''Britain's Finest'' is a TV documentary series made by independent production company Lion Television, now part of

All3Media All3Media Limited is a British worldwide independent television, film and digital production and distribution company based in London, England. The All3Media group comprises more than 40 production and distribution companies from across the U ...

for Channel 5 in the UK. The eight 90-minute series, split into two separate series of four episodes, the first in 2003 and the second in 2005, focuses on a wide range of Britain's finest things, from buildings to gardens, actors to natural wonders, as voted for by Channel 5 viewers and Radio Times readers. Each episode has a lead presenter and includes a variety of additional specialists. The publicity generated for some of the visitor attractions featured, such as

stately homes An English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these peopl ...

, led to an increase in visitor numbers.

Episodes

;Series 1 #"Stately Homes". Presenter

Hugh Scully Michael Hugh Scully (5 March 1943 – 8 October 2015) was an English journalist, radio and television presenter. He was the host and longest-serving presenter of the BBC programme ''Antiques Roadshow'' from 1981 to 2000. Education and early li ...

#"Gardens". Presenter

Jenny Agutter Jennifer Ann Agutter (born 20 December 1952) is a British actress. She began her career as a child actress in 1964, appearing in '' East of Sudan'', ''Star!'', and two adaptations of '' The Railway Children''—the BBC's 1968 television seria ...

#"Ancient Monuments". Presenter

Tim Marlow Timothy John Marlow (born 1962) is a British writer, broadcaster and art historian who is the Director and Chief Executive of the Design Museum,Hannah McGivern (October 7, 2019)Tim Marlow leaves Royal Academy of Arts to head London’s Design Mu ...

#"Castles". Presenter Richard Holmes ;Series 2 #"Actors". Presenter

Fay Ripley Fay Ripley (born 26 February 1966)Ripley, Fay (25 February 2011).Don't tell me you are going to get my followers up to 5,000 for my birthday tomorrow...I say my birthday tomorrow. Twitter. Retrieved 26 February 2011. is an English actress, telev ...

#"Actresses". Presenter

Simon Callow Simon Phillip Hugh Callow (born 15 June 1949) is an English film, television and voice actor, director, narrator and writer. He was twice nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his roles in ''A Room with a View'' (19 ...

#"Treasures". Presenter

#"Natural Wonders". Presenter

Nigel Marven Nigel Alan Marven (born 27 November 1960) is a British wildlife TV presenter, naturalist, conservationist, author, and television producer. He is best known as presenter of the BBC miniseries '' Chased by Dinosaurs'', its sequel, '' Sea Monsters ...

References

External links

* * *{{cite web, url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7037714.stately-home-hadrians-wall-among-tvs-finest/, title=Stately home and Hadrian's Wall among TV's 'finest'; News, website=The Northern Echo, accessdate=2020-12-01 2000s British documentary television series 2003 British television series debuts 2005 British television series debuts 2003 British television series endings 2005 British television series endings Television series by All3Media English-language television shows