As contemporary society grapples with numerous challenges, many are looking to the past for guidance. A compelling new documentary series on BBC Two aims to uncover what ancient civilisations can teach us about navigating periods of crisis and potential collapse.
Learning from Ancient Civilisations
Civilisations: Rise and Fall premieres tonight at 9pm on BBC Two, offering viewers a timely exploration of how great societies throughout history confronted existential threats. This four-part historical series has secured unprecedented access to the British Museum in London, collaborating with top experts to analyse artefacts that tell the story of civilisational decline.
The opening episode focuses specifically on ancient Rome, using remarkable objects from the museum's collection to trace the empire's downfall. Among the featured artefacts are the eye-catching head of Emperor Augustus and a terracotta theatre mask depicting a barbarian character with a distinctive ponytail, highlighting cultural differences through the simple observation that "Romans don't wear man buns."
Tonight's Television Highlights
Elsewhere on television this evening, Channel 4 presents Inside the World's Most Luxurious Motorhomes at 8pm. The programme showcases the extraordinary Marchi EleMMent Palazzo Superior, which redefines mobile living with its automatic sliding door, expansive 732 square foot interior, roof deck, and £30,000 bed. With only five in existence, this vehicle pushes motorhome design into what experts describe as "the realm of science fiction." The episode also profiles a young couple who made the dramatic decision to sell their mansion for full-time life in a bespoke, quartz-bedecked £1 million recreational vehicle.
At 8:30pm on BBC One, Celebrity Scam Interceptors features Amanda Holden in a special episode marking BBC Scam Week. The television personality discovered that her name and image were being used to defraud victims out of thousands of pounds. Now she's working directly with the Scam Interceptors team, tracking real-time fraud operations through remote access hacking and participating in confrontations with the perpetrators.
Additional Evening Viewing
University Challenge continues its annual battle of intellects at 8:30pm on BBC Two, with Bristol and Warwick universities competing for a quarter-final spot in this round-of-16 tie. Host Amol Rajan presides over the competition as viewers begin to identify this year's strongest academic contenders.
BBC Three presents Fake Friend: The Ticket Scammer at 9pm, investigating claims about a Somerset local who allegedly sold hundreds of tickets for last year's Glastonbury Festival that never materialised. The documentary features interviews with friends, alleged victims, and those involved in the scandal, including Elle Nicolson, who was cheated out of her Glastonbury tickets.
The evening concludes at 10pm on BBC Two with the finale of Leonard and Hungry Paul, narrated by Julia Roberts. In this closing episode, Leonard experiences another workplace disappointment but finds the courage to respond with newfound self-respect, while Hungry Paul establishes a Quiet Club, demonstrating that building a good life doesn't require being loud about it.
