BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have commissioned Secrets of the Bayeux Tapestry, a one hour documentary produced by Blast Films. The film tracks the transport of the medieval embroidery from Bayeux in Normandy to the British Museum for a public exhibition. The project follows the technical process of moving the 68 metre work of art and features contributions from a Franco-British team of specialists.
The documentary is narrated by Michael Palin and includes contributions from historians David Olusoga, Janina Ramirez, and Dan Snow. It also features Millie Horton-Insch, the Project Curator of The Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition at the British Museum. The production examines the creation of the textile and the events of the Norman Invasion of 1066.
The commission was handled by Suzy Klein for BBC Arts and Jack Bootle for BBC Specialist Factual, with Mark Bell and Emma Hindley serving as Commissioning Editors. Blast Films executive producers are Sarah Spencer and Danny Horan. The film was directed by Joe Myerscough and produced by Bernadette Ross.
The documentary focuses on the physical condition of the 950 year old object, which contains 24,204 stitches, 16,445 wrinkles, and 30 non-stabilised tears. It also notes a single cigar hole in the fabric. Secrets of the Bayeux Tapestry premieres on BBC Two at 21:00 on 14 September. The title will be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer from 10 September.