Programme Overview
Description
Inspired by Professor Bettany Hughes' OBE best-selling book of the same name, this premium three-part docuseries sees the accomplished historian and broadcaster follow in the footsteps of the very first tourists, travelling between these marvels of human ingenuity as the ancients once did.
Bringing together unparalleled archaeological access and research with ground-breaking technologies and captivating storytelling, Bettany’s epic road trip unravels the seven wonders’ secrets while also providing a thrilling adventure into the past.
At each site, Bettany’s exclusive access and detailed research reveals information that she analyses with experts using the very latest techniques – enabling her to create a state-of-the-art digital reconstruction and visualize that digital replica in the very spot where the wonder once stood.
At ancient sites across the Mediterranean - including the Great Pyramid of Giza, The Colossus of Rhodes, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia - Bettany’s exclusive access and detailed research reveals information that she analyses with experts using the very latest techniques and technologies, enabling her to create state-of-the-art digital reconstructions and interact with that CGI-replicas in the very spots where the wonders once stood.
In this slickly produced and ambitiously shot docuseries, Bettany follows in the footsteps of ancient warriors, pilgrims, emperors and tourists on her epic journey in search of the Seven Wonders, travelling between these ancient marvels of human ingenuity to show why these incredible creations still resonate with us today.
Co-developed by SandStone Global and Keshet lnternational, as part of their ongoing co-development partnership, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was filmed across three continents at locations in Turkey, Greece and Egypt.
KI is making the at-home augmented reality (AR) experience developed in partnership with Snapchat’s AR Studio Paris available to all international buyers, potentially bringing these ancient wonders to life in millions of homes all over the world.
With pre-sales secured in the UK (5), Australia (SBS), France (Histoire TV), Poland (Canal+ Polska), and Estonia (ERR), Seven Wonders of the Ancient World premiered on 5 in the UK in August 2025.
Across its series' debut on 5 in the UK, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was watched by an average of 842,000 viewers, with an average viewing share of 8.9% share (+82% vs the channel's 2024 average share of 4.9%). Each of the three episodes ranked as either the second or third most-watched show on TV in its Saturday night slot, attracting more viewers to the channel and building viewership while on-air, indicating strong audience appeal.