Time Team Live

A spectacular find of a major Roman villa was the centrepiece of this year's first-ever special Time Team Live programme. Over the Bank Holiday Weekend in August of 1997, Time Team went live broadcasting an archaeological dig against the clock and as it happened. Turkdean had lain untouched since the landowner accidentally discovered it over 20 years ago. Subsequently aerial photos of one of the fields, taken in the summer of 1995, clearly showed strange lines in the ground that looked like the outlines of buildings. Experts suspected that the site was Roman and, given its size, believed they may have a significant find on their hands. Presenter Tony Robinson and the rest of the team – joined by a number of celebrity guests – broadcast live from the site three times a day.

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings.

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings.

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings.

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings.

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings.

Over the course of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the team go to Turkdean in Gloucestershire to try to discover whether experts are correct in believing the site used to house Roman buildings.