Great British Ships - Season 1

HMS Victory was already 40 years old before it secured its place in history at Trafalgar. Rob discovers the extraordinary feats of engineering behind its construction, and the celebrity of its famous captain, Nelson.

Henry VIII's great warship went down nearly five centuries ago, killing more than 400 men. A host of theories have emerged to explain the disaster, including enemy fire, the ship's builders, an unruly crew, an inexperienced captain and even King Henry VIII himself.

Rob Bell delves into the fascinating history of HMS Belfast, the cruiser that played a critical role in some of the most dramatic battles of World War 2, and whose daring deeds helped defeat the Nazis.

Rob Bell reveals the story of the SS Great Britain, designed by Victorian engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel. When constructed it became the longest passenger ship in the world. Its early years were beset with trouble, but it later found success carrying immigrants to Australia.

Rob Bell reveals the secrets of the historic ships that shaped our island nation. This extraordinary tea clipper endured drunken captains and murderous crews, inspired a whiskey, and survived the coming of the steam age, only to face her greatest ordeal - a devastating fire that ripped through her hull one night in 2007.

The flagship of England's most notorious pirate, Sir Francis Drake, was packed with adventure, from witchcraft and mutiny to becoming the first English ship to circumnavigate the globe - by accident.