Churchill's Bodyguard   Starring (voice): Robert Powell and Dennis Waterman Fremantle Media RRP: £24.99 FHED2592 Certificate: E Available 31 August 2009

In almost any piece of film of Britain's great wartime leader, Walter Henry Thompson is the man in the background - anonymous and secret. His critical role in saving the life of Churchill from a series of attacks hidden from the wider public. After the war Walter Thompson's censored book told just part of the story. His full memoirs were suppressed even by Churchill himself - only now can we recount the number of assassination attempts on Churchill's life. Many foiled by Walter. This 13 episode series offers unique access to these incredible memoirs, reveals the story of Walter's life with Winston, the precarious journeys to meet Stalin, Roosevelt and other world leaders and their travels with Lawrence of Arabia, all against the back-drop of political upheaval and Churchill's constant brushes with death...

Churchill's Bodyguard is an interesting 13-part documentary which tells the story of what it was like to guard Winston Churchill before, during and after World War II, as seen through the eyes of Walter Henry Thompson, the man whose job it was to ensure no harm came to the great man. Over the course of this series we get a better understanding of Churchill from the man who knew him best - who would witness things when Churchill's guard was down, in his most private moments.

The first five episodes follow Churchill's early political career, Thompson's recruitment into the police force and how the two first met. Episode 6-12 is concerned with the war years and the final episode is a rather moving look at the parting of the two and Churchill's death - although sadly we never find out when or how Thompson died.

Noteworthy incidents include the fact that the first tanks were designed after Churchill saw remote controlled toys with tracks while walking through Horse Guards Parade - they were called tanks as they were disguised as water tanks in order to be shipped overseas (however both of these "facts" appear not to be too trustworthy if you actually do a little research); Churchill getting hit by a car in America while looking the wrong way as he crossed the street; Churchill smoking out a building when he sat on the main chimney stack; Walter accidentally shooting himself due to a faulty safety catch on his gun; the possibility that Thompson may have sabotaged Churchill's plane in order to stop the plane flying - it is thought this was done to save Churchill's life as it's possible that Enigma Code information was available that the Germans planned to attack the plane; and Churchill sneaking through a security fence as a short cut - almost getting himself shot in the process.

This isn't the first time the series has been issued on DVD. In 2005 each 45 minute episode was available across 13 single disc DVDs (priced £5.99 each) as well as in a 13-disc box set (priced £49.99). This reissue by Fremantle Media certainly represents value for money - with all 13 episodes spread over four DVDs with a price tag of £24.99.

Robert Powell narrates the series while Dennis Waterman provides the voice of Thompson. While a lot of the stock film footage is reused (and a lot of it used to illustrate things when it actually doesn't show what's being described) the inclusion of specially shot segments showing a Thompson look-a-like adds much to the series (even if the fact it was always out of focus started to give me a headache.

If I had one complaint it's that some of the episode titles are more than a little misleading - in a desperate attempt to make the series appear more interesting. For example Winston's Double by its very title implies that a double was employed by the government. This is not the case and the title relates to one incident in which a plane was shot down by the Germans as two of the passengers had a passing resemblance to Churchill and Thompson.

Equally, the episode The Kiss of Life? tries to create a story where there is none - that Thompson may have resuscitated Churchill when he was ill. This seems to have been conjured up out of thin air as Thompson makes no record of it in his memoirs and neither does Churchill's doctor who was called to his bedside. The documentary filmmakers rather feebly back this theory up by showing a clip of Thompson's son claiming that his father was well trained when it came to administering first aid and knew how to resuscitate someone.

There are no extras, but then I'm trying hard to think what on earth could have been included that would have added anything to this series.

After watching the entire 13 episodes, I did find the final episode to be incredibly moving. Over the course of this series you get the feeling that you understand the great man a little better.

An interesting and very informative series that is almost essential for your DVD collection. It's also worth picking up Hitler's Bodyguard too if you don't already own it.

9

Darren Rea