Great British Railway Journeys

- Season 8

(2017)

Michael takes a once in a lifetime trip aboard the world famous train. He is up before dawn to catch The Flying Scotsman at London's King's Cross station and takes the opportunity to get his hands on the hallowed controls.

Michael embarks upon a new journey with his Bradshaw's guide, follow the path of The Flying Scotsman at a more leisurely pace. Along the way he drives a "locomobile", goes back to school and learns about fertilisers.

Michael continues his journey from London to York. In Newark he attends a Tudor song school and admires some railway art, before discovering a high-tech use for Victorian rubber technology in Retford.

Michael continues his journey up the East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh. In Newton Aycliffe he tests a high tech train then visits the former home of Lewis Carroll. He learns how to smoke kippers and use a coracle.

Michael concludes his journey from London to Edinburgh. He has a ukulele lesson and gets a taste of life as a fishwife in Musselburgh. In the Scottish capital he learns about the history of anatomy and body snatchers.

Michael sets off from Blackpool, makes some potent new friends in Fleetwood and then lends a hand constructing a new multi-million pound rail link in Manchester. He then unveils a monument to railway workers killed during WWI.

Michael's journey from the Irish Sea to the North Sea continues as he learns about some of Manchester's scientific pioneers including the Victorian scientist who invented atomic theory and the men who created Graphene.

Michael learns about the Victorian daredevil who invented the sport of rock climbing, comes face to face with a hagfish at Sheffield University and visits the castle that inspired Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe.

In Gainsborough, Michael marvels at the ingenious Victorian machine that changed shopping forever. In Lincoln, he hears the poetry and verse of Alfred, Lord Tennyson. He helps recycle rails and ballast and visits Ely Cathedral.

On the last leg of his journey following the route of the North Country Continental service, Michael uncovers the world's first assembly line at Leiston. Drives a train on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway and learns about the port of Harwich.

Michael Portillo begins a journey across Ireland. He takes to the seas in a 100-year-old lifeboat and discovers an American naval hero. He ends this leg riding in a horse-drawn, barrel-topped caravan.

Michael discovers one of Ireland's greatest treasures at Trinity College, Dublin. He learns how Victorian royalty were used to ease tensions between Britain and Ireland and how, and why, the nation was put on the map.

Michael learns about modern archaeology in County Meath and uncovers a controversial Victorian dig at the sacred Hill of Tara. He investigates leaping salmon and discovers an electrifying breakthrough.

Michael learns how the Irish landscape inspired W.B. Yeats. In Dromod, he makes an Irish staple - a potato pancake, known as boxty. At the home of the father of Irish fiddling, Michael attempts to master a traditional Irish dance.

On the last leg of his long journey from Wexford to Westport, Michael takes a seaweed bath, learns of a double tragedy at Clew Bay and begins a pilgrimage to the summit of Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick.