POMPEII: THE NEW DIG RETURNS TO BBC TWO

Following the success of three-part series Pompeii: The New Dig, BBC cameras return to the world-famous archaeological site to exclusively capture the

A new episode (working title ‘The Woman With The Pearl Earrings’) will focus on one extremely wealthy house thought to have belonged to a high-ranking politician. Here, inside one of the rooms, archaeologists have found the bodies of a young man and an older woman, found clutching a box of exquisite jewellery and gold coins.

This new film will build a picture of the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the owners which is in stark contrast to the living conditions of the enslaved workers next door, which were highlighted in Pompeii: The New Dig.

Nearly three million people watched the first episode of Pompeii: The New Dig when it aired on BBC Two and iPlayer in April – making it one of the channel’s highest rating series this year. Viewers followed a team of Italian archaeologists bringing the ancient Roman city to life and uncovering fascinating artefacts, including the “pizza fresco” and the “black room” frescos, which made headlines worldwide.

Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, says: “When I heard that two new bodies had been discovered at the site, I knew the BBC had to go back to Pompeii. Who were these people? How did they live? And why did they stay behind when so many fled? The dig will feel like a detective investigation as the archaeologists try to work their way towards an answer. This is an exceptional, once-in-a-generation excavation, and I can’t wait to share it with BBC viewers.”

Richard Bradley Chief Creative Officer, Lion TV, says: “It’s been a privilege to have a ringside seat with the Italian archaeologists in this excavation of this iconic site. The jaw-dropping discoveries continue and we are thrilled to be able to bring the new finds to the BBC viewers and those around the world.”

Although much of Pompeii has been excavated since its discovery, a significant area of the city still remains unexcavated.  The focus of the ongoing excavation – the biggest dig in a generation - is an area called Region IX.

The new episode of Pompeii: The New Dig is a 1x60 minute programme for BBC Two and iPlayer.