BBC Commissions Britain's Biggest Dig

BBC Two has commissioned Britain's Biggest Dig, a major new TV series documenting the huge number of archaeological discoveries being made along the length of the HS2 route.

Made by Lion Television, the documentary has been granted exclusive access to HS2's archaeology teams, offering a unique opportunity to record and explore the biggest archaeological excavation that has ever taken place in Britain. The series will reveal the stories of people from the Stone Age right up to the 20th century - not just on the route itself, but right across the country.

Throughout the archaeological works, cameras will capture what is happening on site, from excavating huge Georgian and Victorian inner-city graveyards to finding the remains of Romano-British homes. The series will also dig deep into the archives to tell the stories of those who lived and were buried on the route - from painters and London prizefighters to medieval peasants and lords. With the use of the latest archaeological science, it will also explore the wider stories about what these sites can tell us, including where people came from and the food that they ate.

Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, said: "This is a major series following this unprecedented archaeological project. The HS2 digs promise to reveal secrets throughout a vast timeline of British history and I am delighted that BBC Two will be following the journey."