Michael Scott

A detailed look at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC Greece between Leonidas and his 300 Spartans versus Xerxes' 250,000 Persian invaders.

Every four seconds a Harlequin Mills & Boon romance novel is sold somewhere in the world. In India, the books give Shumita hope that her straying husband will return. In Japan, housewife Hiroko yearns to make fantasy reality with her handsome ballroom dancing teacher. And in Warrington, mum-of-three Shirley rifles through the books for ideas on how to keep her marriage spicy. But it's not only the female readers who dream of a perfect romance. New York model Stephen has been on over 200 Mills & Boon covers, but can't find his true love. While romance novelist Gill Sanderson is in fact a pensioner called Roger, writing from a caravan in the North of England. Guilty Pleasures explores our universal struggle to reconcile inner fantasy with the tragicomic truths of real-life relationships. Five heroes, four continents, one dream of true love. Because real life begins where Mills & Boon ends.

This eight-episode series examines the 50 years of war between Persia and Greece over 2500 years ago, covering key battles and historical figures.