Civilisations; Serial Killer with Piers Morgan

“This was a superb start to a reassuringly commanding series, that avoided the obvious and delivered on the scale, seriousness and ambition its subject demands.”
Gerard O‘Donovan, The Telegraph

“Schama was an enthusiastic and erudite host. The real stars, though, were the artefacts, filmed in loving, gorgeous close-up. Part travelogue, part Time Team, with some art appreciation in darkened rooms thrown in, Civilisations doesn’t yet feel like a major revolution in arts programming, but it’s lavish and lovely to look at.”
Alice Jones, The i

“No, it’s not Civilisation, but it is televisually more sumptuous, technology having improved so much since the 1960s. I enjoyed it. Whether it inspires a new generation to devour art, however, remains to be seen.”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“Perhaps he should have interviewed some anthropologists, rather than telling us what he thought they thought. Then again this, like the others to come in the series, was a personal view, passionately put, and a grand start to what promises to be a TV work of art.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“He galloped to China, to Mexico, to Mesopotamia and to Jordan, celebrating random examples of ancient art while giving little hint how they slotted into the political and religious landscape of the times. To follow Schama’s train of thought, you needed a prior understanding of art through the ages.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“With Civilisations, the BBC has spectacularly and intelligently remade its 1969 hit in a way that reflects shifts in cultural and art historical thinking. Less apparent is any sense of fresh reflection about how and why art should be put on TV. If Clark were to watch Civilisations, he might be gratifyingly surprised by how little the concept of cultural programming has changed.”
Mark Lawson, The Guardian

“Lorenzo Gilyard has never spoken about his crimes before, the promotional blurb for the programme says. And he still hasn’t. Which makes you wonder what the point of it is. It’s not as if Gilyard is notorious in this country, or that an interview with him quenches any kind of public thirst. So what does that leave? Gawping, that’s what. Gawping at a serial killer.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian