Dara Ó Briain will be joined by archaeologist Raksha Dave and Egyptologist Dr Chris Naunton to explore the most compelling questions surrounding pyramids – ‘How were they built using massive chunks of stone, so heavy that even today a modern crane would struggle?’ or ‘What were the Egyptian pyramid’s true function?’; ‘If, as Egyptologists suggest, they’re tombs, why has no-one ever discovered a Pharaoh in any of them?’
Dara Ó Briain:
“What a joy to explore these great monuments to human ingenuity and effort; to sort out the amazing facts from the many, frankly, ridiculous fictions that surround them; but mainly to live out all my Indiana Jones fantasies, scrambling in sandy tunnels in search of treasure, just without all the Nazis or the snakes.”
Over the two episodes, to air in hour-long slots, they will also explore the more far-fetched theories surrounding the pyramids: Was one a giant power station? Were they built for, or even by, aliens? And the biggest mystery of all – why did the Ancient Egyptians start building them and then stop?
Debunking the many myths that encompass them, this definitive series will uncover the fascinating archaeological, historical, and scientific findings which tell the story of the Pyramids – revealing the secrets of these mega structures –- and will share eye-opening facts that will both surprise and captivate the audience.
Denise Seneviratne, Commissioning Editor, Non-Scripted UK Originals, Channel 5:
“To this day The Pyramids hold so much mystery – I’ve always had a bit of an obsession with them. I think Dara Ó Briain will bring his unique blend of genuine curiosity and wit to this series and I’m delighted to be working with Wildflame to bring it to life.”
TV critic for ATV Today Vivian Summers ponders, ‘Do you think they’ll somehow get Yorkshire and an Air Fryer into this?’
Mysteries of the Pyramids will be produced by Wildflame Productions.