It's a wonderful world

Professor Bettany Hughes travels continents to tell the stories of some of history's most spectacular architectural feats

- WORDS: LAURA CARRENO-MÜLLER

Historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes is no stranger to dusty ruins or long-haul flights. But in her brand new 5 series, 7 Wonders Of The Ancient World, she's pulling off her most ambitious adventure yet - journeying across three continents to trace the footsteps of ancient travellers and revive some of history's most legendary constructions.

"Each episode will reveal exactly how and why the Seven Wonders were built," Bettany says. "We also wanted to give a window into the lives of the women and men from the past who collaborated to create these astonishing buildings."

But this isn't just another travelogue. With an extraordinary digital twist, Bettany is placing viewers right at the heart of history.

"We have digitally recreated each monument using virtual effects," she says. "So everyone watching the series can see the Wonders rise from the dust and imagine exactly where they originally stood."

Bettany and her team have also introduced what might be a global first - interactive augmented reality.