As the Bayeux Tapestry returns to England for the first time in 950 years, Blast! Films is making a new documentary, co-commissioned by BBC Arts and BBC Specialist Factual, that will explore the historical and cultural significance of the Bayeux Tapestry while following its journey from Bayeux to London.

The film will offer behind-the-scenes access, revealing the expertise, preparation and conservation required to make it possible. The film will also examine the vital importance of the tapestry and its subject. The Bayeux Tapestry dates to 11th century England and is thought to be the work of skilled nuns, monks, and noble and professional women.

Spanning 70 metres and 58 scenes, the embroidered linen chronicles the Norman Conquest of 1066, when William the Conqueror defeated the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, says: “It is astonishing that a piece of embroidery almost a millennium old is still so widely and instantly recognisable today, depicting the warrior kings and soldiers who shaped our national story.

“The survival of this fragile artefact over more than nine centuries is miraculous, and we couldn’t miss the opportunity to bring our audiences right up close to its exquisite details as the Bayeux Tapestry arrives back in Britain for the first time since the 11th century. This special film will reveal the secrets, scandals and stories behind one of the most significant cultural treasures of the medieval world.”

Jack Bootle, Head of Specialist Factual commissioning at the BBC, says: “The Bayeux Tapestry is one of those extraordinary objects you feel you’ve known all your life, and yet very few of us have ever had the chance to see it up close. The idea that it’s coming here, after nearly a thousand years, is thrilling. Looking at it feels like watching a war documentary – about a conflict that happened nearly a thousand years ago.

“It gives us the most extraordinary insight into a moment that changed the course of English history forever. As well as revelling in the beauty of this exquisite medieval artefact, this film will unpack the wider historical context of the Norman Conquest – enabling viewers to understand the tapestry and the events it depicts like never before.”

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, says, “The arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in the UK is truly historic. Hosting this extraordinary artefact at the British Museum will offer many hundreds of thousands an opportunity of a lifetime, but we wanted to extend that further.

“I am therefore delighted that working with the BBC and Blast Films, this documentary will help tell the story of the exhibition and why the Bayeux Tapestry has captured so many imaginations for centuries. When it airs this autumn, alongside a special day of content on Radio 4, the eyes of the country and beyond will be on the British Museum and we’re delighted that this programming will reach audiences everywhere.”

Sarah Spencer, Executive Producer for Blast! Films says, “We are extremely honoured to have been given the opportunity to document this once-in-a generation moment for a BBC audience. Undeniably one of the most iconic artefacts of our shared past, this film will bring to life one of the most seismic moments in our country’s history – familiar to those remembering school history lessons whilst also resonating with audiences encountering it for the very first time.”