CHANNEL 5 UNEARTHS THE WORLD’S GREATEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES WITH DAN SNOW 

Channel 5 has today announced a brand-new three-part series fronted by renowned historian and TV presenter Dan Snow, which will bring The World’s Greatest Archaeological Discoveries to life. The series was ordered by Lucy Willis, Commissioning Editor VP, Non-Scripted UK Originals, Channel 5 & P+ from History Hit with Bill Locke as Executive Producer. 

The World’s Greatest Archaeological Discoveries (WT) (3 x 90’) will be the channel’s first co-production with prominent production company, History Hit, the SVOD and content platform founded by historian Dan Snow and acquired by award-winning digital content agency and media network Little Dot Studios, continuing Channel 5’s ambition in making in-depth, top class history programming for viewers. 

Dan Snow will breathe new life into the incredible archaeological discoveries, including Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and the Roman town of Pompeii. In each episode, Dan will explore the thrilling play by play of each discovery as they reached their crescendo, unpacking these finds on the very spot where they happened and revealing the historical significance to the Channel 5 audience. 

Each film will delve into the lives of the archaeologists who made the discoveries and showcase these astonishing feats. 

Stepping into the environments that these discoveries uncovered, The World’s Greatest Archaeological Discoveries, will capture the incredible unfolding stories, the twists and turns, rivalries, disasters and triumphs, putting them into the context of the exciting times when the ancient world was being rediscovered. 

Dan Snow, Presenter and Executive Producer said: "Nothing ignites a passion for history like a huge archaeological find. So often the news of a new shipwreck, tomb or burial has grabbed the attention of millions of us. So now I'm really excited to be uncovering the story behind some of the world's greatest discoveries." 

Lucy Willis, Commissioning Editor VP, Non-Scripted UK Originals, Channel 5 & P+, said:  “Dan is one of the best story tellers out there and I’m a huge fan. I’m delighted to be joining forces for C5’s first collaboration with History Hit and with such an exciting box set anthology series of incredible discoveries.” 

The World’s Greatest Archaeological Discoveries (3 x 90’) was commissioned by Lucy Willis for Channel 5. It will be produced by History Hit. The series will be directed by Stuart Powell and Bianca Zamfira, produced by Nick Gillam Smith and Executive Produced by Bill Locke and Dan Snow.    

PRESS CONTACT: Hannah Allan: hannah.allan@vimn.com TEL: 07890 065 221 

Notes For Editors: 

About Channel 5 

Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been part of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) since its acquisition in September 2014.    

Channel 5 and its digital brands – 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select, 5ACTION and the on-demand service My5 – offer a diverse range of issue-led documentaries & popular factual celebrating the British countryside and drawing talent to the channel, accessible history, premium drama and critically-acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 leads on societal issues from inequality to homelessness and mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.   

In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald. The following year, Raped: My Story won best Single Documentary at RTS. In 2020, it won crowned Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Awards and by the RTS. In addition, that year it secured its first ever Grierson award win in the ‘Best Single Documentary – Domestic’ category with Suicidal: In Our Own Words. In 2021, it won best factual entertainment at the Broadcast Awards for Springtime on the Farm. It also won best drama at Voice of the Listener & Viewer for All Creatures Great & Small the same year.   

About Paramount Global 

Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic studios, networks and streaming services, its portfolio of consumer brands includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, Paramount Global provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution, and advertising solutions. 

About History Hit   

History Hit, the SVOD and content platform founded by historian Dan Snow and acquired by award-winning digital content agency and media network Little Dot Studios, is a media network focused on making history more accessible in the digital age.  

It runs five successful podcast series, including the chart-topping Dan Snow's History Hit, which has been running for six years, broadcasting six times a week. Recent additions include bi-weekly shows Not Just the Tudors, fronted by Suzannah Lipscomb, and Gone Medieval, with Matt Lewis and Cat Jarman. The network publishes episodes for enthusiasts of all eras, from ancient times to present day.    

History Hit TV, its SVOD service, was launched in November 2017, focusing on original history programming. Alongside over 400 original documentaries, interviews and films, it also offers an archive of over 1,000 podcasts ad-free to subscribers. It is available on Amazon Fire, Roku, Apple, Android and web, with more platforms available soon.   

History Hit has nearly one million social media connections across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and has recently launched digital publishing sections on historyhit.com focused on historical travel and video gaming.    

About Little Dot Studios   

Little Dot Studios is an award-winning digital content agency and media network established in 2013.    

Specialising in creating meaningful connections between premium content and digital audiences, Little Dot Studios engages, grows and monetises digital audiences on social platforms and connected devices through data-driven, broadcast-quality creative.    

Made up of over 500 digital experts, platform specialists and content superfans across the UK, US, Germany and APAC, Little Dot Studios works with the world’s most recognised TV, sports and consumer brands, creating premium video and audio content for more than 600 social channels globally and responsible for six billion organic views per month.   

Little Dot Studios runs its digital broadcast network of more than thirty channel brands across social platforms and OTT video on-demand services; licensing over 15,000 hours of hand-picked long-form content, watched by over 400 million viewers in 2020 and expected to hit one billion viewers in 2022. Little Dot Studios also owns sports-focused production studio WING, as well as broadcaster Dan Snow’s History Hit podcast network and SVOD service.   

Little Dot Studios is an All3Media company.