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BBC Four

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BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

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Great British Railway Journeys

Documentaries

Factual: History

Factual: Travel

Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train.

All aboard! Armed with his trusty Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo explores the UK the railways made. Uncover hidden gems and fascinating communities from across the nation.

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Great British Railway Journeys: Series 2

Michael Portillo

Fiona Caldwell

Charlie Bunce

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 2: Episode 14: Batley to Sheffield

Series 2

Episode 14

Episode 14: Batley to Sheffield

Batley to Sheffield

BBC Two - Great British Railway Journeys, Series 2, Batley to Sheffield

Michael Portillo finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry.

Michael Portillo finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley, and meets a descendant of George Bradshaw.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains, as his journey follows some of the earliest railways in the country from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray. 

Michael finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley, discovers how the railways boosted Yorkshire's forced rhubarb trade and meets the great-great-granddaughter of George Bradshaw himself.

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Michael Portillo travels the country to see how the railways changed us.

Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us.

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Great British Railway Journeys

Series 2

Episode 14: Batley to Sheffield

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