Historian Michael Wood is to present a landmark series for BBC2 – The Great British Story: A People’;s History – charting Great Britain and Northern Ireland’;s past from the perspective of ordinary people.

The eight-part series will combine the interests of local communities with the resources of local archives, museums, societies and universities to tell the story of GB & NI”s history.

Travelling the breadth of the UK, Wood “looks at our story from the ground upwards setting the lives of the local people in the context of major events – from the Viking invasions and the Norman Conquest through to the Industrial Revolution and two World Wars.”

Commenting on the production, Executive Producer, Cassian Harrison, said: “We are delighted that Michael is presenting The Great British Story which promises to unlock our shared past through the eyes of ordinary people and hopefully encourage them to explore more about their own local history and their place within it.”

The Great British Story is an 8×60-minute series co-commissioned by BBC Two and BBC Learning, which will broadcast later this year. It is written and presented by Michael Wood, directed by Rebecca Dobbs for Maya Vision, and is executive produced for BBC2 by Cassian Harrison and for BBC Learning by Karen Gregory.

To accompany the series there will be special opt-out programmes broadcast in the nations and regions. There will also be a BBC Learning campaign supporting the series, which includes showcase events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland celebrating local history.

BBC Learning is also working with partners to offer series-inspired activities and events such as historical walks, the chance to meet local historical experts and to discover how important historical artifacts and documents can be preserved for future generations.