Rocket man: David Dimbleby sets sail to tell story of Britain and the sea

BBC veteran David Dimbleby is setting sail around Britain for a series which will examine how our relationship with the sea influences art and culture.

The BBC One show, which has a working title of Britain And The Sea, features the 73-year old broadcaster on board his boat, Rocket.

The corporation said the programme would “explore the rich heritage of Britain’s maritime art and culture” and “our changing relationship with the sea”.

It is part of a raft of arts programmes announced by the corporation, including an interview with novelist Salman Rushdie about his time spent living under a death sentence, after Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him after the publication of the Satanic Verses.

Other programmes include a documentary about crime writer Ian Rankin, the Genius of Josiah Wedgwood, and a three-part series called Treasures of Ancient Rome.

Mark Bell, commissioning editor, arts, said: “This year is a particularly exciting one for the arts across the BBC, from the popular success of Rolf Paints and returning series Fake or Fortune on BBC One and the acclaimed film about Lucian Freud on BBC Two to the huge range of programmes marking the Cultural Olympiad with the Shakespeare and London seasons across BBC Two and BBC Four.

“There’s plenty more coming up this autumn, with new series from presenters Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox and exciting new commissions next year including two new films for BBC Two looking at art and the industrial revolution.”