If there’s one thing to know about British presenter and academic Professor Alice Roberts, it’s that she is never one to shy away from an adventure. Or a mystery that needs solving. Beloved for her catalogue of landmark documentary series, Roberts’ thirst for knowledge and palpable passion for her projects engages and immerses her audiences, regardless of the subject matter. With an impressive list of academic qualifications, including a medical degree, and a television career spanning more than 20 years, Roberts is the perfect guide through topics ranging from the factually fascinating to the frankly unbelievable.
Prepare for a deep dive into the most interesting aspects of humanity, history, and the planet, with the Alice Roberts Collection now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Ottoman Empire By Train
In five-part series Ottoman Empire By Train, Roberts takes viewers on a train journey through the often tumultuous history of the Ottoman Empire. The sheer scale of the imperial realm, spanning three continents and more than 70countries, is brought to life for viewers as Roberts begins her journey near the Syrian border before travelling on to Turkey and the Balkans as she moves towards the empire’s westernmost point in Budapest.
For those who love a rail journey, Roberts’ Ottoman offering is one of epic proportions, but as with all her documentaries, delights in uncovering stories large and small along the way. The use of local railway routes offers Roberts, and indeed her viewers, a unique look at everything from breathtaking scenery to local communities and regional delicacies. Whether it’s the origins of Turkish Delight or the fascinating world of whirling dervishes, Roberts is ready to peel back the layers of one of history’s most powerful states.
Ottoman Empire By Train is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Ottoman Empire by Train
series • documentary
PG
series • documentary
PG
Royal Autopsy
Though the lives of modern-day royals are largely available for public consumption, monarchs of the past enjoyed a far more mysterious and private existence… until now. In the second season of Royal Autopsy, Roberts investigates the cause of death for four significant monarchs: Anne, Queen of England, the usurper Henry IV, Mary I also known as Bloody Mary, and the Party King, George IV. By combining medical expertise with detailed historical accounts, Roberts is able to piece together the various maladies and ailments that plagued these individuals, proving that even royalty are not immune to the realities of the human condition.
Everything from long-forgotten diseases to battle scars and the consequences of extravagant lifestyles is brought to light in the documentary. There could be nobody more perfect at the helm of the series than Roberts as it provides the perfect stage for her to combine her medical and historical insight, alongside Home Office pathologist Dr. Brett Lockyer, and put fresh eyes on old cases.
Royal Autopsy season 2 is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Royal Autopsy
series • documentary
MA15+
series • documentary
MA15+
The Lost Scrolls of Pompeii
As historical events go, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 AD is perhaps one of the most studied, but in her documentary special The Lost Scrolls of Pompeii, Roberts reminds us that there can always be more to the story.
In the 45-minute special, Roberts uncovers the science being used by computer scientist Professor Brent Seales, who is putting cutting-edge technology to work as he attempts to read hundreds of carbonised scrolls that were buried in the eruption. Though previous attempts to physically open the scrolls have almost destroyed them, Roberts reveals to viewers that the new scanning techniques Seales employs are just the beginning, with his own artificial intelligence software now attempting to teach a computer to read inside the scrolls without ever having to open them. It’s a slow yet mesmerising process, and in true Roberts style, viewers will feel they are not only fortunate enough to experience it, but will walk away with a deep understanding of the role of modern technology in preserving our past.
The Lost Scrolls of Pompeii is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
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Stonehenge: The New Revelations
It’s one of Britain’s most recognisable and iconic landmarks, and there’s no doubt that Stonehenge continues to capture the imagination of academics and tourists alike. That is largely thanks to the many superstitions and secrets that surround it, and where there are historical mysteries to be solved, Professor Alice Roberts is never far away.
Her documentary special Stonehenge: The New Revelations follows a team of experts as they use cutting-edge technology to investigate a huge, newly discovered ring at the heart of the sacred site. As history is rewritten and discoveries are made, Roberts invites us to join archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson and his team as they put theories about Stonehenge’s origins to the test and an ancient part of Britain that existed before recorded history is brought to life with all the vividness and detail you would expect of a Roberts documentary.
Stonehenge: The New Revelations is streaming now at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Stonehenge: Land of the Dead
