The Great British Dig

Each week the team arrives in a different local community, and sets about unlocking clues to mysteries about the past by digging in the gardens and community spaces of local residents. The show typically opens with Hugh meeting the experts, who explain what they're looking for that week, and who then drag him off to rally local support in the hope of drumming up some volunteers. In addition to the on-screen archaeologists, there are a number of professionals involved in excavating the trenches and helping the residents to learn more about uncovering the past, and various specialists who help to further illuminate the questions at hand.

In addition to Hugh Dennis, the show is presented by university lecturer Chloë Duckworth and commercial archaeologist Natasha ('Tash') Billson. Romani archaeologist and author John Henry Phillips will co-host series four, replacing community archaeologist and geophysicist Richard Taylor, who presented the show from the pilot through to the end of series three. The presenters are joined each week by a varied host of other on-screen specialists, including digital visualisation expert Marcus Abbott,[3] environmental archaeologist Don O'Meara, and finds specialists Hannah Russ and David Griffiths.[4] Regular guest presenters have included military historian Andrew Robertshaw, historian and genealogist Michala Hulme,[5] facial reconstruction expert Caroline Wilkinson, castles expert Rachel Swallow, and architectural historian Jonathan Foyle.

Also featured on-screen are members of the local communities involved in the digs, and a wider cast of professional archaeologists.

The show's pilot was More 4's most successful one-off show in 2020[6] and the first series received widespread positive reviews. It has been described by critics as a "lovely reminder of the history beneath your feet".[7] The community involvement and accessibility of the show has been praised by reviewers,[8] with a Daily Mail write-up commenting, “it’s enough to make you wonder what might be lurking under your own garden…”[9]

In 2021, it was shortlisted for Best Popular Factual Programme in the Broadcast Digital Awards.[10][11]

The archaeological research, on-site health and safety, permit applications, post-excavation and reporting for Series 1, 2 and 3 was handled by heritage consultancy Solstice Heritage,[13] alongside various local experts in archaeological excavation and survey. Finds processing was conducted by post-excavation management company Archaeobiz,[14] with selected finds being directed to specialists across the UK. York Archaeology (formerly York Archaeology Trust) has provided experienced field archaeologists from series 1 to series 4, and is also responsible for processing and reporting upon the finds uncovered during the making of series 4.