The History Channel’s Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty will launch on March 31 at 7.30pm aest, in the lead up to the pinnacle of the Centenary of Service commemorations, Anzac Day 2015.
Hosted by legendary actor, comedian, historian and television host Sir Tony Robinson, this fascinating new 10 x 60 minute series is part of the channel’s ongoing programming slate to commemorate the Centenary of Service and honours the 100 years of service for those who fought in the war, from WWI to the present day.
Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty focuses on the lives of the people who went to war and those who stayed at home, both heroes and ordinary people – and gives audiences a unique opportunity to appreciate the collective sentiment about the Centenary in the hearts and minds of the wider community in Australia and New Zealand.
Throughout the series, Tony travels across towns in Australia and New Zealand to meet the relatives and friends of those who fought in battle and asks local residents to come forward with memories from their family’s role in the many campaigns across a century of service to their countries.
The first part of each episode follows Tony as he explores a new town, telling war and homefront related stories and meeting locals along the way.
The second half features the Tour of Duty roadshow, a community event hosted by Tony in each town, where locals come together to share their family’s stories of wartime, show off some jaw-dropping memorabilia and tell us what Australia going to war means to them in the 21st century.
In Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty, Tony visits, in order: Toowoomba, Newcastle, Auckland, Hahndorf, Bathurst, Launceston, Ballarat, Dunedin, Darwin and Fremantle.
Toowoomba marks the first stop on Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty as he explores this charming Queensland town’s military history.
He revisits WWI, meeting the daughter of the first Aboriginal fighter pilot and meets the locals at the Tour of Duty roadshow, discovering some incredible relics including a medical kit from Gallipoli with remedies to make you squirm.
Sir Tony Robinson is best known for his role as ‘Baldrick’ on the cult British comedy series Blackadder, as well as his hosting role on long-running archaeology series Time Team. He was awarded a Knighthood in November 2013 for public and political services.
Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty follows on from two successful seasons of Tony Robinson’s Time Walks, filmed in Australia and made exclusively for Foxtel’s History Channel.
Tony Robinson’s Tour of Duty is produced by WTFN Entertainment.