Press Release - LOST RELICS OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR TO PREMIERE ON HISTORY

LONDON 3^rd March 2020: A+E Networks® UK has commissioned Fired Up Films in Belfast and London-based Krempelwood with funding from Northern Ireland Screen, to producea new 5x60’ series, Lost Relics of the Knights Templar, to be broadcast on HISTORY® in April 2020.

The new series follows one of the world’s most prolific yet unknown treasure hunters, Hamilton White and his long-time friend Carl Cookson, as they trace the origin of an amazing hoard of relics.

Hamilton White has operated in virtual anonymity for more than 30 years. Together with multimillionaire property tycoon, Carl Cookson – he is breaking cover to reveal the secrets of a remarkable treasure hunting business.

Until today, no major items belonging to the Knights Templar – the medieval Special Forces of Christendom, made famous by The Crusades – have ever been recovered. Hamilton and Carl believe; however, they have at last discovered what everyone else has been looking for: a treasure trove of artefacts which reveal who the Templars were, how they worshipped, and why they were targeted, imprisoned and wiped out by Papal decree, in 1307.

The series follows Hamilton and Carl as they travel through Europe and to the Middle East, as they attempt to uncover the truth behind these remarkable finds.

Alongside Hamilton and Carl’s journey, the story of the Templars will be told by historians, including presenter and best-selling author of ‘The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God’s Holy Warriors’, Dan Jones.

Lost Relics of the Knights Templar, was ordered by Dan Korn, VP Programmingwith Diana Carter, Commissioning EditoratA+E Networks UKas executive producer. For Fired-up films, Dominic Ozanne is series producer, with Jon-Barrie Waddell as executive producer. For eOne Tara Long is executive producer. Mark Wood and Blair Krempel are executive producers from Krempelwood.

Dan Korn, VP of Programming at A+E Networks UK commented: For centuries, the Knights Templar held immense power throughout Europe and the Middle East, and right up until today, exert a powerful hold over our imagination. It is incredibly exciting to think that Hamilton has uncovered relics which, if authenticated, could offer unique insight into these most famous of Crusader “shock troops” turned Christian martyrs.

The series will follow Hamilton and Carl as they seek to establish the provenance of each relic from one of the most secretive organisations in history before they reveal the hoard to the world.

Jon-Barrie Waddell from Fired Up Films added: We are thrilled to be working with Dan and Diana at A+E Networks UK and HISTORY on this exciting new series. Hamilton and Carl are rare talents and I cannot wait for audiences to see the extraordinary people, places and objects that they uncover.

Historian, Dan Jones added: The Templars were one of the most famous, and notorious, organisations in western history. They emerged from the crusades and amassed huge wealth and property across Europe. But when they were wiped out between 1307 and 1312 most of their riches were either stolen or destroyed. People have been searching for Templar ‘treasure’ - real and imaginary - for generations, generally without finding very much. Hamilton and Carl have some intriguing finds and it's going to be exciting to see what they discover.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said; For a relatively new indie to secure a great commission like this is a huge vote of confidence from A+E Networks UK. Jon-Barrie and his team at Fired Up Films show a breadth of vision and dedicated work ethic which is sure to produce spectacular results. We are delighted to help fund their first commission and look forward to seeing the series when it is broadcast.

The show will premiere on HISTORYin the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Netherlands and Belgium in April 2020.

The series is being distributed by eOne.

ENDS

Editor’s Notes

• Clips, viewing materials, biographies to be provided on request.
• Images here: https://we.tl/t-YTNFjzDNi3
• Interviews with cast and production team available
• HISTORY® is available on Ziggo / KPN / Caiway / Delta / Canal Digitaal / T-Mobile / Online.nl / Tele2 / Trinded / Kabel Noord / Joyne / Cai Harderwijk
• Social: @HISTORYBenelux
• Website: https://www.history.nl/show/lost-relics-of-the-knights-templar

Over A+E Networks UK

A + E Networks® UK, een joint venture tussen Hearst en Sky, is een toonaangevend medianetwerk dat 60 miljoen huishoudens in 100 landen bereikt. Met ons portfolio van populaire, goed presterende en creatieve merken - HISTORY®, Crime + Investigation®, Lifetime®, HISTORY2® en UK free to air BLAZE® - vermaken en inspireren we ons publiek al meer dan 20 jaar: we vertellen de verhalen die verteld moeten worden. Zowel onze feitelijke als entertainment programma’s zijn bekroond en omvatten wereldwijde hits zoals Forged in Fire en Born This Way, en niet te missen dramaseries zoals Knightfall en Vikings. Daarnaast werken we ook aan originele, plaatselijke opdrachten, waaronder: Al Murray's Why Does Everyone Hate the English, Murdertown with Katherine Kelly (VK), Married at First Sight (Afrika) en The Hunt for Baltic Gold (Polen). We vullen onze programmering aan met best beoordeelde podcasts en innovatieve, exclusieve digitale inhoud wat wordt begeleid door industrietalent. We werken momenteel samen met meer dan 360 partners die onze programma’s uitzenden in de Scandinavische landen, de Benelux, Centraal-Europa, het Midden-Oosten en Afrika. We hebben kantoren in Londen, Warschau en Johannesburg. https://www.aenetworks.tv/ @AENetworksUK