Murray to host WW2 series

Al Murray is to present a series about the Second World War for the Discovery Channel.

Aas part of the show The Pub Landlord comic – who is an Oxford graduate in modern history – will be making his first parachute jump.

Murray told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: “I've been all over Europe. I've been driving tanks, all sorts of things. I'm going to be flying around in a Spitfire, and that's such a complete dream come true for me.

“But I'm also going to have to parachute, and I've never done that before. A little bit nervous, yes.

"It seems to be a bit of a departure for me. I mean, I've interviewed the last man out of Hitler's bunker.”

But he said the ten-part series, entitled The Road To Berlin, is unlikely to mark the start of a new career as a Simon Schama>-style history presenter.

"I don't know if I'll be doing any more history work,” he said.

Murray is the latest in an increasing list of comics who have fronted serious shows on the Discovery Channel.

Eddie Izzard has hosted a show about British national identity, Rory McGrath presents a programme about Bloody Britain and last week it was announced that Vic Reeves was to play notorious Edinburgh villain Deacon Brodie in a biography of his life.

>> Newcastle Evening Chronicle interview

Published: 25 Sep 2004