Villages by the Sea – BBC2

Archaeologist Ben Robinson reveals the history of some of our most picturesque seaside resorts in BBC2’s Villages by the Sea

In BBC2’s Villages by the Sea, first shown on BBC1 South West and the Channel Islands at the end of last year, archaeologist Ben Robinson reveals the important place that some of the UK’s prettiest seaside villages have in the nation’s social history.

He begins in enchanting Clovelly in north Devon and tells how one woman, Christine Hamlyn, turned the run-down fishing village into a picture-perfect hotspot for Victorian tourists.

Ben Robinson Villages by the Sea — Archaeologist Ben Robinson visits Clovelly, the resort from a bygone age, in BBC2’s Villages by the Sea

Even today, the privately owned village doesn't allow cars and attracts over 150,000 visitors each year to its quaint cobbled streets.

It really is a reminder of a bygone age.

For full listings, see our TV Guide.

TV Times rating: ****

Joanne Lowles has been writing about TV since 2002. After graduating from Cardiff University with a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism, she worked for All About Soap magazine covering the ups and downs of life on the cobbles, the square and the Dales.

Next came nearly 10 years at TV Times magazine as a writer and then deputy features editor. Here she spent many happy days interviewing the biggest names in entertainment and visiting the sets of some of our most popular shows including Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing.

With a love of nature and wildlife she’s also interviewed the leading experts in this area including David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Steve Backshall. She’s also travelled the world visiting Mongolia, Canada and South Africa to see how the best in the business make the most brilliant natural history documentaries.

Freelance since 2013, she is now is a digital writer and editor for What to Watch, previews the best on the box for TV Times mag each week and loves being constantly surprised, entertained and informed by the amazing TV that she is lucky enough to watch.