British historian questions BBC's choice for new flagship series
A LEADING historian has criticised BBC Scotland over their choice of presenter for a new ten-part series on Scottish history.
Best-selling Scottish writer Professor Tom Devine has questioned why the BBC picked Neil Oliver to front the show which promises to "explode the myths" of Scotland's romantic past.
Prof Devine, who also said there were few myths left to explode, welcomed the new series, A History of Scotland, and its multi-media package but raised a red flag over its "patronising" approach.
Prof Devine, whose book Scotland's Empire became a six-part BBC2 series, complained that an "army" of young Scottish historians had been overlooked in favour of Mr Oliver, an archaeologist who also presented Coast.
He asked: "Why are they using an archaeologist as a presenter? There surely is an army out there of young and telegenic historians."
Read entire article at Scotsman
Best-selling Scottish writer Professor Tom Devine has questioned why the BBC picked Neil Oliver to front the show which promises to "explode the myths" of Scotland's romantic past.
Prof Devine, who also said there were few myths left to explode, welcomed the new series, A History of Scotland, and its multi-media package but raised a red flag over its "patronising" approach.
Prof Devine, whose book Scotland's Empire became a six-part BBC2 series, complained that an "army" of young Scottish historians had been overlooked in favour of Mr Oliver, an archaeologist who also presented Coast.
He asked: "Why are they using an archaeologist as a presenter? There surely is an army out there of young and telegenic historians."