{{Short description|BBC drama}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox television | image = Bonekickers.jpg | caption = From left to right: Prof Gregory Parton (Hugh Bonneville), Dr Gillian Magwilde (Julie Graham) and Viv Davis (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), Foreground: Dr Ben Ergha (Adrian Lester) | genre = [[Serial (radio and television)|Serial]]<br />[[Drama]] | creator = [[Matthew Graham]] and [[Ashley Pharoah]] | developer = | starring = [[Julie Graham]]<br />[[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]]<br />[[Adrian Lester]]<br />[[Hugh Bonneville]]<br />[[Michael Maloney]] | composer = | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 6 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = | location = | camera = | runtime = 57 minutes | company = [[Mammoth Screen]] | network = [[BBC One]] | first_aired = {{Start date|2008|07|08|df=yes}} | last_aired = {{End date|2008|08|12|df=yes}} }}

'''''Bonekickers''''' is a [[BBC]] drama about a team of archaeologists, set at the fictional Wessex University.<ref name="Bath">{{cite news|url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/2008/7/7/bonekickers.html|title=University-based BBC1 drama Bonekickers to be aired tonight|work=Internal News|publisher=University of Bath|accessdate=2008-07-08|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181736/http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/2008/7/7/bonekickers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It made its début on 8 July [[2008 in television|2008]] and ran for one series.

It was written by ''[[Life on Mars (British TV series)|Life on Mars]]'' and ''[[Ashes to Ashes (British TV series)|Ashes to Ashes]]'' creators [[Matthew Graham]] and [[Ashley Pharoah]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/06_june/13/bonekickers_1.shtml History comes alive in Bonekickers – new "groundbreaking" drama for BBC One] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410024751/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/06_june/13/bonekickers_1.shtml |date=10 April 2021 }}, BBC press release, 13 June 2008</ref> It was produced by Michele Buck and [[Damien Timmer]] of [[Mammoth Screen Ltd]] and co-produced with Monastic Productions. Archaeologist and [[Bristol University]] academic [[Mark Horton (archaeologist)|Mark Horton]] acted as the series' archaeological consultant.<ref>[http://www.tvscoop.tv/2008/06/first_look_bone.html First Look: Bonekickers, the BBC's new 'Time Team meets Indiana Jones' drama series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624055749/http://www.tvscoop.tv/2008/06/first_look_bone.html |date=24 June 2008 }}, TV Scoop</ref> Adrian Lester has described the programme as "''[[CSI (franchise)|CSI]]'' meets ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' [...] There's an element of the crime procedural show, there's science, conspiracy theories—and there's a big underlying mystery that goes through the whole six-episode series."<ref>{{Cite web| last = Warman | first = Matt| title = Bonekickers| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]| accessdate = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/08/nosplit/bvtvbonekickers08.xml}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Much of the series was filmed in the [[City of Bath]], [[Somerset]], with locations including the [[University of Bath|University of Bath campus]] (which does not offer Archaeology courses).<ref name="Bath"/> Additional locations included [[Brean Down Fort]] and [[Kings Weston House]] (both for episode 2), [[Chavenage House]] for episodes 5 & 6 and [[Sheldon Manor]].

On 21 November 2008 [[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]] magazine revealed the show would not be returning for a second series.<ref name="Broadcast">{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/11/bbc1_drops_bonekickers.html|title=BBC1 drops Bonekickers|date=21 November 2008|work=Broadcast|accessdate=2008-11-24|archive-date=1 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201152812/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/11/bbc1_drops_bonekickers.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Characters== * Dr Gillian Magwilde – the team's head archaeologist, played by [[Julie Graham]]. * Vivienne "Viv" Davis – young and promising archaeologist, played by [[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]]. * Dr Ben Ergha – a young, established archaeologist, played by [[Adrian Lester]]. * Professor Gregory "Dolly" Parton – the experienced and older male archaeologist, played by [[Hugh Bonneville]]. . * Professor Daniel Mastiff – played by [[Michael Maloney]].

== Episodes == {{Episode table |background=#006600 |total_width=auto |overall=5 |title=5 |aux1=30 |aux2=30 |aux3=30 |airdate=30 |aux4=30 |aux1T=Writer |aux2T=Director |aux3T=Guest actor |aux4T= Viewers |episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=1 |Title=Army of God |Aux1=[[Matthew Graham]] |Aux2=[[James Strong (director)|James Strong]] |Aux3=[[Paul Rhys]], [[Paul Nicholls (actor)|Paul Nicholls]] |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|08|df=yes}} |Aux4=6.99m |ShortSummary=Developers discover an [[Arab]] coin ([[dirhem]]) on ground marked for a housing development. The archaeological team find this mysterious as the site is a very long way from the [[Crusade]]s. The subsequent adventure involves modern [[Knights Templar]], a fanatically racist Christian evangelist and the [[True Cross]]. |LineColor=#006600 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |Title=Warriors |Aux1=[[Ashley Pharoah]] |Aux2=[[James Strong (director)|James Strong]] |Aux3=[[Benjamin Whitrow]], [[William Hope (actor)|William Hope]], [[Eamonn Walker]], <br />[[Doreen Mantle]], [[Frances Tomelty]] |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|15|df=yes}} |Aux4=5.23m |ShortSummary= When the bodies of presumed slaves are found in the [[Bristol Channel]], matters take a turn for the worse for the team as they encounter a conspiracy involving [[Maroon (people)|Maroon]]s, the [[Siege of Yorktown]] and a man intending to be the first black President of America. |LineColor=#006600 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |Title=The Eternal Fire |Aux1= [[Matthew Graham]] |Aux2= Sarah O'Gorman |Aux3=[[Shauna Macdonald (Scottish actress)|Shauna Macdonald]] |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|22|df=yes}} |Aux4=4.67m |ShortSummary= After tremors can be felt through an ancient Roman Bath site, the team go to check what is causing it. This leads to the discovery of the true arsonist, responsible for the [[Great Fire of Rome]], and to a love affair concerning [[Boudica]] herself. |LineColor=#006600 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |Title=The Cradle of Civilisation |Aux1= [[Matthew Graham]] |Aux2= [[James Strong (director)|James Strong]] |Aux3= [[Silas Carson]], [[Darrell D'Silva]], [[Vicky Hall]], [[Matt Rippy]], [[David Ryall]], [[Nina Sosanya]], [[Frances Tomelty]] |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|07|29|df=yes}} |Aux4=4.25m |ShortSummary= Kahmil Hammadi, an Iraqi archaeologist and Gillian's former love interest, arrives in Bath with a cultural delegation to reclaim a Babylonian relic looted during the Iraq war. Gillian is suspicious of Hammadi, believing he has a different reason for visiting, and her suspicions are further aroused when an antiquities dealer is found murdered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/|title=Television &#124; Movies &#124; Reviews &#124; Recaps &#124; What's On &#124; www.whattowatch.com|date=30 January 2024|website=whattowatch.com|access-date=30 January 2024|archive-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725014057/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/pick_of_the_day/2468|url-status=live}}</ref> |LineColor=#006600 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |Title=The Lines of War |Aux1= [[Tom MacRae]] |Aux2= [[Nick Hurran]] |Aux3= [[James D'Arcy]], [[Burn Gorman]], [[Adam James (actor)|Adam James]], Patrick Monckeberg, [[:de:Gabrielle Scharnitzky|Gabrielle Scharnitzky]], Philippe Smolikowski, [[Sam Spiegel (actor)|Sam Spiegel]], [[Frances Tomelty]] |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|08|05|df=yes}} |Aux4=3.94m |ShortSummary= A British First World War tank containing the burnt remains of six bodies is uncovered in France, as the team of archaeologists uncover another compelling mystery. The tank has been buried since 1917 and the discovery ignites an international archaeological feud between Professor Gillian Magwilde and her German counterpart, Dr Becker, while bureaucratic French official Monsieur Luc struggles to remain neutral.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk32/tue.shtml#tue_bonekickers|title=BBC - Press Office - Network TV Programme Information Week 32 Tuesday 5 August 2008|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803174723/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk32/tue.shtml#tue_bonekickers|url-status=live}}</ref> |LineColor=#006600 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |Title=Follow the Gleam |Aux1= [[Matthew Graham]] |Aux2= [[Iain B. MacDonald]] |Aux3=[[Jeremy Bulloch]], [[Dexter Fletcher]], [[Tobias Menzies]], [[Vicky Hall]], [[Frances Tomelty]], [[Rick Warden]], [[David Oakes]] |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2008|08|12|df=yes}} |Aux4=4.38m |ShortSummary= Professor Gillian Magwilde risks her reputation, friendships and even her life on a quest for her deepest obsession, Excalibur, the greatest sword in history, in the final episode of the series. This obsession is steeped in Arthurian legend and the poetry of Tennyson, and it drove Gillian's mother, Karen, mad. Now Gillian needs to end this quest. She must come to terms with her relationship with Viv and the mysterious man who has been trying to contact her, Henry Timberdyne. |LineColor=#006600 }} }}

== Reception ==

=== Ratings === According to unofficial figures, the first episode of the series was watched by 6.8 million viewers, achieving a 31% audience share.<ref name="Guard1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/tvratings.bbc?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title=TV ratings: 6.8m viewers dig Bonekickers on BBC1|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|date=9 July 2008|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-07-10|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308041642/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/tvratings.bbc?gusrc=rss&feed=media|url-status=live}}</ref> This fell to 5.2 million viewers with a 24.3% share in the second week,<ref name="BrandRep">{{cite news|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/831974/BBC-Ones-Bonekickers-sheds-1m-viewers-second-outing/|title=BBC One's Bonekickers sheds 1m viewers on second outing|last=Davidson|first=Darren|date=16 July 2008|work=Brand Republic|accessdate=2008-07-16|archive-date=19 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719072256/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/831974/BBC-Ones-Bonekickers-sheds-1m-viewers-second-outing/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 4.6 million with a 21% share in the third.<ref name="Guard2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/23/tvratings.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title=TV ratings: Audiences plummet for BBC's Eastenders and Bonekickers|last=Holmwood|first=Leigh|date=23 July 2008|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-07-23|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308025616/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/23/tvratings.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media|url-status=live}}</ref> And week four fell again to 4.2 million, a 20% share. Week five dropped to 3.8 million. The final episode saw a slight increase in viewers to 4.3 million.<ref name="BrandRep2">{{cite news|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/839013/C4s-Secret-Millionaire-hits-ratings-stride-37m/|title=C4's 'Secret Millionaire' hits ratings stride with 3.7m|last=Farey-Jones|first=Daniel|date=13 August 2008|work=Brand Republic|accessdate=2008-08-13|archive-date=6 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006025844/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/839013/C4s-Secret-Millionaire-hits-ratings-stride-37m/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===First night reviews=== The series debuted to broadly negative reviews. ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s Gareth McLean described the show as "mind-bogglingly dreadful", with "lame characters delivering abysmal lines",<ref>{{Cite web| last = McLean| first = Gareth| title = Watch this| work = [[The Guardian]]| accessdate = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = https://www.theguardian.com/tv_and_radio/story/0,,2289681,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=media| archive-date = 30 January 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240130160359/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/08/television.media1| url-status = live}}</ref> David Chater of ''[[The Times]]'' thought it "rubbish",<ref>{{Cite web| last = Chater| first = David| title = Roman Mysteries – Bonekickers – Imagine: Anthony Minghella| work = [[The Times]]| access-date = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4288554.ece| location = London| archive-date = 1 December 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081201074452/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4288554.ece| url-status = dead}}</ref> and ''[[The Independent]]''{{'}}s Thomas Sutcliffe found it laughable and full of absurdities, while also observing that "Professor Magwilde's approach to archaeology is unconventional. She likes to squat at the edge of the trench and mutter urgently, 'Come on! Give up your secrets!'"<ref>{{Cite web| last = Sutcliffe| first = Thomas| title = Last Night's TV: Bonekickers, BBC1| work = [[The Independent]]| accessdate = 2008-07-09| date = 2008-07-09| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/tv-radio-reviews/last-nights-tv-bonekickers-bbc1-imagine-bbc1-862886.html| archive-date = 31 July 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080731180824/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/tv-radio-reviews/last-nights-tv-bonekickers-bbc1-imagine-bbc1-862886.html| url-status = live}}</ref> In [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[Newsnight Review]]'', the author [[Kate Mosse]] asserted it would be "great for teenagers", while the academic and critic [[Sarah Churchwell]] said the "execution [was] appalling" and that it was "beyond silly"; [[John Mullan (academic)|John Mullan]] likewise criticised the show's absurdities, saying that "Hokum has to have its own logic".<ref name=NR>{{Cite episode| title = Newsnight Review| location = iPlayer | date = 2008-07-04|series=Bonekickers|minutes = 30 mins}}</ref> The ''[[New Statesman]]'' described it as "dramatic goo".<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/television/2008/07/lab-rats-bbc2-university The Call of the Weird] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623080053/https://www.newstatesman.com/television/2008/07/lab-rats-bbc2-university |date=23 June 2021 }}, ''[[New Statesman]]'', 10 July 2008 - accessed 10 July 2008.</ref> Some reviews were slightly more positive - Patricia Wynn Davies of ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' wrote that while lacking in subtlety, the episode had an "action-packed conclusion",<ref>{{Cite web| last = Davies| first = Patricia Wynn| title = Tuesday's TV & radio choices| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]]| accessdate = 2008-07-08| date = 2008-07-08| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/arts/2008/07/08/nosplit/bvtv08.xml}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and Lucy Mangan in the ''Guardian'' criticised the episode as "arrant nonsense" and "a clattering bag of madness" and found its characters too "shouty", but praised Paul Rhys and overall concluded that the episode was "utterly bonkers but curiously satisfying" and that, as for the series, "keeping the faith for a few more weeks might well pay off".<ref>{{cite news|first=Lucy|last=Mangan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/09/television|title=Last night's TV|date=9 July 2008|accessdate=2008-07-16|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

===Academic reception=== In line with the broadly negative reviews, the reception amongst the academic community was mixed, with different complaints around technical accuracy.

===Viewer complaints=== A scene in the first episode which depicted a Muslim's beheading by an extremist Christian drew 100 complaints. The BBC expressed "regret" that some viewers had found the scene "inappropriate",but defended the decision to show it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2009/apr.pdf|accessdate=16 January 2024|date=April 2009|title=BBC Trust:ESC APRIL BULLETIN Editorial Standards Findings: Appeals and other editorial issues to the Trust considered by the Editorial|format=PDF|archive-date=30 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130160245/https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2009/apr.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Bones (TV series)]] * [[Relic Hunter]] * [[Veritas: The Quest]]

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{BBC programme}} *{{Official website|https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cl92f}} *{{IMDb title|id=1148181|title=Bonekickers}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080920073210/http://www.bath.ac.uk/archaeology/ University of Bath Archaeology Department] - Set up for Bonekickers *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080814170454/http://www.pasthorizons.tv/tv/view/158/ephemera-archaeology-on-television/ Ephemera: Archaeology on Television] - watch this short film by Sean Caveille about the portrayal of archaeology on TV

[[Category:BBC television dramas]] [[Category:BBC high definition shows]] [[Category:Archaeology in popular culture]] [[Category:Fictional archaeologists]] [[Category:Television series about treasure hunting]] [[Category:2008 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2008 British television series endings]] [[Category:2000s British drama television series]] [[Category:2000s British television miniseries]] [[Category:Television series by Mammoth Screen]] [[Category:English-language British television shows]] [[Category:Television shows set in Somerset]] [[Category:Television shows set in Bristol]] [[Category:Television shows set in Gloucestershire]] [[Category:Television shows set in England]]