The Last Overland
GRAMMAR PRODUCTIONS
Grammar Productions recreated one of the 20th century’s most iconic and challenging road journeys.
The 4-part series is now available exclusive on Channel 4’s streamer, All4. Watch here.
Alex’s best-selling account of journey published by Michael O’Mara is on sale here.
IN 1955, six young men set out to make history by being the first to drive 19,000 miles overland from London to Singapore. Many had tried, all had failed. But after six months of hard slog this team finally made it, and a bedazzled young BBC producer, David Attenborough, commissioned a TV series to share their incredible adventure with a post-war-weary British public. The book written about the journey – The First Overland – has never been out of print, and has inspired generations of adventurers since.
Many years later, (now Sir) David paid tribute in a special programme to mark “this wonderful journey”. It was a journey, however, he was sure “could not be made again today.” Attenborough’s words planted a seed in the mind of 87 year old Tim Slessor, one of the surviving ‘First Overlanders’, who was determined to prove otherwise. In 2019, backed by a team from across the world, Tim finally got his chance.
So began what’s been called “the mother of all road trips”, an audacious, madcap and heart-warming adventure in a 64 year old car crossing 23 countries, in which absolutely nothing went to plan right from the very start.
The Incredible Journey
GRAMMAR PRODUCTIONS
The story of two old friends, from two different worlds, on a two-thousand mile journey across the entire length of Myanmar (Burma).
Alex sets out with his old friend Aung Sithu into corners of this troubled and beguiling country that have never been seen on film before.
18 months in the making, this 6-part series – the first of its kind in Myanmar – has taken a huge collective effort in co-production with the teams at Canal Plus International and Forever Group Myanmar.
Episodes 1-4 were broadcast first in Myanmar in September 2018 on Canal+ International, and Episodes 5-6 will air in 2019. An international release is planned for 2020.
Forgotten Allies
GRAMMAR PRODUCTIONS
In the darkest hours of World War 2, thousands of men from Burma gave their lives fighting a brutal war for Britain against the Japanese, and to carry out the most successful guerrilla campaign of the war. But after the Allied victory, Burma sank into isolation, dictatorship and civil war, and Britain forgot the bravery of these men.
Now only a handful of veterans remain – will they get the recognition they deserve before it’s too late? One determined band of Brits are in a battle against time to make sure they do.
The film’s world premiere will take place at the National Army Museum on June 12th 2019 - tickets available here - and will be released on the History Channel in the UK in late 2019.
The production of Forgotten Allies to date was supported by our logistical partner Sampan Travel – for more information contact info@grammar-productions.com
We Were Kings
GRAMMAR PRODUCTIONS
In 1885 the British army invaded Burma and deposed its King. He died in exile, ending a thousand years of monarchy. The royal family vanished, and the country was plunged into war and the longest military dictatorship of modern times.
But after a century of silence they are back, and they’re on a journey to bring the family – past and present – back together. Filmed through three years of seismic change in Burma, this is the story of a family and a country emerging from the darkness.
The film was the winner of the £80,000 Whicker’s World Foundation Funding Award, the largest ever single prize awarded in UK documentary film. The film received its world premiere at the British Library in London in September 2017, and its TV broadcast debut was on the History Channel in December 2017. It has been recently broadcast across 15 countries by Discovery Asia. For distribution enquiries, please contact TVF International. For screenings announcements, please click here.
Who Stole Burma's Royal Ruby?
GRAMMAR PRODUCTIONS
When British soldiers conquered Burma in 1885, they have the last king hours to pack. Many of his treasures - heirlooms from a millennium of monarchy - were seized and sent to Britain. But the most precious, an enormous ruby, disappeared. Who took it, and where is it now? Alex embarks on a historic whodunnit, accompanied by the heir to Burma's throne, U Soe Win.
This is a companion BBC News piece to a longer BBC article, which you can read here.
With the team at Grammar Productions, Alex is bringing his passion for history and great stories to life through film. You can learn more about their work at www.grammar-productions.com, or see selected projects above.