More wholesome viewing came in the form of Athens presented by the historian Bettany Hughes – full of insight into democracy’s shaky start. Just one of the satisfying facts that lodges: non-participating voters in Greece were known by one word – idiots.’ The Critics, Review Independent on Sunday ‘Past perfect: Bettany Hughes has given TV history a fresh face. She’s done for history what Nigella did for food. No wonder so many are worshipping TV’s history goddess.’ Daily Mail, headline for feature interview with Petronella Wyatt ‘This is both entertaining and enlightening’. Must-See TV, The Pick of The Week, The Mail on Sunday, 16 July ‘The second half serves up a factual mix of blood and history to rival BBC2’s Rome. ..Hughes brings ancient history vividly to life Must-See TV, The Pick of The Week, The Mail on Sunday, 21 July ‘Bettany Hughes is unusual for a TV historian, first in that she’s female, second that she’s attractive. She’s also very good at simplifying and presenting a historical story for TV. Challenges received wisdom and mercifully free of historical reconstructions.’ Time Out ‘This is a superior series.’ David Chater, Critics Choice, The Times ‘The foxy TV historian – imagine a David Starkey you can look at – examines the transfer of power to the people.’ Pick of The Day, The Independent ‘Bettany Hughes explores the mob rule that became the exalted basis of our political system.’ The Daily Telegraph, Pick of The Day ‘..the story was pretty well told. With impressive restraint, Hughes left us to spot modern parallels for ourselves.’ James Walton, Review, The Telegraph ‘Pulchritudinous historian Bettany Hughes explores the extraordinary history of ancient Athens…’ Pick of The Day, Daily Mail ‘…an alluring series…satisfyingly, it pulls no intellectual punches and there’s an obvious passion at its presenter’s heart which keeps things sauntering along nicely.’ Time Out Critics Choice ‘Classics stunner Bettany Hughes is absolutely right. Now is the perfect time to re examine Athens: the Truth about Democracy (C4, Sat). Church Times Pick of The Week July 27th Your weekend TV Guide Saturday Review of Athens Radio 4 OTHER APPEARANCES
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