Dan Cruickshank

Dan Cruickshank looks at the extravagant 19th-century castles and palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, believing them to be the work of an architectural genius ahead of his time.

Presented by Dan Cruickshank: Between Richmond and the North Sea, thirty bridges cross the Thames. They carry people across a stretch of river 35 miles long, bringing together a population of nearly eight million. These extraordinary structures have been the making of London, Britain's capital, and according to Dan Normal, Europe's greatest city.

The 17th century saw London plunge into a series of devastating disasters. The Civil War, a murderous plague, and the destruction of the great fire should have all but destroyed the small medieval city, but somehow it not only survived - it thrived.

History is uncovered one brick at a time as historic buildings across Britain are painstakingly dismantled and brought back to life in new locations.

In 1728, 12-year-old James Annesley was snatched from the streets of Dublin, Ireland and sold into slavery in America. He was the victim of a wicked uncle hell-bent on stealing his massive inheritance. Historian Dan Cruickshank traces James's astonishing journey from the top table of 18th century society to its murky depths. The story helped inspire Robert Louis Stevenson's revered book Kidnapped.