Bonekickers

• Dr Gillian Magwilde – the team's head archaeologist, played by Julie Graham. Magwilde, a powerful, confident woman, is not afraid to take charge. When it comes to her relationship with the team she is less domineering, and goes with her instincts. Her attitude to Viv is a little waspish but as time progresses, she sees a lot of herself in Viv which is why she pushes her so hard.
• Vivienne "Viv" Davis – young and promising archaeologist, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Her eagerness to work and learn always seem to be checked by Dr Magwilde. Her potential is flourishing and her capabilities are equal to any of her teammates. The only thing holding her back is experience, the one thing that she is forced to gain fast.
• Dr Ben Ergha – a young, established archaeologist, played by Adrian Lester. He is more welcoming of Viv compared to the others, and is the only one prepared to help her fit in. As a prominent character, much of the plot is seen through his eyes.
• Professor Gregory "Dolly" Parton – the experienced and older male archaeologist, played by Hugh Bonneville. Parton is the voice of wisdom and insight. At times he keeps to himself while working, but gets involved when needed. Parton is highly respected, laid-back and valued member of the team who will step in to focus the group in important situations.
• Professor Daniel Mastiff – played by Michael Maloney.

{{Episode table |background=#006600 |total_width=auto |overall=5 |title=5 |aux1=30 |aux2=30 |aux3=30 |airdate=30 |aux4=30 |aux1T=Writer |aux2T=Director |aux3T=Guest actor |aux4T= Viewers |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=1

|Title=Army of God

|Aux1=Matthew Graham

|Aux2=James Strong

|Aux3=Paul Rhys, Paul Nicholls

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|08|df=yes}}

|Aux4=6.99m

|ShortSummary=Developers discover an Arab coin (dirhem) on ground marked for a housing development. The archaeological team find this mysterious as the site is a very long way from the Crusades. The subsequent adventure involves modern Knights Templar, a fanatically racist Christian evangelist and the True Cross.

|LineColor=#006600

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=2

|Title=Warriors

|Aux1=Ashley Pharoah

|Aux2=James Strong

|Aux3=Benjamin Whitrow, William Hope, Eamonn Walker,
Doreen Mantle, Frances Tomelty

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|15|df=yes}}

|Aux4=5.23m

|ShortSummary= When the bodies of presumed slaves are found in the Bristol Channel, matters take a turn for the worse for the team as they encounter a conspiracy involving Maroons, the Siege of Yorktown and a man intending to be the first black President of America.

|LineColor=#006600

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=3

|Title=The Eternal Fire

|Aux1= Matthew Graham

|Aux2= Sarah O'Gorman

|Aux3=Shauna Macdonald

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|22|df=yes}}

|Aux4=4.67m

|ShortSummary= After tremors can be felt through an ancient Roman Bath site, the team go to check what is causing it. This leads to the discovery of the true arsonist, responsible for the Great Fire of Rome, and to a love affair concerning Boudica herself.

|LineColor=#006600

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=4

|Title=The Cradle of Civilisation

|Aux1= Matthew Graham

|Aux2= James Strong

|Aux3= Silas Carson, Darrell D'Silva, Vicky Hall, Matt Rippy, David Ryall, Nina Sosanya, Frances Tomelty

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|29|df=yes}}

|Aux4=4.25m

|ShortSummary= Kahmil Hammadi, an Iraqi archaeologist and Gillian's former love interest, arrives in Bath with a cultural delegation to reclaim a Babylonian relic looted during the Iraq war. Gillian is suspicious of Hammadi, believing he has a different reason for visiting, and her suspicions are further aroused when an antiquities dealer is found murdered.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/|title=Television | Movies | Reviews | Recaps | What's On | www.whattowatch.com|date=30 January 2024|website=whattowatch.com|access-date=30 January 2024|archive-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725014057/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/pick_of_the_day/2468|url-status=live}}

|LineColor=#006600

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=5

|Title=The Lines of War

|Aux1= Tom MacRae

|Aux2= Nick Hurran

|Aux3= James D'Arcy, Burn Gorman, Adam James, Patrick Monckeberg, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Philippe Smolikowski, Sam Spiegel, Frances Tomelty

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|08|05|df=yes}}

|Aux4=3.94m

|ShortSummary= A British First World War tank containing the burnt remains of six bodies is uncovered in France, as the team of archaeologists uncover another compelling mystery. The tank has been buried since 1917 and the discovery ignites an international archaeological feud between Professor Gillian Magwilde and her German counterpart, Dr Becker, while bureaucratic French official Monsieur Luc struggles to remain neutral.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk32/tue.shtml#tue_bonekickers|title=BBC - Press Office - Network TV Programme Information Week 32 Tuesday 5 August 2008|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803174723/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk32/tue.shtml#tue_bonekickers|url-status=live}}

|LineColor=#006600

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=6

|Title=Follow the Gleam

|Aux1= Matthew Graham

|Aux2= Iain B. MacDonald

|Aux3=Jeremy Bulloch, Dexter Fletcher, Tobias Menzies, Vicky Hall, Frances Tomelty, Rick Warden, David Oakes

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|08|12|df=yes}}

|Aux4=4.38m

|ShortSummary= Professor Gillian Magwilde risks her reputation, friendships and even her life on a quest for her deepest obsession, Excalibur, the greatest sword in history, in the final episode of the series. This obsession is steeped in Arthurian legend and the poetry of Tennyson, and it drove Gillian's mother, Karen, mad. Now Gillian needs to end this quest. She must come to terms with her relationship with Viv and the mysterious man who has been trying to contact her, Henry Timberdyne.

|LineColor=#006600

}}

}}

According to unofficial figures, the first episode of the series was watched by 6.8 million viewers, achieving a 31% audience share.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/tvratings.bbc?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title=TV ratings: 6.8m viewers dig Bonekickers on BBC1|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|date=9 July 2008|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-07-10|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308041642/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/tvratings.bbc?gusrc=rss&feed=media|url-status=live}} This fell to 5.2 million viewers with a 24.3% share in the second week,{{cite news|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/831974/BBC-Ones-Bonekickers-sheds-1m-viewers-second-outing/|title=BBC One's Bonekickers sheds 1m viewers on second outing|last=Davidson|first=Darren|date=16 July 2008|work=Brand Republic|accessdate=2008-07-16|archive-date=19 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719072256/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/831974/BBC-Ones-Bonekickers-sheds-1m-viewers-second-outing/|url-status=live}} and 4.6 million with a 21% share in the third.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/23/tvratings.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title=TV ratings: Audiences plummet for BBC's Eastenders and Bonekickers|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|date=23 July 2008|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-07-23|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308025616/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/23/tvratings.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media|url-status=live}} And week four fell again to 4.2 million, a 20% share. Week five dropped to 3.8 million. The final episode saw a slight increase in viewers to 4.3 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/839013/C4s-Secret-Millionaire-hits-ratings-stride-37m/|title=C4's 'Secret Millionaire' hits ratings stride with 3.7m|last=Farey-Jones|first=Daniel|date=13 August 2008|work=Brand Republic|accessdate=2008-08-13|archive-date=6 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006025844/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/839013/C4s-Secret-Millionaire-hits-ratings-stride-37m/|url-status=live}}

The series debuted to broadly negative reviews. The Guardian{{'}}s Gareth McLean described the show as "mind-bogglingly dreadful", with "lame characters delivering abysmal lines",{{Cite web| last = McLean| first = Gareth| title = Watch this| work = The Guardian| accessdate = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = https://www.theguardian.com/tv_and_radio/story/0,,2289681,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=media| archive-date = 30 January 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240130160359/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/08/television.media1| url-status = live}} David Chater of The Times thought it "rubbish",{{Cite web| last = Chater| first = David| title = Roman Mysteries – Bonekickers – Imagine: Anthony Minghella| work = The Times| access-date = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4288554.ece| location = London| archive-date = 1 December 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081201074452/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4288554.ece| url-status = dead}} and The Independent{{'}}s Thomas Sutcliffe found it laughable and full of absurdities, while also observing that "Professor Magwilde's approach to archaeology is unconventional. She likes to squat at the edge of the trench and mutter urgently, 'Come on! Give up your secrets!'"{{Cite web| last = Sutcliffe| first = Thomas| title = Last Night's TV: Bonekickers, BBC1| work = The Independent| accessdate = 2008-07-09| date = 2008-07-09| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/tv-radio-reviews/last-nights-tv-bonekickers-bbc1-imagine-bbc1-862886.html| archive-date = 31 July 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080731180824/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/tv-radio-reviews/last-nights-tv-bonekickers-bbc1-imagine-bbc1-862886.html| url-status = live}} In BBC Two's Newsnight Review, the author Kate Mosse asserted it would be "great for teenagers", while the academic and critic Sarah Churchwell said the "execution [was] appalling" and that it was "beyond silly"; John Mullan likewise criticised the show's absurdities, saying that "Hokum has to have its own logic".{{Cite episode| title = Newsnight Review| location = iPlayer | date = 2008-07-04|series=Bonekickers|minutes = 30 mins}} The New Statesman described it as "dramatic goo".[http://www.newstatesman.com/television/2008/07/lab-rats-bbc2-university The Call of the Weird] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623080053/https://www.newstatesman.com/television/2008/07/lab-rats-bbc2-university |date=23 June 2021 }}, New Statesman, 10 July 2008 - accessed 10 July 2008. Some reviews were slightly more positive - Patricia Wynn Davies of The Telegraph wrote that while lacking in subtlety, the episode had an "action-packed conclusion",{{Cite web| last = Davies| first = Patricia Wynn| title = Tuesday's TV & radio choices| work = The Daily Telegraph| accessdate = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/arts/2008/07/08/nosplit/bvtv08.xml}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and Lucy Mangan in the Guardian criticised the episode as "arrant nonsense" and "a clattering bag of madness" and found its characters too "shouty", but praised Paul Rhys and overall concluded that the episode was "utterly bonkers but curiously satisfying" and that, as for the series, "keeping the faith for a few more weeks might well pay off".{{cite news|first=Lucy|last=Mangan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/television|title=Last night's TV|date=9 July 2008|accessdate=2008-07-16|work=The Guardian}}

In line with the broadly negative reviews, the reception amongst the academic community was mixed, with different complaints around technical accuracy.

A scene in the first episode which depicted a Muslim's beheading by an extremist Christian drew 100 complaints. The BBC expressed "regret" that some viewers had found the scene "inappropriate",but defended the decision to show it.{{Cite web|url=https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2009/apr.pdf|accessdate=16 January 2024|date=April 2009|title=BBC Trust:ESC APRIL BULLETIN Editorial Standards Findings: Appeals and other editorial issues to the Trust considered by the Editorial|format=PDF|archive-date=30 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130160245/https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2009/apr.pdf|url-status=live}}

• Bones (TV series)
• Relic Hunter
• Veritas: The Quest

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{BBC programme}}
• {{Official website|http://www.bbc.co.uk/bonekickers/}}
• {{IMDb title|id=1148181|title=Bonekickers}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080920073210/http://www.bath.ac.uk/archaeology/ University of Bath Archaeology Department] - Set up for Bonekickers
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080814170454/http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/158/ephemera-archaeology-on-television/ Ephemera: Archaeology on Television] - watch this short film by Sean Caveille about the portrayal of archaeology on TV

Category:BBC television dramas

Category:BBC high definition shows

Category:Archaeology in popular culture

Category:Fictional archaeologists

Category:Television series about treasure hunting

Category:2008 British television series debuts

Category:2008 British television series endings

Category:2000s British drama television series

Category:2000s British television miniseries

Category:Television series by Mammoth Screen

Category:British English-language television shows

Category:Television shows set in Somerset

Category:Television shows set in Bristol

Category:Television shows set in Gloucestershire

Category:Television shows set in England