- Radio Times
- Review by:
- David Butcher
Griff’s ambling history lessons take him to the Highlands in this instalment. He’s exploring the 19th-century tracks used by drovers in an era when cattle delivered themselves to market, accompanied by the original cowboys.
Griff struggles on through the rain (Giles Coren covered similar ground in Wales for BBC2’s Our Food, but with kinder weather) and delivers peppy historical vignettes. For instance, drovers used to cut their live cattle so they could add the blood to their otherwise bland porridge, a tradition that gave the world black pudding.
About this programme
3/4. The presenter joins two farmers and a herd of Highland cattle to retrace a 250-mile-long droving route from the Isle of Skye to market in Falkirk, via the Highlands. Griff and his companions trek through steep mountain passes and fast-flowing rivers, discovering how the drovers braved inclement weather and used weapons to fend off rustlers to ensure people could enjoy their beef dinners.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Presenter
- Griff Rhys Jones
Crew
- Director
- Christopher Bruce
- Executive Producer
- Nick Shearman
- Executive Producer
- Franny Moyle
- Producer
- Christopher Bruce
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