River Hunters Special: Battle of Towton

Battle of Towton is a single‑episode documentary that rolls out as part of the “Britain’s Lost Battles” series, fronted by historian Dr Lucy Morrison and archaeologist Tom Hale. Think of it as a modern‑day “Time Team” meets a battlefield‑tour guide, with a small crew trekking up the North Yorkshire moors to dig into one of England’s bloodiest clashes. The episode follows the team as they wade along Cock Beck, the little river that skirts the actual battlefield site. They interview local experts, sift through muddy sediment for artefacts, and use a drone to map the scarred landscape. Along the way they sprinkle in reenactments of the 1461 clash, showing how the weather and terrain turned a fierce melee into a massacre. No major spoilers – you’ll get a clear picture of why the battle was so brutal without the usual “we found the sword” reveal. Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. The scenery is brilliant – the rolling hills look proper cinematic – and Lucy’s explanations are clear without being patronising. On the flip side, the pacing drags a bit in the middle, and the reenactment costumes look a tad ropy compared with the slicker stuff you see in “The Last Kingdom”. If you love gritty medieval history, it’s worth a watch; if you’re after high‑octane action, you might feel it’s a bit slow. Rated 12 / A, with occasional graphic depictions of blood and gore, so younger viewers might need a heads‑up. First terrestrial broadcast this Thursday, and it’s essentially a refreshed version of the 2005 Channel 4 special, with better CGI but the same core material. Plus, the episode runs just under an hour, making it a tidy bite‑size history fix.