Baldrick heads Down Under

Tony Robinson has evolved immensely since his days of portraying the dim-witted Baldrick in the ever popular UK series Blackadder. From Time Team and Tales from Fat Tulip’s Garden to politics and children’s books, the man who coined the phrase “I have a cunning plan” has indeed had the most ‘cunning’ of career plans and become one of the UK’s most recognisable broadcasters and presenters. Now Tony is taking his love of history and presenting to Australia for a colourful look at our rich past in his new television series, Tony Robinson Down Under.

Australian Times: How did the idea of Tony Robinson Down Under come about?
Tony Robinson: History Channel was keen to make a series about the history of Australia presented, not by a famous academic, but simply by someone who was curious to find out more about Australia. Time Team and my other documentaries have done very well in Oz, so they thought I’d be the right man for the job.

AT: What was the most fascinating thing you found out about Australia that you didn’t already know?
TR: I was amazed that a full-scale orgy took place on the night the First Fleet off-loaded its female prisoners. Sydney hasn’t looked back since.

AT: Do you think Australia has changed much since the days of Dampier and Cook?
TR: I suppose the most profound change has been the multiracial population which has developed since the end of the Second World War. I’m sure Dampier wouldn’t have approved, but I suspect Cook might have.

AT: How did you find the Aussie people/populace? Agreeable? Friendly? Weird?
TR: Yes.

AT: Why is this a show that Aussies and the Brits will want to watch?
TR: Of course viewers will have to make up their own minds, but I discovered so much I hadn’t known before (and which it seems a lot of Australians didn’t know before), that if you’re curious I think you’ll enjoy it.

AT: How does presenting shows like this compare to your earlier work like Blackadder?
TR: Working with the other performers in Blackadder was an immense privilege and the success of the show changed my life. I’m very proud of it. But I have a great deal of artistic control over the shows that I work on now, and that’s very satisfying.

AT: Your favourite thing about Australia?
TR: The Ashes!!!

Tony Robinson Down Under Episode 3 is on HISTORY Channel Saturday 2 July at 10pm