Documentary to showcase castle's eight-year revamp

A national TV documentary following the renovation of a 900-year-old castle over the past eight years will help mark its full reopening, it has been revealed.

The feature-length programme on Channel 4 will chart the £27.5m restoration of Norwich Castle's medieval keep.

It has been narrated by Norfolk's Sir Stephen Fry and will focus on the work of project curator Dr Tim Pestell, alongside those involved in the design and construction of the medieval palace.

The main part of the castle - the keep - should reopen in the spring, with the documentary to be screened afterwards on a date to be confirmed.

Norwich Castle was originally built under William the Conqueror and completed by King Henry I in 1121.

The Royal Palace Reborn project started in summer 2020, but has suffered expensive delays, caused by the pandemic and the challenges obtaining steel due to the war in Ukraine.

The discovery of hidden Norman and Victorian features, plus the need to replace a leaking roof, meant the project missed its original target of opening last summer.

It was initially expected the work would cost £20m, with £13m coming from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Norfolk County Council has had to spend an additional £4.7m on top of earlier boosts to the budget.

The show has been made by the award-winning Eye Film, based in Norwich.

Managing director Charlie Gauvain said: "We've been documenting this incredible journey for over eight years and I'm thrilled Channel 4 will bring our film to a national audience.

"We're honoured Sir Stephen Fry will lend his hugely recognisable voice to the documentary.

"The work undertaken by the project team has been monumental and it's a privilege to share their efforts.

"My hope is this film will help put Norfolk on the global map, showing the region's historical and cultural importance."

The Conservative leader of Norfolk County Council, Kay Mason Billig, said the announcement of the film was "fantastic news for this once-in-a-lifetime project".

"The film will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary work to turn the clock back 900 years and present Norwich Castle Keep in all its Norman splendour," she said.

"We are very excited by this opportunity to share the story of the keep's transformation with audiences across the UK and beyond."

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