Add to FavouritesAbout this Broadcast
Actor Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin, an RAF pilot, retell the story of the 1940 air battle that proved to be a turning point in the Second World War. The pair get hands-on experience of flying period fighter aircraft across the skies of England, giving Colin an opportunity to contrast his training in modern combat techniques with the skills required to master the Spitfire's less sophisticated technology. The duo also meet some of those who participated in the conflict itself
subtitles
16x9
Documentary
Education/Science/Factual Topics
Educational
News/Current Affairs
Cast & Crew
Ewan McGregor
(Presenter)
Colin McGregor
(Presenter)
Ashley Gething
(Director)
Claire Forsyth
(Producer)
More Information
Did You Know..
Ewan McGregor
(Presenter)
Born:
March 31, 1971
in
Crieff, near Perth, Scotland
Best Known For:
Trainspotting and Star Wars.
Early-life:
Ewan Gordon McGregor was born on March 31, 1971, in Perth, Scotland, and was raised in nearby Crieff. He's the son of two teachers and the nephew of actor Denis Lawson. His brother is a former RAF pilot. His parents encouraged him to leave school at 16 to do whatever made him happy. Inspired by his uncle, he studied drama for a year at Kirkcaldy in Fife, before joining London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Shortly before graduating, he landed a role in Dennis Potter's 1993 series Lipstick on Your Collar.
Career:
Shallow Grave kick-started McGregor's film career in 1994, then Trainspotting made his name on both sides of the Atlantic two years later. He went on to make Brassed Off, A Life Less Ordinary, Little Voice and the three Star Wars prequels. He formed production company Natural Nylon with friends Jonny Lee Miller, Sean Pertwee, Jude Law and Sadie Frost, but that has since disbanded. Other movies include Moulin Rouge!, Black Hawk Down, Young Adam, Big Fish, Deception, Angels & Demons, The Ghost and Mortdecai. The prolific actor always has a number of films in the pipeline, and occasionally tackles theatre work.
Quote:
'Film-making is like a series of problems that need to be solved. And the excitement, the adrenaline that you get from making a small film is that you all have to pull together. I love that.'
Trivia:
Away from movies, he is active in several charities, including UNICEF, and has travelled the globe alongside pal Charley Boorman in the Long Way series.
Colin McGregor
(Presenter)
Ashley Gething
(Director)
Claire Forsyth
(Producer)
