Scotland's History - a major new initiative from 91Èȱ¬ Scotland
Introduction
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Update (4.12.08): the series A History Of Scotland will be broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Two from 91Èȱ¬ Week 1 2009.
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Bringing alive the past, which has shaped modern Scotland, is at the heart of a major new initiative, Scotland's History, from 91Èȱ¬ Scotland.
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Spanning television, radio, online and events, Scotland's History launches with A History Of Scotland, on Sunday 9ÌýNovember at 9.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ One Scotland.
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The new landmark 10-part series, which is being co-produced with the Open University and shot in high definition (HD), has a later network screening already earmarked for 91Èȱ¬ Two, and is the catalyst for a raft of radio programming, a new website, interactive game, audio walks, concerts and events going through to late 2009.
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Joint Head of Programmes at 91Èȱ¬ Scotland, Maggie Cunningham, says: "This is a project to reach and engage as wide as possible a range of people across the country with up-to-date analysis of Scotland's history.
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"We are one of the oldest countries in the world and have a rich and eventful history to back that up. It is also liberally doused with mythology we tend to hold on to, but which doesn't reflect more current academic thinking that has emerged over the last 10 to 15 years.
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"This is a good time to review Scotland's history and our place in the world and to do that through the technology of our age which lets audiences get excited about the subject, not only through the marvels and beauty of HD photography on television, but through radio and the internet.
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"It is offering people a chance to get to grips with Scotland's history through a variety of ways from online debate to a children's blog game, from presenter Neil Oliver's evident passion for Scottish history through to a more localised radio hunt for lost treasures, from inspiring music through to physically trekking into the past with the audio walks."
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Scotland's birth certificate
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The television series, which is presented by archaeologist Neil Oliver, presents a grand but in-depth sweep of more than 2,000 years of Scottish history, casting a fresh perspective on the mythology and characters of Scotland's past against a backdrop of stunning scenery and iconic landmarks.
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It is split into two tranches with the first five episodes going out in Scotland this year and the remaining five towards the end of next year.
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It begins with the earliest stirrings towards identity and Scotland's "birth certificate" – held in France – the first documented reference from Scottish sources to a land called Albaniam, the Latin version of the Gaelic for Scotland.
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Presenter Neil Oliver says: "I want to dispel the myths that have cursed Scotland's past and uncover the real characters and events that have shaped its history.
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"The series begins with the birth of Scotland; a birth that was far from inevitable.
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"For many centuries, our mountains and lochs were home to a patchwork of disparate peoples and tongues. So how was it that this loose confederation of tribes in the northern third of Britain came together to create a kingdom with its own culture and identity?
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"Scotland is my country. The story of this place – and the people who've lived here during the last 10,000 years or so – means more to me than any other.
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"For as long as I can remember I've wanted to understand more about how we got to where we are today; why the story unfolded as it has."
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HM
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