The Spartans – Press Highlights MOVE OVER SCHAMA, SPARTAN WOMAN IS HERE. The rising star of television history Bettany Hughes tells how she is invading a world dominated by men. Headline in Sunday Times News Review Dec 1st More of Bettany Hughes please! Financial Times November 2002 Bettany Hughes, history television’s answer to Nigella Lawson..is a story teller of considerable skill. Her powerfull retelling of the last stand at Thermopylae, complete with several phrases in Ancient Greek, is a neat summary of all that she does best’ Daily Telegraph November 18 th 2002 Four’s well-respected history teacher brings an erudite enthusiasm to all she surveys. Authoritative even when riding a stallion or floating through ruins in evening wear. Guardian Weekend Feature – The Best and Brightest in British Television 8th February 2003 ‘A Helen of Troy in jeans’ Mail on Sunday Dec 1 st 2002 …such reflections point the way to the next move for television’s populist educators, whose other achievements this year include splendid evocations of such unlikely subjects as Diocletian and the Spartans. Guardian Leader ‘A Great British Television Idea’ Bettany Hughes is an informative and effective guide to the strange and chilling world of the Spartans. Daily Mail Weekend 16 th November 2002 Hughes’ speciality is linking the geography and landscape with historical developments. She knows her stuff, having been obsessed with Sparta for 15 years. But there is no point ignoring the obvious. Hughes…is handsome, and a natural communicator. The Guardian 25 th November 2002 BEAUTIFUL MINDS – ACADEMIA’S NEW LOOK. THE BRIGHT STUFF. NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE, MEET BRITAIN’S EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS. A new wave of startlingly bright and media friendly academics, thinkers and writers are stalking our airwaves, bookshops and television screens in their attempt to explain big ideas to stupid old us…They are on a mission to explain – and there isn’t an elbow patch or a beard in sight………. Cover and Feature for The Times Magazine 22 March 2003 Making history glamorous. Hughes made The Spartans one of last year’s biggest TV hits. Vogue Magazine Photo-feature October 2003 |