THIS turned out to be an unexpected opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the most familiar faces on our TV screens.

Of course, we all expected a study of the Scandinavian marauders at their violent best (or should that be worst?) but found them more or less relegated to ‘also rans.’ But no-one in the sell-out audience was about to complain as we were treated to an intimate, informal and frequently humorous portrait of Neil Oliver’s experiences as an acclaimed broadcaster and author.

Let’s face it, if you wanted to learn about the Vikings, you should have watched his recent BBC series or forked out for his latest book!

And judging by the length of the queue of those buying signed copies of the work at the end of the evening, that seems to have been the popular route to boning up on the adventurers and traders who Oliver pointed out had gained an unfortunate reputation as blood-thirsty maniacs due to a bad contemporary press!

The passionate Scot, flicking his trademark shoulder-length hair behind an ear as usual, covered his boyhood in Scotland, and life as an archaeologist, journalist, TV personality and author with an enthusiasm that underlined his prowess as a storyteller. It was all the more impressive as he spoke for close on two hours without notes or high-tech gadgetry.

He revealed that when considering new history assignments he looked for personal connections, memories or experiences to help ignite his own enthusiasm and imagination.

This may well be the secret of his success as it gives his narrative a potency that resonates with viewers and readers alike.

As someone who failed their history O-level, in part due to a grammar school teacher who managed to disconnect the subject from modern life (that’s my excuse anyway!), I find Oliver skilfully hooks you in to events of hundreds or thousands of years ago and makes you thirst for more.

He has come a long way since he prowled the shores of Britain as regular lead presenter of Coast, and has now completed works on the histories of Scotland, Ancient Britain, Celtic Britain and the Vikings.

If he had remained solely with Coast, we may never have seen him at Bewdley – although perhaps a visit from the programme should not be ruled out if global warming enables Worcesterstershire to develop a coastline featuring the renamed Bewdley-on-Sea.

CSJ