Tony Robinson's Time Travels

This episode explores the extraordinary lengths people will go to in search of freedom, as Tony meets some of history's greatest escape artists. In 1800s Australia, destiny hinges on the flip of a coin as an influential pioneer risks his life in a duel. Next Tony reveals the bizarre disguise a convict adopted during his dash for freedom from Tasmania's notorious Port Arthur penal settlement. In the 20th century Tony follows a harrowing chase across Victoria involving a famous racehorse and a gang with murder on its mind. From a daring World War II jailbreak to a well-timed political escape from a nuclear crisis, this is a rollicking time-travel ride.

Uncanny coincidences are scattered throughout history, leading to the downfall of empires and the good fortune of everyday citizens. In this episode Tony uncovers how a deadly medieval plague was able to infiltrate a thriving Australian town in the 1900s. He ponders the destiny of a group of World War II soldiers who, by signing their names on a wall, enlisted them into a very special club. Tony reveals how a serious error of judgement nearly damned the lives of everyone in Australia's First Fleet, but that a happy accident and an unexpected visitor proved the catalysis for their salvation. And he gets an eerie sense of déjà vu when a fluke of time and place links two world wars with the same gun and the same officer. Destiny, chance and serendipity all play their part in shaping our history.

From calculating killers to merciless victors, in this episode Tony seeks to answer why some people will stop at nothing to get what they desire. He travels to 1950s New Zealand to uncover what triggered the killing of an innocent victim by two friends and why the disturbing case captured headlines around the world. Tony investigates a 17th century Dutch shipwreck off the coast of Australia that caused one man to carry out a hideous crime on an unimaginable scale. Tony reveals the motivations behind the assassination attempt on Governor Arthur Phillip's life, and what the ramifications were for the future of the fledgling Australian colony. Tony journeys to 1930s Adelaide to witness the ruthless and brutal tactic deployed by rival countrymen, which outraged a nation and caused a rift between allies. And Tony goes on the trail of the first camel imported to Australia to understand the terrible deed the beast was found guilty of.

Catastrophes capture both the tragedy of life and the strength of the human spirit. In this episode Tony examines the series of events that lead to disasters and the legacies it leaves behind. From a daredevil acrobat risking his life in 19th century Sydney, to the ill-fated Burke and Wills cross-continental expedition. In New Zealand Tony unearths long lost treasures that have resurfaced in the wake of Christchurch's destructive earthquake. He meets a woman who survived a maritime tragedy and built a poignant memorial. And he comes across a bizarre gathering on a quiet South Australian beach in 1976, where everyone is just waiting for calamity to strike. Whether it's the instigator of catastrophe or a victim of tragedy, disasters test humanity to the core.

Secrets damage governments and change the destiny of empires. In this episode Tony reveals the extraordinary measures powerful people take, to deceive the public and cover up the truth. Tony exposes the untold story of a wartime mutiny in Queensland, deemed so dangerous an American president suppressed it for 70 years. He shows how an 18th century celestial event triggered an epic seafaring journey to the other side of the world, and the covert mission contained in the captain's sealed orders. In the Northern Territory Tony descends into an underground bunker where he learns of a highly secretive 1950s monitoring system. From the machinations behind the Whitlam dismissal, to the curious case of a cold war spy in country Victoria, Tony delivers fascinating new insights into our hidden past.

Light bulb moments have transformed our planet, with the rapid pace of change galvanising humanity's pioneering spirit. In this episode Tony discovers the inspirations, set backs and ingenuity that lead to astonishing feats of invention. To discover how powered flight first began Tony joins a group of enthusiasts in country Victoria, attempting to get a replica plane off the ground. In 1890s Western Australia Tony meets a humble engineer, whose ambitious solution to a desperate problem catapulted him to fame before ending in tragedy. Tony journeys from the culinary creation of an icon in Queensland, to the discovery in New South Wales of a forgotten backyard invention that helped win a war. And a visit to London in the 1880s reveals the bright sparks who formed a partnership that paved the way to an electronic golden age. The drama behind overcoming technological barriers proves that tenacity and good luck can revolutionise the world.