Search results

The BBC was hit with 1,217 complaints because it did NOT show a repeat of the hit gameshow Pointless, a leaked document revealed yesterday. Ironically, complaints were exactly what the Corporation was trying to avoid, when it decided to pull episode 60 of series seven of the show. In the...

A family of five have told of the surprise they received at Stonehenge yesterday. James and Janice Raffles and their three sons, who live just a mile from the world's most famous prehistoric monument, were visiting Stonehenge yesterday in the hope of meeting US President Barack Obama after...

For much of the last 100 years the Battle of the Marne has been seen as a mainly France vs Germany affair in which the so-called ‘Miracle of the Marne’ forced the Kaiser’s Imperial Army to abandon its advance on Paris. But, in fact, it was the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), under the...

A castle tower built to try and woo Queen Elizabeth I has been reopened for people to visit after lying in ruins for more than 350 years. Private chambers were created in Leicester's Building for her visits to Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. It was built by the Earl of Leicester, Robert...

Brian Cox isn’t a man to mince his words. He famously described the belief that the world is 6,000-years-old as ‘b*****ks’ and those who think the planet would end because of the Mayan calendar as ‘morons.’ But, lately, something far more serious has been weighing on the mind of the Oldham...

An atmospheric shot of a greylag goose under a stormy London sky has won this year's British Wildlife Photography Awards. The picture, entitled 'The Tourist', by Lee Acaster from Wortham, Suffolk, captures the goose in close-up by the River Thames with part of the London skyline, including the...

Historians have spent years debating whether Stonehenge was once a complete circle. Despite numerous tests and excavations, the mystery remained unsolved for almost 5,000 years. But staff at the world's most famous neolithic site believe the question has finally been answered - all because a...

Sir Tony "Baldrick From Blackadder" Robinson has a brand new Channel 4 documentary: The Real Mill. The actor, amateur historian and Labour Party activist explores the true story of the factory workers whose blood, sweat and tears forged the Industrial Revolution, focusing on Quarry Bank Mill...

The growth and growth of Ukip as a major new right wing force in British politics continues. For a long time, Britain's ruling Left Wing Establishment has refused to take the anti-EU, anti-unchecked immigration party seriously. Even when Ukip have given the Left Wing Establishment (which even...

A new documentary about domestic cats, narrated by Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin star Martin star Martin Clunes, was shown on ITV1 last night. The Secret Life of Cats With the balance of a ballerina, senses so acute they can see what is invisible to humans, and their unique social...

Archaeologists have discovered a 2,000 year old toilet seat at Vindolanda fort on Hadrian's Wall. The wooden toilet seat is perfectly preserved and is thought to be the only one of its kind. It could have been used by Roman soldiers stationed at the northernmost border of the whole of the...

A document signed by Henry VIII granting a loan which helped found the London Stock Exchange has been put on sale by Bristol antiques dealers Paul Fraser Collectibles for £65,000. Addressed to John Heron, the Treasurer of the Chamber, King Henry informs him to loan £637 and 10 shillings -...

Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love has been voted the greatest guitar riff of all time by listeners of BBC Radio 2. The 1969 rock classic came out top from a list of 100 riffs drawn up by a panel of Radio 2 and 6 Music DJs, critics and record producers. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns 'N' Roses was...

The state funeral of the Republic of Ireland's former Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Albert Reynolds has been taking place in Dublin. The Fianna Fáil politician, who was born in Rooskey, County Roscommon, served as Taoiseach from February 1992 to December 1994. Mr Reynolds, who played a key role...

An unusual Anglo-Saxon belt buckle, found by metal detecting near Mildenhall in Suffolk, has been declared treasure. Dr Helen Geake, from the Portable Antiquities Scheme and a member of Tony Robinson's Time Team, said: "It really is quite unusual. "The costumes worn at this time don't...

The new series of Doctor Who starts tonight, the first series of the world's longest-running and most successful sci-fi show since it celebrated its 50th birthday in November. It is the first series with the Twelfth Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi. The new series's first episode, "Deep...

From Helmand to Hastings, the brutality of battle can be seen in these poignant images of war kits given to British soldiers over the course of 1,000 years. Back in the 13th Century, an axe was the weapon of choice to grind down opponents. But today, soldiers carry iPads in their battle kits...

I'm not normally interested in women's sport apart from its comedy value, but I thought this was worth a mention. England have won the Women's Rugby (Union) World Cup for the second time after thrashing Canada 21-9 in the Final last night. Emily Scarratts’s brilliant solo try, which she then...

The Church of England has delivered a withering critique of David Cameron's Middle East policy, describing the government's approach as incoherent, ill-thought-out and determined by "the loudest media voice at any particular time". The criticisms are made in an extraordinary letter to the...

Basildon Hospital in Essex has said that it is 'responding to a major incident' after an illegal immigrant was found dead and others, including children, were found with 'significant health problems' at a shipping container at Tilbury Docks on the Thames early today, 25 miles east of London...