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Playing the Game

Episode 3 of 5

Jeremy Paxman traces the story of the British Empire. He continues by tracing the growth of a peculiarly British type of hero.

Jeremy Paxman traces the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known: the British Empire. He continues his personal account of Britain's Empire by tracing the growth of a peculiarly British type of hero - adventurer, gentleman, amateur, sportsman and decent chap - and a peculiarly British type of obsession - sport, the empire at play.

He travels to east Africa in the footsteps of Victorian explorers in search of the source of the Nile; to Khartoum in Sudan to tell the story of General Gordon - a half-crazed visionary who 'played the game' to the hilt; to Hong Kong, where the British indulged their passion for horse racing by building a spectacular race course; and to Jamaica, where the greatest imperial game of all - cricket - became a battleground for racial equality.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Little Eva

    The Loco-Motion

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jeremy Paxman
Director David Vincent
Director Robin Dashwood
Series Producer Julian Birkett

Broadcasts