A Greek Odyssey with Bettany Hughes

Annoying. The host acts as if she's on holiday, which she probably is. I think I can see her pitching this series thinking what a great way to get an all expense paid holiday. What I don't understand is why anyone buys this series.

That would have been a more accurate description of what we have here.

If you are expecting a quality archaeological program from a presenter who has done good work in the past, you are going to be seriously disappointed with this poor effort.

This is simply Bettany on holiday. Nothing more or less. She sails from one Greek Island to the next, throws in the odd obscure reference to Odysseus so that we can call it a "Greek Odyssey", laughs a lot, stomps grapes to make wine, rides a scooter with an old friend, and on rare occasions visits a historic site or two.

Other than that, this is "cringeworthy" television.

We gave up half way through episode two as it was just too painful to watch.

Wow, she is impossible for me to take. Too much, way too much Bettany Hughes, whoever she is. I love Greece and lived there many years ago for three years. I devour everything I can on the country, but I couldn't even get through the trailer for this.

Bettany demonstrates again her great enthusiasm for the ancient Greek world. However like all Anglo Saxon culturally restrained is ill at ease with mixing with the modern extroaverted Greeks and which is betrayed with her constant nervous laughter. She does mention in the second episode that she had just finished another Nile episode which through fatigue may have caused slight problem with her nervousness. Otherwise beautiful scenery and cant wait to return to Greece once the COVID 19 travel restrictions have been lifted. Bettany shares a few a new discoveries and relatively little known sites such as those in Ikaria,Samos and Chios. In general a very good series demonstrating the legacy of Greece both historically, culturally and the pure physical beauty of the islands.

The host is TV historian Bettany Hughes. She talks a lot and seems to really enjoy her Greek history. It's a six-part British series. It's part-travelogue and part classical Greek history class. It can feel random at times. It's hard to place these stories in any order other than all jumbled together. It's more like one story after another and it's also one place after another. I don't mind it. It's a Greek holiday roulette. The only misstep is not eating any meat after the boar hunt. I'm not saying that she should force herself to eat the meat. Maybe step back and just film the people enjoying their food. It's awkward to have the vegetarian excuse. Nobody wants to hear it. Just cut it out of the show. One should relax and let the sun-soaked Greek locations wash over you as she drones on about the endless Greek stories.